New Delhi, India, August 15 (ANI) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, identified defense power as the fifth “Shakti” of his “Shakti Ki Saptadhara” vision and called for greater self-reliance in defense. He also urged India to emerge as a global supplier of military equipment and a leader in next-generation technologies, including hypersonic systems.
Reiterating the government’s push for an Aatmanirbhar defense sector, the prime minister said India could not afford to remain merely a market for other countries and must build the capabilities to supply advanced defense technologies to the world.
PM Modi said, “The fifth strength of the Saptadhara is defense power. It is important for us to become self-reliant in defense. When the world is thinking about itself, India cannot remain merely a market for the world. We have to become global suppliers. We have to take leadership in hypersonic defense technologies.”
India has been steadily advancing its indigenous hypersonic weapons program, with the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) working on hypersonic glide and cruise missile technologies.
The country is also pursuing indigenous technologies for long-range strike capabilities and advanced propulsion systems.
Highlighting the expansion of India’s defense manufacturing base, PM Modi said, “In the last 12 years, defense production has increased by four times.”
The prime minister’s comments come as India’s domestic defense production and exports have increased considerably, with the government seeking to strengthen indigenous manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on the eve of Independence Day that annual defense production had reached a record Rs. 1.78 lakh crore in the 2025-26 financial year, compared with Rs. 46,000 crore in 2014.
Singh attributed the growth to the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, saying India was increasingly meeting its own security requirements while strengthening its position as a defense manufacturing hub and exporter.
“Under the inspiring leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi, India’s defense production is reaching new heights every year. I am delighted to inform everyone that India’s annual defense production has surged to an all-time high of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2025-26.”
According to the Ministry of Defense, defense production rose 15.6 percent in FY 2024-25 and 110 percent from Rs. 84,643 crore in FY 2020-21. Indigenous defense production has increased nearly fourfold from FY 2013-14.
Defense exports also reached a record Rs. 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, with India now exporting defense products to more than 80 countries. Singh said the government was targeting defense exports of Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029.
The private sector has also emerged as an increasingly important contributor to India’s defense industrial base. It accounted for 24 percent of total defense production in FY 2025-26, while Defense Public Sector Undertakings and other public sector entities contributed about 76 percent.
Singh said modernization of the armed forces remained a key priority, pointing to higher defense spending, capital expenditure and funding for research and development.
He also highlighted recent tests and the validation of advanced systems, including the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile, Naval Anti-Ship Missile-SR and Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket.
On hypersonic technology, Singh said the successful test of an actively cooled, full-scale scramjet combustor for more than 1,200 seconds had placed India among a select group of countries capable of developing hypersonic missile technology.
The focus on defense power forms part of PM Modi’s broader “Shakti Ki Saptadhara” vision, under which he outlined seven areas that he said would drive India’s growth and global standing.
The first strength is manufacturing power, with the prime minister calling for the creation of a complete value chain spanning design and manufacturing.
“We must build a complete value chain. From design to manufacturing, India must establish itself as a trusted global supply chain partner for the world. We must rise to global standards of cost, quality and scale,” PM Modi said.
The second strength is agriculture and food production, while the third is technology and innovation. PM Modi highlighted artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, robotics and data centers, and called for India to become a global hub of innovation.
“We have proven our mettle in UPI and digital public infrastructure. Now India has to take digital public technologies to every corner of the world. India has to lead in Next Generation Communication Technology. Made in India 6G should reach every corner — this should be our goal,” PM Modi added.
The fourth strength is Gati Shakti, with the prime minister focusing on high-speed connectivity, high-speed rail and port-led development.
The sixth is the Green and Blue Economy, encompassing green hydrogen, renewable energy, energy storage, fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean technology.
The seventh strength is India’s soft power, with PM Modi highlighting the global reach of yoga. (ANI)
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