By A Correspondent

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s self-reliance drive in defence manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will review the performance of the 16 state-run Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in New Delhi on Nov. 10, 2025.

The review comes as the Ministry of Defence unveils plans to double Research and Development (R&D) investments to INR 32,766 crore over the next five years, signalling a strong policy thrust towards innovation, technology development, and exports.

This review follows Rajnath Singh’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, with a focus on transforming DPSUs into global defence players. Since then, all DPSUs have drawn up detailed R&D roadmaps aimed at accelerating indigenous capability and export competitiveness.

Over the past decade, the 16 DPSUs together invested INR 30,952 crore in research and development, largely led by established entities such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

However, the upcoming phase will see a wider participation across all defence enterprises. The seven new DPSUs formed from the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board will together invest over INR 3,000 crore, while the defence shipyards plan to allocate INR 1,300 crore towards R&D, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Nov. 8, 2025.

During the annual review, Rajnath Singh will unveil a compilation of Design and Development and R&D projects from the past decade and outline the roadmap for the next five years.

A key highlight will be the launch of HAL’s new R&D Manual, which promises greater flexibility, faster decision-making, and better risk management in research projects.

The minister will also release a special report on renewable energy titled ‘Swayam’, the first comprehensive documentation of energy efficiency and sustainability practices across all 16 DPSUs under the Department of Defence Production.

The DPSUs’ performance in Financial Year 2025 has been exceptional, with total turnover rising 15.4% to INR 108,000 crore, profit after tax increasing 19.5% to INR 20,021 crore, and exports surging 51% year-on-year.

The event will also feature felicitations and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings, reinforcing India’s resolve to merge innovation, sustainability, and strategic autonomy in its defence industrial ecosystem.

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