By A Correspondent

Chandigarh: India has reached a decisive inflection point in its defence and industrial journey, with self-reliance emerging as a strategic and economic necessity, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on January 9, 2026, while inaugurating the Defence Skilling Conclave on Defence, Aerospace and Strategic Sector Skill Development here.

Addressing policymakers, industry leaders, and defence officials, the Defence Secretary said the last decade has fundamentally transformed India’s defence industrial ecosystem, driven by the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Once heavily dependent on imports, the sector has evolved into a dynamic and diversified manufacturing base encompassing Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), private companies, MSMEs, and start-ups.

Singh highlighted that sustained policy reforms and a strong focus on Ease of Doing Business have triggered an indigenous manufacturing surge across the defence sector.

Domestic firms are now designing and producing platforms ranging from UAVs and sensors to complex systems such as artillery guns, armoured vehicles, and missiles, capabilities once considered out of reach for Indian industry.

Underlining the growing role of the private sector, the Defence Secretary said more than 788 industrial licences have been issued to 462 companies, significantly expanding participation beyond traditional public sector players.

This structural shift has also translated into a sharp rise in overseas sales, with India’s defence exports crossing INR 23,162 crore in 2025, a nearly 35-fold increase since 2014.

Pointing to flagship indigenous platforms, Singh cited the Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’, ‘Astra’ Beyond Visual Range Missile, ‘Dhanush’ artillery guns, and the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant as emblematic of India’s growing synergy between industry, defence R&D, and a skilled workforce.

These programmes, he said, demonstrate that indigenisation is no longer aspirational but operational.

However, Singh stressed that Aatmanirbharta (Self-Reliance) in defence is not merely an economic goal but a strategic imperative aimed at securing long-term autonomy.

With global supply chains becoming increasingly fragile and defence technologies advancing rapidly, India faces both significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities in the years ahead.

Central to this ambition, he said, is human capital. True strategic autonomy requires sovereignty not only over hardware but also over skills, technology, and intellectual capital.

To that end, the government is aligning defence manufacturing growth with the Skill India Mission, with agencies such as the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Directorate General of Training mapping current capabilities and future skill requirements in defence and aerospace.

Singh highlighted the Prime Minister’s newly launched Skilling and Employment through Technology Upgradation (PM-SETU) programme as a key enabler of this transition.

With a total outlay of INR 60,000 crore over five years — half funded by the Government of India — PM-SETU aims to bridge gaps between academia, industry, and defence R&D through Centres of Excellence, dual apprenticeship models, AI-enabled training tools, and structured skilling pathways for Agniveers and veterans.

He called on state governments and industry partners to anchor PM-SETU through an outcome-driven approach, emphasising apprenticeships and on-the-job training as the backbone of all skilling initiatives to ensure industry-ready talent.

Focusing on regional potential, the Defence Secretary said Punjab is well positioned to emerge as a defence manufacturing hub, provided it builds stronger ecosystem networks, enhances MSME linkages with defence R&D institutions, and invests in dedicated skill development and testing infrastructure.

Singh also underlined the strategic value of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme, noting that ‘Agniveers’ (short-term soldiers) represent a pool of disciplined and technically trained youth who can be seamlessly absorbed into defence manufacturing and strategic sectors through National Skill Qualification Framework-aligned certifications.

Organised by the Government of Punjab in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the conclave reaffirmed the collective commitment of government, industry, and academia to building a secure, self-reliant, and technologically advanced India.

Singh expressed confidence that with coordinated efforts, Punjab and the northern region can become key drivers of defence-led economic growth.

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