Operation Sindoor is the finest example of India’s self-reliance in the defence sector, reaffirms the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. The majority of the equipment used by the Indian Armed Forces during the May’s operation was indigenous, he added while addressing the 6th convocation of the Symbiosis Skills & Professional University in Pune.
India has now "broken the barrier" that had existed since Independence, and the government has given a strong push to manufacturing weapons within the country, Singh said, adding that over the last decade, defence production has increased from Rs 46,000 crore to Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The government's target is to take domestic defence manufacturing to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029 and increase defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore, he said.
"We have started working towards becoming atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the defence sector. In the initial phase, it was difficult because we were trying to transform the entire system. Since Independence, we have been dependent on other countries for weapons. It had become a necessity for us to buy defence equipment from abroad, and indigenous production was almost non-existent," he said.
"We have given a strong push to manufacturing weapons within the country. This was not easy at all, as the nation had slipped into a comfort zone regarding defence procurement. We had become habitual of buying weapons from other countries," he said.
"The situation was not conducive for us; in fact, it was adverse. But even in such circumstances, we did not stop. We took every possible step to promote defence manufacturing, and today, those efforts are yielding visible results. You must have seen the bravery of our armed forces during Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor is the finest example of self-reliance in India's defence sector as the majority of the equipment used by the armed forces was indigenous," he added.
India launched Operation Sindoor in May, destroying the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
"India has been promoting the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world is one family - and it is the only country that spreads this message. We do not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion," he asserted.
"But terrorists from a neighbouring country killed Indian citizens in Pahalgam after questioning their religion. Yet, see the restraint of the Indian armed forces - when we killed them, it was not on the basis of religion but based on their deeds," the minister said.
"In this ever-changing world, where new technologies emerge every day and old things are replaced, skill is the key. In the current scenario, having a skill is not enough - the ability to apply that skill is equally important. India has the advantage of being a young nation, and if our youth possess the right skills, no one can stop India from moving ahead. Our demographic dividend will become more powerful if it is backed by skill," Singh said.
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