Independence Day: PM Modi pitches India as global defence manufacturing hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for India to become a global hub for defence manufacturing, with a focus on self-reliance in advanced capabilities such as hypersonic technology and drone systems.

In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said expanding domestic production is critical to strengthening India’s strategic capabilities.

“We have to become a global supplier by leveraging next-generation defence technology,” he said.

The prime minister stressed the need for India to develop expertise in producing drones, counter-drone systems and hypersonic technologies.

Modi also highlighted the country’s growing defence production.

Defence production rises

Over the last few years, the government has introduced a series of policy initiatives aimed at boosting domestic defence manufacturing.

India’s domestic defence production reached Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26, compared with Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, according to the latest government data.

Defence exports reached Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said military projects worth over Rs 8.75 lakh crore had been approved in the last one year as the Modi government remained committed to modernising the armed forces.