Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at day-long defence conclave at the Manekshaw Centre in the national capital, highlighted the transformational journey of India’s defence sector under the Modi government since 2014. He said it has been a sharp shift from dependency on imports to self-reliance.
The well-attended conclave witnessed participation of senior defence officers, policy makers, technocrats, scientists, innovators.
Rajnath Singh asserted that India is not only securing its borders but also emerging as a major player in the international defence ecosystem. “The day is not far when India will not only become a developed country, but our military power will also rank number one globally,” he said.
The defence minister highlighted India’s growing importance in global defence supply chains. “While India moves steadily toward self-reliance, it is also ready to strengthen global supply chain resilience,” he noted. ‘The Make in India’ initiative, he added, is not only enhancing domestic production but also insulating manufacturing from external shocks. He stressed that India’s expanding defence capabilities serve as a deterrent rather than a provocation. “Peace can only be ensured when we are strong. Our capabilities are meant to maintain peace and stability,” he said.
Rajnath Singh also pointed to India’s growing technological edge, highlighting achievements in missile systems (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), drones, AI, and cyber defence. However, he acknowledged that aero engine manufacturing remains a critical gap. “There has been progress under the Kaveri engine project, and we are in discussions with global companies like Safran, GE, and Rolls-Royce to build domestic capacity,” he said.
On the evolving nature of warfare, the defence minister warned that future conflicts will be more violent and unpredictable, with cyber and space domains emerging as key battlegrounds. In addition, the battle for narrative and perception is increasingly significant, he said. To meet these challenges, Rajnath Singh announced that 2025 has been declared the ‘Year of Reforms’ by the Ministry of Defence, reflecting a push for comprehensive transformation. Singh concluded, “India’s defence sector is not only growing stronger domestically but also gaining recognition globally. Earlier, India was not taken seriously. But today, when India speaks, the world listens. Our aim is clear—to become a developed nation and a leading military power.”
The future conflicts will be more violent and unpredictable, with cyber and space domains emerging as key battlegrounds. In addition, the battle for narrative and perception is increasingly significant. To meet these challenges, 2025 has been declared the ‘Year of Reforms’ by the Ministry of Defence, reflecting a push for comprehensive transformation: Rajnath Singh
The conclave’s various theme reflected the tectonic shifts underway in India’s defence narrative – driven by technological advancements, geopolitical challenges, and the push for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance). Across seven panel discussions, participants explored everything from defence reforms and indigenous production to emerging technologies and the evolving role of startups and MSMEs in the sector.
The first panel discussion of conclave, titled ‘Momentous Changes: Defence Reforms’ focused on reforms in the defence sector. In his opening remarks, former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra highlighted the urgent need for structural and policy-level reforms to modernise India’s defence apparatus.
Lieutenant General Vinod Khandare (Retd) emphasised that reforms are neither a one-off event nor a short-term endeavour – they are a continuous process that must build on the past and prepare for the future. “The era of ‘no war’ is over, and conflicts are no longer short-lived,” he said.
Lieutenant General DP Pandey provided a practitioner’s view of defence reforms. He challenged the notion that warfare would become less violent, arguing that due to global power asymmetries, the spread of radical ideologies, and challenges like climate change, warfare has in fact become more brutal.
Group Captain (Retd) Rajiv Kumar Narang focused on the role of technology in driving reforms. He proposed that defence verticals be treated as equal stakeholders in all reform processes, including initiatives promoting tri-service integration. He also called for reforms within the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), suggesting the creation of a technical branch to better address defence-related needs. Another significant proposal of his was the establishment of a Defence and Aeronautical Commission to oversee procurement and policy matters.
Speaking at another panel discussion former Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande said if the aim of reforms is to enhance capability building, operational preparedness and efficiency, it should encompass all three services. Defence reforms should not be seen in isolation, they must form part of overall transformation efforts in the defence sector, he further said.
He pointed out that while reforms are about making changes within an organisation and have limited scope, and may have to do with specific issues, transformation is more fundamental and has to do with mindset, is broader in scope and has to do with organisational changes.
Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, speaking on the topic: “India’s Defence Export Potential” emphasised on the progress made under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to achieve self-reliance in defence production. He underscored the government’s commitment to reducing import dependency and fostering indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
The panel discussion ‘Momentous Changes: Defence Reforms’ focused on reforms in the defence sector. In his opening remarks, former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra highlighted the urgent need for structural and policy-level reforms to modernise India’s defence apparatus
Maj Gen KV Jauhar, former DG, Army Design Bureau, who moderated the session said India’s strategic geopolitical positioning helps the cause a lot. He said some path-breaking policy reforms which were put into place by the government in the past decade, the push towards the ‘Make in India’, Aatmanirbharta in defence, and the private defence industry maturing itself to be able to deliver to the demands of the world were also important factors. The remarkable rise in the defence innovation ecosystem with MSME startups coming up and working on niche technology also was important.
Dharmendra K. Singh, joint secretary and acquisition manager at MoD, said India is very much ready to make for the world and it was ready in fact a few years back when Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought the policy of Aatmanirbharta. Airbus has established two final assembly lines and two pilot training centres in India. It has increased its sourcing from a mere $500 million in 2019 to $1.4 billion in 2024.
At the panel discussion on ‘Start-ups and MSMEs: Challenges, opportunities and expectations from the Government’ the panellists agreed that the Indian government has provided crucial support through strategic collaborations and R&D. The government’s confidence in the startups has increased significantly.
Speaking at another panel discussion former Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande said if the aim of reforms is to enhance capability building, operational preparedness and efficiency, it should encompass all three services. Defence reforms should not be seen in isolation, they must form part of overall transformation efforts in the defence sector, he further said
The panellists also felt that while the experience has gotten better for startups when it comes to prototyping and the interaction of the user community with developers, there is still some way to go when it comes to contracting, induction and scaling.
Scaling and digitisation are extremely important for growth, felt Prof Mannan Suri. He also suggested a progressive IPR policy. “Let innovators hold the IPR,” he said. “They must have flexibility with their IPR.” Rini Bansal, Director Carbon Light who works on developing advanced material, said that material science is a fundamental building block of any technology. In the last two decades, India has started investing a lot more in material science, but countries like China, Germany and the US are far ahead.
Expressing confidence in the MSMEs, Commodore Arun P Golaya, former OIC, Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC), Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation said, there couldn’t be a better time to be a startup in India. However, he had some caveats. He said the government must listen more to the startups. “From AI to robotics, they know the field better,” he said.
Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), made a compelling case for enhancing India’s investment in research and development (R&D), particularly in the defence sector. Speaking at another panel discussion at the conclave, Dr Kamat stressed that both the government and the private sector must step-up to meet the demands of the future battlefield.
Dr Kamat concluded on a hopeful note, expressing confidence in India’s ability to overcome past challenges. “I am sanguine we can rise to the occasion and achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by the prime minister.”
During the session focused on ‘Building a Builder’s Navy,’ the experts emphasised the need for long-term planning, technological advancement, and strategic investments to position India as a global hub for naval manufacturing.
Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence, speaking on the topic: “India’s Defence Export Potential” emphasised on the progress made under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to achieve self-reliance in defence production. He underscored the government’s commitment to reducing import dependency and fostering indigenous manufacturing capabilities
Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition (CWP&A), said asymmetric threats and increasing pressure on global sea lanes have created a surge in demand for warships.
Commodore RS Vasan (Retd), Director General of the Chennai Centre for China Studies, stressed the need for India to learn from China’s rapid ascent. “China builds over 51% of the world’s ships—India contributes less than 1%. The difference is staggering,” he noted. “With 330 warships and cutting-edge technology, China has captured the global market by building the necessary infrastructure and scaling up quickly. We need to ask: why would the world come to us unless we offer similar scale and efficiency?”
Cdr Vasudev Puranik, Director (Planning & Personnel), Mazagaon Dock, said comparisons with China should account for historical context. “Both India and China were agrarian economies. China shifted to manufacturing in the 1990s, while India wasn’t population-ready for such a transition,” he said.
“In the next 20 years, we’ll have a robust ecosystem to support conventional submarine construction if we start making efforts on building our own production system. The capability exists; it just needs to be developed into a cohesive system.” he further said.
Jathesh Chandra, Director General (Design) at Cochin Shipyard, highlighted the practical challenges faced by the Indian shipyards.
During the session focused on ‘Building a Builder’s Navy,’ the experts emphasised the need for long-term planning, technological advancement, and strategic investments to position India as a global hub for naval manufacturing
Former Admiral Sunil Lamba, said, “We came out with our first naval plan in 1948 and the national maritime document in 2004. Unfortunately, we still don’t have a national security strategy, which is the need of the hour according to him. Only then can we know the military capability required to support this strategy, and only then can we build a powerful force for the future.”
Collectively, the speakers agreed that India must act decisively to build a resilient, future-ready shipbuilding industry – one that not only meets domestic needs but also supports global partners.
Rajnath Singh, along with Riyad Mathew, Chief Associate Editor, THE WEEK and Director of the Malayala Manorama group, also launched a dedicated microsite for defence news on THE WEEK’s website. Congratulating THE WEEK for its continuous coverage of defence matters and organising its first defence conclave, Singh said the publication with its loyal readership will surely leave its mark in the digital space as well.
Speaking at the inauguration of the conclave, Riyad Mathew highlighted THE WEEK’s commitment on covering the defence stories from conflict zones to new technological advancements.
