Make in India ‘not just a slogan but a necessity’, says Rajnath Singh after Operation Sindoor, AMCA greenlight

He added that most people in PoK feel a deep connection with India, and only a handful have been misled.

The recent success of Operation Sindoor has not only established India’s ‘strength and restraint’ on the global stage but also showcased that the nation is getting ready for a new age warfare, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while addressing the CII’s Annual Business Summit in New Delhi on May 29.

Rajnath Singh underscored that India’s rising military strength - showcased during Operation Sindoor - has proven the country’s ability to dismantle terror infrastructure. Calling it a decisive moment for national security, Singh said the success of Make in India in the defence sector was now visible on the battlefield, and understood by the world.

Rajnath Singh also pointed towards India’s rising stature as a major global defence power, with a value of defence production that has surged from Rs 43,746 crore a decade ago to a record Rs 1.46 lakh crore today, with over Rs 32,000 crore contributed by the private sector. Defence exports, once below Rs 1,000 crore, have soared to Rs 23,500 crore, with Indian systems and components now being exported to over 100 countries.

“More than 16,000 MSMEs are now the backbone of our defence supply chain,” said the defence minister, adding that these companies are not only strengthening India's self-reliance but also generating employment for lakhs of people.

Rajnath Singh also talked about the execution model for the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA - India’s proposed fifth-generation fighter jet - has just been approved. “Five prototypes will be developed before series production. This is a historic moment, for the first time, both public and private sector companies will jointly participate in a mega defence project,” said the defence minister, calling it a bold and decisive step for India’s aerospace ecosystem.

Make in India 'not just a slogan but a necessity'

Defence Minister called the push for Make in India as an essential component of India’s national security. “If we didn’t have this capability, our forces wouldn’t have been able to act with such precision and depth during Operation Sindoor,” Singh asserted.

Referring to the 'new normal' that PM Modi had underscored after Op Sindoor, Rajnath Singh said India’s actions have made it clear that terrorism is no longer a cost-effective option for Pakistan. “...Running terror camps is no longer cost effective, there is a cost to it and today, Pakistan has been made aware of it," defence minister added.

Rajnath Singh said India’s inclusive growth, economic resilience, and rising global trust has been key to help India emerge as the fastest-growing major nation as well as the fourth-largest economy in the world.

“This is not just economic expansion, it’s the world’s growing trust in India, and India’s trust in itself,” Singh said.

India’s defence sector is also preparing for next-gen warfare, with increasing capability in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defence, Unmanned Systems, and Space-Based Security.