President Droupadi Murmu has underscored that a self-reliant nation is better equipped to maintain economic stability, reinforcing India’s strategic pivot toward indigenisation across defence, technology, and critical infrastructure sectors.
The statement aligns with the Government of India’s Make in India initiative and the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat framework, which have become cornerstones of defence procurement and military modernisation policy over the past five years. India’s emphasis on reducing import dependence has accelerated across the armed forces, with the Defence Ministry progressively raising local content thresholds in weapons procurement and capital acquisition.
The indigenisation agenda has yielded measurable results in platforms developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Indigenous programmes including the Tejas light combat aircraft, Arjun main battle tank, Akash air defence system, and BrahMos cruise missile have reduced the armed forces’ reliance on foreign platforms while building domestic industrial capacity.
The defence ministry has progressively expanded the list of items banned for import, compelling original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to establish local production ecosystems or partner with Indian industry. This policy framework has strengthened relationships between the armed forces, DRDO, private sector defence contractors, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the supply chain.
Economic stability derived from defence self-reliance extends beyond procurement costs. Indigenous weapon systems reduce foreign exchange outflows, create high-skill manufacturing employment, and develop export-competitive defence technology capabilities. India has positioned itself as an emerging defence exporter, with platforms like the Tejas and BrahMos attracting international interest from friendly nations and regional partners.
The armed forces have also prioritised life-cycle support and technology absorption through indigenous production partnerships. Platforms including the HAL Dhruv helicopter, INS Kalvari-class submarine, and newly developed indigenous corvettes demonstrate India’s progression toward complete self-sufficiency in critical military platforms, reducing long-term operational costs and technical dependency.
The President’s remarks reinforce the defence ministry’s commitment to accelerating domestic innovation and reducing procurement timelines through sustained investments in DRDO laboratories, defence public sector undertakings, and private sector partnerships. This strategic autonomy is viewed as foundational to both military capability and macroeconomic resilience.
