India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh touts global rise and record defence output

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that India’s global stature has shifted dramatically, noting that the world now listens to India’s perspective on key issues. He highlighted the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the crackdown on Naxalism as evidence of the government’s resolve.

Singh pointed to the unprecedented growth in defence manufacturing, with FY 2025‑26 defence production reaching a record ₹1.78 lakh crore—about three‑times the 2014‑15 level—and defence exports surpassing ₹38 000 crore, up from ₹686 crore in 2013‑14. He credited the Make‑in‑India programme and the semiconductor mission for enabling domestic chip production.

The minister also stressed India’s digital surge, citing 22.35 billion UPI transactions in April valued at ₹29 lakh crore, and noted progress toward 6G technology. Social‑welfare reforms such as the JAM Trinity transferred ₹51 lakh crore directly to beneficiaries and curbed leaks of about ₹4.3 lakh crore. He said India now boasts the world’s third‑largest startup ecosystem, with unicorns rising from 4 to 125.