Rajnath Singh presents SIDM Champion Awards for indigenous defence manufacturing

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presented the SIDM Champion Awards 2026 during the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi. A total of 15 awards were presented to organizations for their achievements in areas including indigenous technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence, and exports.

Addressing the theme “Sovereign Capabilities, Contested Frontiers: Accelerating India's Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Disruption,” Singh emphasized that national security relies on the ability to design, develop, and control the technologies used by defence forces. He urged the industry to increase private sector participation, strengthen research and development (R&D), and enhance production capacity to advance India's self-reliance.

Singh noted the ongoing transformation of India's defence sector from a major importer to a reliable exporter of sophisticated military hardware, expressing confidence that the nation's talent pool and industrial capabilities will position it among the world's leading defence manufacturing nations.