Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that conventional warfare and military capabilities remain as relevant today as they were in 1947 and will continue to play a vital role in safeguarding national interests in the future.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for a 10,000-tonne aluminium extrusion press at Yantra India Limited (YIL) in Ambajhari, Nagpur, Singh emphasized the importance of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the need to strengthen India’s military-industrial base.
The new facility is expected to significantly reduce India’s dependence on imports of critical aluminium components required for defence production.
Highlighting the lessons from global conflicts, Singh said that supply chains often face severe disruptions during wars and geopolitical crises.
“In such a scenario, every nation wants essential items to be manufactured domestically,” he said, stressing that a country capable of fulfilling its own requirements can move forward with greater confidence and resilience.
The Defence Minister noted that despite rapid technological advancements, conventional warfare and traditional military capabilities continue to hold strategic importance.
“Conventional warfare and means are still relevant today, just as they were in 1947. They will remain equally important even in 2047,” Singh said.
He added that a strong military-industrial base would remain indispensable for national security and defence preparedness in the coming decades.
Highlighting India’s growing defence capabilities, Singh said the country’s defence production has witnessed a remarkable rise, increasing from approximately Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1,78,000 crore in 2025-26.
He further noted that India’s defence exports have also recorded significant growth, rising from around Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to nearly Rs 40,000 crore at present.
Singh said the government’s focus on indigenous manufacturing, technological innovation, and self-reliance under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative has played a key role in strengthening India’s defence sector and enhancing its global standing in defence production and exports.
