India has set an ambitious target to take its defence production to ₹3 trillion and defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced these goals while chairing a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defence in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
The meeting was held on the theme of “Modernisation of Indian Defence Forces.” The plan shows that the government wants the country to become not only a stronger military power but also a major maker and exporter of defence equipment.
To understand how large this target is, the current level of defence production needs to be seen. India produced defence equipment worth about ₹1.78 trillion in the financial year 2025-26.
Reaching ₹3 trillion by 2029 will require production to rise by about 69 per cent, or nearly ₹1.22 trillion more every year. This means factories, private companies, public-sector units, start-ups and research institutions will have to work together at a much faster pace.
Defence exports are also expected to grow strongly. At present, India’s defence exports are around ₹40,000 crore. The new target of ₹50,000 crore means an increase of about ₹10,000 crore, or roughly 25 per cent.
This is important because higher exports do not only bring foreign exchange; they also show that Indian-made weapons, vehicles, radars, ammunition and other systems are being trusted by other countries.
The journey so far has been remarkable. In 2014-15, India’s defence production was only ₹46,429 crore, while exports were less than ₹2,000 crore in 2014. Since then, production has increased nearly four times and exports have grown almost twenty times.
This rise reflects the government’s push for “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” which encourage Indian companies to design, develop and manufacture defence equipment within the country.
The government has also increased financial support for the armed forces. The defence budget for 2026-27 has been raised to a record ₹7.85 trillion. Out of this, ₹2.19 trillion has been kept for capital expenditure on defence services, and ₹1.85 trillion is meant for capital acquisition, which is mainly used for buying and developing modern equipment.
This money is expected to help the Army, Navy and Air Force meet their operational needs while also strengthening domestic manufacturing.
At the Jaisalmer meeting, the discussion was not limited to money and production numbers. Members talked about new security challenges, changing methods of warfare and fast-moving technologies.
The main idea was to prepare the armed forces for both present and future conflicts. There was a clear need for next-generation platforms, advanced weapon systems and modern technologies that can improve combat readiness.
Another major focus was stronger coordination among the three services. The meeting stressed tri-service integration, joint operational planning and better use of capabilities across land, air, sea, cyber and space.
In simple terms, the Army, Navy and Air Force need to act as one coordinated force rather than working separately. This becomes especially important in modern warfare, where threats can come from drones, cyberattacks, electronic systems and space-based technology.
Self-reliance remained at the centre of the discussion. The government wants more domestic research, design, development and manufacturing in defence. It also wants private industry, start-ups and academic institutions to play a bigger role.
Closer cooperation among the armed forces, DRDO, defence public-sector companies, private firms and universities is expected to turn new ideas into real military capability more quickly.
The meeting also highlighted artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned platforms, cyber capabilities, space technology, electronic warfare and advanced communications.
These areas are becoming central to future conflicts, and India wants to ensure that its forces are not left behind. The ministry said the discussions created a roadmap that includes clear priorities, better coordination, faster acquisition processes and regular review of progress.
If India achieves these 2029 targets, it will mark a major step in its defence journey. More production can create jobs, support local suppliers and reduce dependence on imported equipment. Higher exports can improve India’s global standing and make the country a reliable partner in the international defence market. The real challenge will be turning these big numbers into actual factories, technologies, deliveries and export orders within the given time.
