New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the annual performance of 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in New Delhi, assessing their achievements in indigenous defence production, advanced technology development, exports, supply-chain strengthening and execution of major projects.
The review meeting was attended by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and the Chairmen and Managing Directors (CMDs) of the 16 DPSUs.
Rajnath Singh Highlights DPSUs’ Contribution to Record Defence Production
During the meeting, the Defence Minister appreciated the contribution of DPSUs towards strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and advancing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Rajnath Singh noted that all 16 DPSUs have demonstrated progress across multiple sectors and congratulated them for their continued efforts and performance.
Key Performance Highlights
- India achieved defence production worth approximately ₹1.8 lakh crore in FY2025-26.
- DPSUs contributed around ₹1.29 lakh crore to the overall defence production.
- DPSUs have continued to expand indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
- Focus areas include advanced defence technologies, exports, supply chains and major project execution.
The Defence Minister described the achievement as an important step towards developing a more self-reliant defence industrial base.
Read also: India Defence Exports Hit Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY 2025-26, Up 62.66%; DPSUs Lead with 151% Growth
Defence Minister Calls for Timely Delivery and Lower Import Dependence
Rajnath Singh urged DPSUs to further improve their performance and focus on strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
He called upon the companies to prioritise:
- Timely delivery of defence equipment and projects
- Reduction in import dependence
- Technology-led R&D
- Expansion of defence exports
- Higher productivity through capital expenditure
- Greater support for startups and MSMEs
- Products meeting global quality standards
The Defence Minister emphasised that India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem needs to be capable of ensuring reliable supplies and maintaining production capacity during periods of heightened demand.
DPSUs Must Turn R&D Investment Into Technology Leadership
While welcoming increased investment by DPSUs in research and development, Rajnath Singh said the success of R&D should not be measured only by the amount spent.
He stressed the importance of converting R&D efforts into tangible outcomes, including:
- New technologies
- Intellectual property
- Working prototypes
- Operational products
- Advanced indigenous capabilities
He also called for identifying niche technology areas where India can move beyond self-reliance and emerge as a global technology leader.
Rajnath Singh Calls for Global-Standard Quality
The Defence Minister also stressed the need for DPSUs to raise the quality of their products to international standards.
He said the objective of “Make in India, Make for the World” should be supported by globally competitive products, technologies and manufacturing capabilities.
Rajnath Singh called for a transformation of DPSUs into global giants, capable of competing in international defence markets while meeting India’s strategic requirements.
DPSUs Present ₹3,951 Crore Dividend Cheques to Government
During the event, CMDs of seven DPSUs presented dividend cheques totalling ₹3,951 crore to the Defence Minister towards the Government’s equity share for FY2025-26.
The seven DPSUs were:
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
- Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE)
- BEML
- Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)
The dividend contribution reflects the financial performance of these defence public sector enterprises and their contribution to the government as shareholders.
Four Publications Released on Self-Reliance and Defence Innovation
On the occasion, Rajnath Singh released four publications highlighting initiatives related to indigenisation, innovation and future defence capabilities.
The Publications Include:
‘Aatmanirbhar DPSU – A Journey of DPSUs Towards Self-Reliance’
The publication outlines plans for indigenisation, new products and new manufacturing processes to be developed and adopted over the next five years.
‘DISHA’
The initiative focuses on interaction between defence industries and students, providing young minds with hands-on exposure to defence technologies and modern manufacturing processes.
HAL Modernisation Roadmap
The roadmap outlines measures to transform HAL into a future-ready aerospace enterprise.
HAL Indigenisation Roadmap
The publication focuses on strengthening self-reliance in the aerospace and defence sectors through greater indigenisation.
DPSUs’ Progress Linked to National Security
Rajnath Singh underlined that the growth and progress of DPSUs is not limited to economic or industrial considerations but is directly connected with India’s national security.
He highlighted the importance of assured supply chains, surge manufacturing capacity, availability of critical spares, rapid repair capabilities and the ability to sustain production during prolonged conflicts.
The review meeting therefore placed emphasis on building a resilient, self-reliant and globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting India’s long-term strategic requirements.
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