New Delhi, Aug 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence and said India which was once completely dependent on import of defence equipment is today exporting to numerous countries and emerging as a global manufacturing hub.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of 78th Independence Day, the PM said that there was a time when a majority of the defence budget was used to procure weapons and equipment from abroad but his Government focused on indigenous manufacturing to make the nation self-reliant.
He lauded the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces for taking a series of decisions, including the notification of a number of positive indigenisation lists, wherein there are over 5,600 items that will be procured only from the Indian industry.
He expressed satisfaction that India, which was once completely dependent on import of defence equipment, was today exporting to numerous countries.
It may be recalled that due to the persistent efforts of the Government, the annual defence production hit a record high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2023-24. In the same fiscal, defence exports touched a record high of Rs 21,083 crore, an increase of 32.5 percent over FY 2022-23.
Moreover, there has been a massive jump in defence exports in the first quarter of FY 2024-25. Rs 6,915 crore worth of defence equipment has been exported in the first quarter, an increase of 78 percent from the first quarter of FY 2023-24, when the figure was Rs 3,885 crore.
Referring to the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 air strike, Modi said that there was a time when the country was a victim of terror attacks, but today it is bold and strong, with the Armed Forces giving a befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country.
He asserted that the nation is proud of its brave soldiers who selflessly serve the motherland.
On the growing role of women in all the sectors, Modi emphasised the women are not just participating in the progress of the nation, but are playing a leadership role.
“Be it the Army, Navy, Air Force or the space sector, we are witnessing the ever-growing Nari Shakti of our country,” he said.
