"When wars break out, entire supply system gets impacted": Rajnath Singh underscores importance of indigenisation in Nagpur
Nagpur, June 19
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday performed the 'Bhoomi Pujan' for a state-of-the-art 10,000-ton Aluminium Extrusion Press at the Yantra India Limited facility in Nagpur, hailing it as a symbol of India's "transformational mindset" towards self-reliance.
Addressing the gathering, the Defence Minister emphasised that the project reflects India's shift from being an importer to a domestic manufacturer of critical infrastructure.
"This is the symbol of our transformational mindset. The needs for which the country had to once look outside are now being gradually built in our own country by our own citizens. I think this is necessary because we can all see the situation in the world today," Singh said.
Highlighting the fragility of global logistics during international conflicts, the Defence Minister underlined the strategic importance of indigenisation.
"When wars break out, the entire supply system gets impacted. So, in such a time, every country wants all necessities related to its security to remain in its own hands and be built by its own hands," he added.
Highlighting the rapid growth of India's defence sector, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the country's domestic defence production and exports have seen a massive surge since 2014.
''Our domestic defence production was only Rs 46,000 crore. But today, I am happy and proud to announce to all of you that if we look at the data for India's financial year 2025-26, it has now increased to a record of more than Rs 1,78,000 crore. India's defence exports in 2014 were approximately Rs 1,000 crore. Today, you will be happy to know that at this time, we are exporting weapons worth approximately Rs 40,000 crore, made on Indian soil by the hands of skilled workers,'' he said.
The ceremony is attended by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and other senior officials of the Department of Defence Production as well as YIL.
Asserting India's rising global stature and strategic strength, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the world now recognises India as a powerhouse that "cannot be played with," highlighting the nation's journey towards complete self-reliance.
Speaking at the 'Bhoomi Pujan' ceremony for the 10,000-ton Aluminium Extrusion Press at the Yantra India Limited (YIL) facility in Nagpur, Fadnavis pointed towards recent strategic milestones as proof of India's evolution.
"When Operation Sindoor was done, the entire world saw India's progress and its strategic capability. The entire world now believes that India is a country which cannot be played with," Fadnavis said.
Drawing a sharp contrast with the past, the Deputy CM emphasised that the current leadership has transformed the nation's security outlook.
"This is not old India, this is New India. This India stands on its full strength, with Atmanirbharta (self-reliance)," he added.
The proposed extrusion press will be a major national asset for the defence manufacturing sector. It will strengthen the nation's capability to produce large, high-strength and precision aluminium alloy extrusions to cater to the requirements of defence & aerospace sectors, according to the release.
The project will help reduce dependence on imports of critical aluminium extruded components and support indigenous manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive numbers, but I hope the quality of these made-in-India defence products matches global standards. We've seen delays and quality issues in some indigenous projects before. That said, the direction is absolutely correct—no country should be dependent on others for national security. Let's hope the execution matches the ambition.
As someone who has worked in defence logistics, I can tell you that Rajnath Singh is spot on. During the Kargil War and even recent border tensions, we saw how dependent we were on foreign spares. This aluminium extrusion press will help produce critical components for aircraft and missiles without waiting for imports. Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not just a slogan—it's survival strategy.
Good to see Nagpur getting such a big defence project. The city already has Ordnance Factory and now this will create more jobs for local engineers. I just hope the government also focuses on R&D and not just manufacturing. Import substitution is fine, but we need to innovate too, not just copy.
The strategic logic is undeniable. When global conflicts erupt, even friendly countries prioritize their own needs. India has learned this lesson the hard way. But let's not forget that indigenisation needs sustained investment in education and skill development. Presses and factories are useless without skilled workers to operate them.
Fadnavis's comment about 'Operation Sindoor' might be a bit overstated, but I get the sentiment. The world does take India more seriously now. However, self-reliance shouldn't mean isolation
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