Record Defence Exports in FY 2025‑26 India’s Ministry of Defence reported that defence exports hit an all‑time high of Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025‑26 , a 62.66% increase over the previous year. The surge reflects the government’s push to make India a global defence manufacturing hub under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Key Developments Overall export value: Rs 38,424 crore, up by Rs 14,802 crore from Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024‑25. DPSU performance: DPSUs recorded a 151% jump , contributing Rs 21,071 crore. Private sector growth: Private firms added Rs 17,353 crore, a 14% rise from the previous year. Export reach: Indian defence products are now sold to more than 80 countries , with the number of exporters rising to 145 (13.3% increase). Regulatory facilitation: The Department of Defence Production launched a revamped online portal and simplified SOP for export authorisations. Important Facts The export composition shows a near‑equal split: 54.84% from DPSUs and 45.16% from the private sector . Compared with five years ago, the export figure has roughly tripled, underscoring growing international confidence in Indian defence technology. Relevance for UPSC Understanding this trend is crucial for several GS papers: GS 2 (Polity): Role of the Raksha Mantri and inter‑ministerial coordination in shaping export strategy. GS 3 (Economy): Impact of defence exports on trade balance, foreign exchange earnings, and the ease of doing business reforms in the defence sector. GS 4 (Ethics & Integrity): Transparency in defence procurement and export licensing, and the need to curb corruption. Way Forward To sustain momentum, the government may consider: Further streamlining export clearances and expanding the digital portal to cover end‑to‑end tracking. Incentivising R&D in emerging domains such as unmanned systems, cyber‑warfare, and space‑based defence. Strengthening public‑private partnerships to leverage private sector agility while retaining strategic control. Negotiating bilateral and multilateral defence trade agreements to open new markets. These steps will help India consolidate its position as a leading defence exporter and contribute to strategic autonomy and economic growth.