Overview
On 18 July 2026, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh praised Operation Sindoor as proof of India’s growing self‑reliance in defence. He linked the success of the mission to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision pursued by the Modi government since 2014.
Key Developments
- Procurement of over Rs 2,400 crore from start‑ups and MSMEs under the iDEX scheme.
- Sanction of projects worth Rs 1,500 crore for new defence technologies.
- Signing of 551 contracts with 676 start‑ups by March 2026.
- Proposal of Rs 70,000 crore investment for defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with Rs 10,000 crore already spent.
- Positive Indigenisation Lists covering 509 items from the armed forces and 5,012 items from public‑sector undertakings.
- Annual defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore** in FY 2025‑26, aiming for **Rs 2 lakh crore** this year and **Rs 3 lakh crore** by 2029.
- Defence exports rose to **Rs 38,000 crore** in FY 2025‑26, with a target of **Rs 50,000 crore** by 2029.
Important Facts
The operation employed advanced systems such as the Akash missile, BrahMos, and the Akash Teer. The Ministry highlighted that 75% of the defence modernisation budget is earmarked for procurement from Indian industries under the upcoming Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).
Exam Relevance
Understanding