Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh Chairs Defence Consultative Committee Meeting on Military Modernisation in Jaisalmer

KOCHI: Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Defence on ‘Modernisation of Indian Defence Forces’ in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, driving comprehensive deliberations on emerging multi-domain security challenges, technological integration, and building a future-ready military. Emphasizing the Government’s commitment to equipping the Armed Forces under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Minister highlighted key financial and strategic milestones, noting that the defence budget for FY 2026–27 reached a record ₹7.85 lakh crore, with a capital outlay of ₹2.19 lakh crore allocated for capital procurement and capability enhancement. He outlined India’s rapid trajectory toward self-reliance, with domestic defence production expanding from ₹46,429 crore in FY 2014–15 to ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, and exports growing from under ₹2,000 crore to nearly ₹40,000 crore, setting an ambitious target to achieve ₹3 lakh crore in defence production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029. Underscoring the critical balance between cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and human capital, Shri Rajnath Singh cited the successful operational deployment of specialized Indian Army formations, such as the ‘Asani’, ‘Bhairav’, and ‘Shaktiban’ platoons, as pivotal adaptations to evolving battlefield dynamics. The high-level meeting—attended by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Members of Parliament, and senior military leadership—concluded with a structured roadmap focusing on jointness, indigenous manufacturing, and streamlined acquisition processes.