New Wave Of Defence Self-Reliance: Private Players Take Driving Seat In Strengthening Atmanirbhar Bharat

By ZeeNews

September 19, 2025

During the recent Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underlined the need for continuous reforms and technological self-reliance, particularly emphasising indigenous development in defence technology and manufacturing. Reiterating the Government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that self-reliance is not a slogan, but a necessity, which is key to strategic autonomy. He emphasised that defence indigenisation under self-reliance is fueling economic growth, generating employment, and enhancing the capacity of shipyards, aerospace clusters and defence corridors.

For decades, India's defence sector was defined by a dependence on imports, a reliance that left its armed forces vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and limited its strategic autonomy. That dependency is now being steadily replaced with a concerted effort to establish India as a credible hub for indigenous defence innovation, with policymakers, public institutions, and private industry working in tandem to build systems that are technologically advanced, reliable, and globally competitive.