Self-reliance in defence linked to sovereignty: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Self-reliance in defence is directly linked to India's sovereignty, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, urging all stakeholders to research and develop critical technologies required by the armed forces.

Speaking at an event here, he said defence and security are the collective responsibility of the entire nation and urged states and UTs to implement best practices to strengthen the defence industrial base.

At the inauguration of 'Opportunities of Defence Manufacturing in the Country', Singh said that during Operation Sindoor, when a mock drill was needed, all state governments and their agencies participated in the effort. "All this is proof that when we all work together towards a goal, no challenge is too great."

The minister also highlighted the growth of India's defence manufacturing sector over the past decade, which was at over ₹46,000 crore in 2014 and has now increased to over ₹1.5 lakh crore in 2025. He shared that over ₹33,000 crore of production now comes from the private sector.