India Must Achieve Defence Self-Reliance Across All Sectors: Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has articulated a comprehensive vision for India's defence self-reliance, urging the country to build homegrown expertise and manufacturing capacity across the entire spectrum of military technology.

Addressing the NDTV Defence Summit 2026, Singh emphasized that India's strategic autonomy depends on reducing dependence on imported defence systems and technologies. His call for self-reliance "from chips to ships" underscores the necessity of developing indigenous semiconductor manufacturing alongside advanced naval capabilities.

The Defence Minister highlighted several critical areas requiring focused development, including artificial intelligence applications, drone technology, cyber warfare capabilities, and space-based systems. These domains have assumed heightened importance in contemporary security challenges and represent key battlegrounds for technological advantage among major powers.

Singh's remarks reflect India's broader push to strengthen its domestic defence industrial base through initiatives like "Make in India" and the promotion of private sector participation in defence manufacturing. The emphasis on technological self-sufficiency aligns with India's strategy to enhance operational preparedness while reducing vulnerabilities associated with external supply dependencies.

The focus on emerging technologies alongside traditional defence platforms signals recognition that modern security challenges extend beyond conventional warfare into cyber, space, and artificial intelligence domains where indigenous capabilities are equally critical to national interests.