Defense Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's resolve to respond decisively to provocations, while also setting an ambitious target of Rs 50,000 crore in defense exports by 2029. Speaking at the Sardar Sabha in Vadodara, Gujarat, Singh emphasized that India is a peace-loving nation but is fully capable of delivering a "befitting reply" to anyone who attempts to harm its interests.
Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025, involved missile and air strikes on alleged militant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India stated that the operation targeted infrastructure linked to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, in response to a terrorist attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. According to Indian military spokespeople, the strikes were carefully planned to avoid damage to civilian infrastructure. Pakistan, however, claimed that the strikes hit civilian areas, including mosques, and resulted in casualties.
Singh commended the Indian Armed Forces for their courage and professionalism during Operation Sindoor, noting that the world now recognizes the strength of India's military. He highlighted that the success of the operation showcased the prowess of indigenously developed equipment and platforms, such as the Akash missile system and BrahMos missiles. He also lauded the industry for their work on innovation and design. The Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said that the Navy's strong action during Operation Sindoor forced Pakistan's naval forces to stay close to their coastline.
In addition to showcasing India's military capabilities, Singh outlined the government's commitment to building a self-reliant defense ecosystem. He highlighted the "Make-in-India" initiative, which aims to promote indigenous defense production and reduce dependence on imports. Singh noted that defense exports have increased nearly 34-fold in the last 11 years, and the government is now aiming for Rs 3 lakh crore in defense production and Rs 50,000 crore in defense exports by 2029.
The Defence Minister has expressed confidence that India's defense exports will reach Rs 50,000 crore by 2030. He mentioned that in 2014, India's defense exports were around 600 crore rupees, but have now surged to 24,000 crore rupees. The government aims to reach INR 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029-30, reinforcing its Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Singh emphasized that the government is carrying forward the national security vision of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who stressed the importance of modernizing the armed forces and promoting indigenous weapon production. He stated that India is moving forward with the vision of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" and aims to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He also pointed out that defence exports, which stood at approximately INR 600 crore a decade ago, surpassed INR 21,000 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24.
