In a significant review meeting held at South Block, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh engaged with the Chairmen and Managing Directors (CMDs) of eight Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), emphasizing their vital role in enhancing national security. The Minister praised the contributions of DPSUs in developing critical military platforms and technologies, which were instrumental during recent military operations, including Operation Sindoor. He reiterated the government’s strong commitment, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to bolstering the domestic defence industrial base.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the necessity for DPSUs to adapt to evolving global security challenges. He urged them to expedite production processes, particularly for technologies incorporating autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare. The emphasis was on intensifying research and development efforts in these emerging fields to stay ahead in global defence capabilities.
During the meeting, Secretary of Defence Production Sanjeev Kumar presented an optimistic outlook for the defence sector, forecasting that total production value would likely surpass ₹1,40,000 crore for the fiscal year 2024–25, with DPSUs expected to contribute around 78% of that total. While acknowledging this positive trend, the Defence Minister stressed the urgent need for timely delivery of equipment and systems to the Armed Forces and other clients, marking punctuality as critical for operational success.
Furthermore, Rajnath Singh called for DPSUs to elevate their global competitive standing by ramping up exports and enhancing marketing strategies for their products, thus positioning Indian defence industries favorably on the international stage.
As part of the meeting, the Minister extended special congratulations to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has recently achieved Maharatna status, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), which attained Navratna status. These recognitions signify their growing operational excellence and scale within the defence sector.
In a notable display of fiscal responsibility, the CMDs of the participating DPSUs—including HAL, MDL, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), and BEML Limited—presented interim dividend cheques totalling ₹2,138 crore to the government for FY 2024–25.
The meeting concluded by reaffirming the crucial position of DPSUs in national defence preparedness and resonated with the government’s vision of developing a technologically advanced and self-reliant defence ecosystem.
