New Delhi, November 10
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a comprehensive review meeting of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) at the newly inaugurated DPSU Bhawan, World Trade Centre, Naoroji Nagar, here today. The meeting witnessed the felicitation of four DPSUs – Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on being granted Miniratna (Category-I) status.
Addressing the gathering, Singh commended the DPSUs for their steadfast contribution to strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and advancing the vision of a self-reliant India. “All our 16 DPSUs are serving as strong pillars of the country’s self-reliance. Their excellent performance in operations like Operation Sindoor testifies to the reliability and capability of our indigenous platforms,” he underlined, congratulating the organisations for their continued dedication and excellence.
Singh commended HSL, AVNL, IOL and MIL for achieving the Miniratna status and described it as a reflection of their growing efficiency, autonomy and contribution to the defence sector. He highlighted that the transformation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven new DPSUs in 2021 ushered in greater functional independence, innovation and competitiveness. Defence Minister added that the newly granted Miniratna status to these four DPSUs will empower them to undertake capacity expansion, modernisation and explore new ventures & collaborations, including joint ventures and mergers with both public & private sector partners.
Highlighting the sector’s remarkable performance, Singh underlined that in the year 2024-25, India achieved defence production worth Rs 1.51 lakh crore, with DPSUs contributing 71.6 per cent of the total. Defence exports reached Rs 6,695 crore, underscoring global confidence in India’s indigenous systems. “This clearly indicates that ‘Made in India’ defence products are gaining global respect,” he added.
Emphasizing the need to sustain this momentum, Defence Minister urged all DPSUs to focus on rapid indigenization of critical technologies, holistic R&D, product quality enhancement, timely deliveries and adoption of a strategic approach to increase exports. He directed DPSUs to define clear indigenization and R&D roadmaps with measurable milestones to be presented at the next review meeting. “On behalf of the Government, I assure you that wherever special intervention or assistance is required, it will be provided promptly,” he understated.
As part of the event, three major MoUs were exchanged among DPSUs, reflecting the spirit of collaboration and self-reliance. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed MoUs with Yantra India Limited (YIL) to support its modernization efforts and establish a 10,000-ton Forging Press facility, a crucial step towards reducing import dependence for aluminium alloys used in the defence and aerospace sectors. HAL has committed an interest-free advance of Rs 435 crore to YIL, while BDL will provide a sustained workload of up to 3,000 metric tonnes over ten years. The third MoU was signed for the creation of a Metal Bank at MIDHANI to ensure uninterrupted availability of critical raw materials for defence projects of national importance.
Defence Minister also unveiled a series of R&D initiatives, including the HAL R&D Manual, aimed at strengthening the R&D ecosystem through digitisation, intellectual property generation and collaboration with Indian academia. The R&D Roadmap of DPSUs integrates ongoing initiatives and future strategies, marking a shift from licensed production to indigenous design and development, a decisive step towards technological self-sufficiency in defence.
In a major step towards sustainable defence manufacturing, Singh launched SWAYAM – Sustainable and Green Defence Manufacturing, a comprehensive compendium that captures the green transition across DPSUs. Anchored in the Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Action Plan (CEEAP) 2023, SWAYAM details efforts to enhance energy efficiency, expand renewable energy adoption, and reduce carbon emissions across the defence production ecosystem. Supported by digital tools like the SWARNA Dashboard and DPSU Energy Efficiency Index, the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to combining sustainability with self-reliance.
