Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges Boost in Indigenous Drone Production to Strengthen India’s Strategic Autonomy

Amid present geopolitical uncertainties, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday underscored the urgent need to build a robust drone production ecosystem in India to ensure strategic autonomy, strengthen defence preparedness, and make the nation self-reliant.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the National Defence Industries Conclave, Rajnath Singh stressed that India must adopt a “mission mode” approach to emerge as a global hub for indigenous drone manufacturing in the coming years.

“India must work in a mission mode to emerge as a global hub of indigenous drone manufacturing in the next few years,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, highlighting the increasing role of drones in modern warfare.

He pointed to ongoing conflicts, from the Russia-Ukraine war to tensions between Iran and Israel, as proof that drones and counter-drone technologies are becoming critical in future battles and added that self-reliance in drone manufacturing is essential not only at the product level but also at the component level.

Building Self-reliance in Drone Technology

“From drone moulds to its software, engines and batteries, everything must be manufactured in India. This is no easy task. In most countries where drones are manufactured, a significant number of critical components are currently imported from China,” Rajnath said.

He emphasized that creating a strong defence industrial ecosystem requires contributions from large industries, MSMEs, startups, and individual innovators, combined with clear policy support from the government tailored to India’s specific defence needs.

The minister called for active participation from the private sector while assuring full government support to transform India into a global hub for indigenous drone manufacturing.

He highlighted the role of initiatives like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) as game-changers, enabling startups, innovators, and MSMEs to develop novel solutions that meet the defence forces’ requirements.

Startups and MSMEs Driving Innovation

Rajnath shared the progress under iDEX, saying, “As of Feb 2026, 676 startups, MSMEs and individual innovators have joined the defence innovation ecosystem since inception of iDEX in 2018. In total, 548 contracts have been signed; and 566 challenges launched.” Of these, 58 prototypes have cleared procurement worth around Rs 3,853 crore.

“Further, 45 procurement contracts have already been signed, worth nearly Rs 2,326 crore. These figures demonstrate that innovation is gradually materialising into tangible products and technologies, and the role played by our startups and MSMEs in this transformation is steadily gaining strength,” he added, underlining the growing contribution of India’s indigenous defence innovation ecosystem.

Strategic Push Towards Self-Reliance

Rajnath Singh’s emphasis on building a fully indigenous drone ecosystem is not just timely but strategically crucial for India. With modern warfare increasingly dominated by unmanned aerial systems, relying on foreign suppliers, especially for critical components like engines, batteries, and software poses both operational and security risks.

By promoting startups, MSMEs, and innovation-driven programmes like iDEX and ADITI, India is not only strengthening its defence preparedness but also fostering a high-tech industrial base that can drive long-term economic and technological growth.

This mission-mode approach could position India as a global leader in drone technology, reduce dependence on external players, and ensure that the country can respond swiftly to emerging geopolitical challenges with homegrown capabilities.