Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that in the last 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold and visionary" leadership, India’s defence sector has changed in a big way. According to him, the country has moved from depending on defence imports to becoming a “trusted global exporter”.

In a post on X, Singh wrote, “In the last 11 years, under the bold and visionary leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi, India's defence sector has transformed remarkably from a largely import-driven model to becoming a trusted global exporter.”

He also said that these 11 years are being celebrated as a journey of “strength, self-reliance, and strategic global leadership”. Sharing data on defence exports, Singh mentioned that the government’s focus on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make in India' has played a major role in this transformation.

According to him, India’s defence exports have increased to ₹23,622 crore in 2024-25, up from just ₹1,940 crore in 2014-15. He also pointed out some of the key achievements, such as India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, the multi-role combat helicopter LCH Prachand, and the country’s missile production capabilities.

He further wrote, “Powered by Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make In India, this journey hasda led to record-high defence exports to 100+ countries, indigenous milestones like LCH Prachand, Tejas fighter jets, BrahMos missile production and the rise of defence corridors attracting massive investments.”

“As we celebrate #11YearsOfRakshaShakti, we honour India's stride towards strength, self-reliance and strategic global leadership,” Singh added.

New projects, deals, and ‘Nari Shakti’ in armed forces

In another post, Rajnath Singh shared a video titled ‘Self-reliant defence: Strengthening Tomorrow's Bharat’. The video shows several defence achievements, such as India’s counter-terrorism measures (including Operation Sindoor), military training exercises, soldiers patrolling borders, and the role of women in the armed forces.

“In the #11YearsOfRakshaShakti, India's defence sector has undergone a historic transformation under PM Modi's inspiring leadership, which has resulted in stronger borders, modern armed forces, indigenous weapons, record defence exports, and global trust. "A proud stride towards self-reliance,” Singh said.

This is the third term of the Modi government after the BJP-led NDA won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The swearing-in ceremony took place on June 9, 2024.

Soon after, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) shared a fact sheet that listed the key milestones and achievements in the defence sector over the last 11 years. According to the PIB, “India's defence sector has witnessed an extraordinary transformation over the last eleven years. What was once limited in scale and ambition has grown into a confident, self-reliant ecosystem.”

This change, the fact sheet said, is the result of “firm political resolve and strategic thinking. ” New defence policies have helped boost defence production, exports, innovation, and investments across the country.

According to the report, the Ministry of Defence signed 193 contracts worth ₹2,09,050 crore in 2024-25. This is the highest number of contracts ever signed in a single year. Of these, 177 contracts were signed with domestic companies, worth ₹1,68,922 crore.

One key achievement mentioned was the signing of a wet lease agreement with Metrea Management for a KC-135 flight refuelling aircraft. This is the first time the Indian Air Force will be using a wet-leased aircraft for air-to-air refuelling training. The aircraft is expected to be delivered within six months and will be used to train both Air Force and Navy pilots.

The fact sheet also highlighted the rising role of women in the armed forces, or what is being called “Nari Shakti”. Over the past 11 years, the number of women officers has increased to over 11,000 across all branches of the armed forces.

The government has also granted permanent commissions to 507 women officers, giving them long-term career opportunities and leadership roles.

Another major change has taken place at the National Defence Academy (NDA). For the first time in history, the NDA has started accepting female cadets. The first batch of 17 female cadets joined the academy in August 2022. So far, 126 female cadets have joined in total across four batches.

On May 30, 2025, a proud moment was recorded when these 17 female cadets graduated from the 148th Course, along with 336 other cadets. “This shift reflects the broader integration of women across defence domains, from combat support to piloting fighter jets, underscoring the belief that strength and service transcend gender,” the PIB said.

Peace and security: Major drop in terrorism and Naxalism

The PIB fact sheet also mentioned India’s recent efforts in counter-terrorism and improving internal security. For example, in Jammu and Kashmir, the number of terrorist attacks dropped from 228 in 2018 to just 28 in 2024.

Also, stone-pelting incidents in the region have come down to zero, marking a “new era of peace”, the report added.

On the issue of Naxalism, the report said the government is working through targeted development and special central assistance to eliminate Naxal activity. According to the plan, Naxalism is expected to be eliminated by March 31, 2026.

You might also be interested in: Govt plans to standardise AC temperatures between 20°C and 28°C.