Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the Chairmen and Managing Directors (CMDs) of eight Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) at South Block today, commending their contributions to national security and urging greater emphasis on research, innovation, and timely delivery.
The Raksha Mantri lauded the defence industry, particularly the DPSUs, for their role in developing critical platforms and technologies that showcased India’s military readiness during Operation Sindoor. He stressed the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the domestic defence industrial base under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In light of evolving global security challenges and recent military operations, Rajnath Singh called on DPSUs to accelerate production involving latest technologies and intensify research and development in emerging domains such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare.
Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar presented performance statistics during the meeting, noting that the total value of production by the defence sector is expected to exceed ₹1,40,000 crore for FY 2024–25, with DPSUs contributing approximately 78% of this figure.
While acknowledging this production growth, the Defence Minister urged the public sector units to prioritize timely delivery of equipment and systems to the Armed Forces and other clients. He also directed them to enhance their global competitiveness by stepping up exports and improving product marketing strategies.
The Minister extended special congratulations to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for achieving Maharatna status and to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) for attaining Navratna status—recognitions that reflect their expanding scale and operational excellence.
In a symbolic gesture of fiscal strength and accountability, the CMDs of 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 handed over interim dividend cheques worth ₹2,138 crore to the government for FY 2024–25.
The meeting underscored the central role of DPSUs in the country’s defence preparedness and echoed the government’s call for building a technologically superior and self-reliant defence ecosystem.
