New Delhi : Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on Wednesday reiterated the Government of India’s firm commitment to expanding the capacity of the indigenous defence industry for both domestic production and exports under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He emphasised that Indian diplomats will play a crucial role in realising this national objective.
The Raksha Mantri was addressing trainee officers of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) – 2025 Batch at South Block, New Delhi. He underlined that India has come a long way from being one of the world’s largest importers of defence equipment to emerging as a manufacturer and exporter of defence platforms across domains, driven by the absorption of niche and advanced technologies.
Highlighting India’s growing global stature, Shri Rajnath Singh noted that the international community is closely observing India’s growth trajectory and increasingly recognising its leadership role. He urged the trainee diplomats to uphold honesty and integrity while representing the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians abroad, and to remain open to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives while carrying forward India’s civilisational values.
Earlier, the trainee officers were briefed by senior officials of the Ministry of Defence on defence diplomacy, defence budget, tri-service integration, and defence acquisition processes. The batch comprised 55 trainee officers, including 53 Indian officers and two trainees from Bhutan.