India Aims to Become a Global Leader in Drone Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh's Vision
India's Ambitious Drone Manufacturing Goals
New Delhi: On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the necessity for India to adopt a mission-oriented approach to establish itself as a global center for indigenous drone production. This initiative aims to ensure strategic independence, bolster defense readiness, and achieve self-reliance amid current geopolitical challenges.
During the opening session of the two-day National Defence Industries Conclave at the Manekshaw Centre, Singh pointed out that ongoing global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions between Iran and Israel, highlight the crucial role that drones and counter-drone technologies will play in future military engagements. He stressed that self-sufficiency in drone production is vital, not only at the final product level but also concerning individual components.
He stated, “Every aspect of drone manufacturing, from molds to software, engines, and batteries, must be produced domestically. This is a challenging endeavor, as many countries currently rely on imports from China for critical drone components.”
Singh noted that the development of a nation's defense industrial ecosystem depends on the contributions of large corporations, MSMEs, start-ups, and innovators, alongside a strong policy framework from the government tailored to the nation's defense needs.
As of February 2026, around 676 start-ups, MSMEs, and individual innovators have joined the defense innovation ecosystem since the launch of iDEX in 2018, resulting in 548 contracts being signed. Among these, 58 prototypes have been approved for procurement, valued at approximately Rs 3,853 crore, with 45 contracts already signed worth nearly Rs 2,326 crore.
During the inaugural session, Singh also introduced the 14th edition of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC-14) and the 4th edition of the ADITI challenges under the iDEX initiative. A total of 107 problem statements were launched, including 82 under DISC-14 and 25 under ADITI Challenges 4.0, aimed at fostering innovative solutions across various defense sectors.
Additionally, a new initiative featuring 101 innovation challenges from defense PSUs was unveiled to promote design-led innovation among MSMEs and start-ups.
Singh referred to iDEX and ADITI as transformative initiatives that provide start-ups, innovators, and MSMEs the chance to create innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of the Defence Forces.
He highlighted that MSMEs are increasingly involved in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Automation, and Advanced Manufacturing, marking a significant and positive shift in the industry.
According to recent statistics, the number of MSMEs in India has surged from approximately 4.67 crore in 2012-13 to nearly 8 crore today, reflecting a growing entrepreneurial spirit and the vital role of small industries in driving economic development.
In his address, Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary of Defence Production, noted that the conclave's objective is to advance manufacturing technologies and integrate MSMEs into the entire production ecosystem, from design to manufacturing. He also mentioned the creation of a digital database named Srijan Deep, which lists over 40,000 industries in the defense sector to enhance R&D resources.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, DRDO Chairman Samir V. Kamat, and other senior officials.