Made-in-India defence platforms gain trust after Operation Sindoor, says Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that the success of Operation Sindoor has significantly enhanced trust in indigenously developed defence platforms. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, he highlighted the growth of India's defence production from about ₹46,000 crore eight to nine years ago to over ₹1.78 lakh crore today.
Operation Sindoor, a decisive military action conducted in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, saw the deployment of several Indian-built defence platforms. Singh noted that this operation demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of 'made-in-India' equipment.
Defence exports have also surged, reaching a record over ₹38,000 crore — a 57-fold increase from ₹686 crore in 2013-14. Singh estimated current exports to be around ₹40,000 crore.
The minister spoke at an event marking 80 years of the Hindi daily Navbharat Times. He described India's progress over the last 12 years as a journey from shortages to self-reliance, and from self-reliance to self-confidence, aiming for a developed nation (Viksit Bharat).
Addressing the role of artificial intelligence (AI), Singh cautioned that while AI can process data, it cannot match human sensitivity and emotional intelligence. He stressed that journalism must balance AI's efficiency with human empathy to maintain credibility. In an era of 'communicative abundance' and misinformation, accuracy and reliability are paramount, especially when reporting on defence and national security.
Singh emphasised that the media holds a national responsibility to uphold accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality, particularly when covering matters of national importance.
