Raksha Mantri presents SIDM Champion Awards and renews the call to lift the private share of defence production to 50%

10 October 2026

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh presented the SIDM Champion Awards 2026 at the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers in New Delhi on 9 October 2026.
Fifteen Champion Awards were given for indigenous technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and export contribution.
He said India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, and that the target is ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
He recalled his call to raise the private sector's share of total defence production from about 24% to 50%.
Spending on research and development, he said, should be treated as an investment that strengthens operational readiness and competitiveness.
He added that national security increasingly depends on India's own capacity to design, develop, manufacture and control the technology its armed forces use.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General (Acquisition) A. Anbarasu and SIDM office bearers were present.