Third Delhi Defence Dialogue at MP-IDSA takes up defence reforms, self-reliance and exports

3 November 2026

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the third edition of the Delhi Defence Dialogue, held at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses on 3 and 4 November. Its theme was 'Defence Reforms, Aatmanirbharta, Collaborations and Exports'. He said military preparedness in this century is tied to technological and industrial capability, and that real self-reliance needs the knowledge to design a platform, the technology to make it, the intellectual property to improve it and the ability to sustain it through its life. He listed Defence Industrial Corridors and the corporatisation of the former Ordnance Factory Board into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings as steps already taken. Defence production in 2025-26 touched about Rs 1.78 lakh crore and exports Rs 38,424 crore, with Indian defence products reaching more than 80 countries. The targets set for 2029 are Rs 3 lakh crore of production and Rs 50,000 crore of exports. MP-IDSA Director General Sujan R Chinoy noted two preparatory roundtables and the first ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum.