Context
Despite high expectations, the defence announcements during the Russian President’s visit did not materialise as India is more focused towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
India’s Shift in Defence Sector
Defence Budget: The defence budget has seen a steady rise, growing from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013–14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025–26.
Production: India, once heavily dependent on arms imports, now has a defence production value of ₹1.51 lakh crore, up from ₹46,000 crore in 2014.
65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, a significant shift from the earlier 65-70% import dependency.
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