Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh presented SIDM Champion Awards at the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). Fifteen awards were given to recognise organisations for their achievements in indigenous technology development, product innovation and other areas.
On October 09, 2026, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh presented the SIDM Champion Awards at the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi. A total of 15 Champion Awards were distributed to acknowledge the achievements of various organisations in indigenous technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports. In his address, Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of national security that relies on a country's ability to design, develop, manufacture and control technologies and equipment for its Defence Forces. He also expressed confidence in India's talent pool, young workforce, industrial capabilities and policy support, which he believes will enable the nation to emerge among the world's leading defence manufacturing countries.
Rajnath Singh acknowledged SIDM's role in strengthening the domestic defence industrial ecosystem and facilitating policy-industry dialogue. He called upon the Indian defence industry to increase private sector participation in defence production, strengthen research and development (R&D), enhance surge and production capacity, and accelerate technological innovation to advance India's strategic autonomy and self-reliance in defence.
Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that India has transformed its defence industry from a major importer of defence equipment to a credible and reliable exporter of sophisticated military hardware. He mentioned that India's defence exports reached ₹38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, registering an over 60 per cent growth compared with the previous financial year.
Emphasising the importance of private sector participation, Rajnath Singh urged industry leaders to set progressive milestones to achieve the shared national objective of increasing the private sector's share in India's total defence production from approximately 24 percent to 50 percent. He assured the industry that the Government would continue to support its growth while maintaining the necessary standards of regulation, safety, quality and accountability.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
