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India’s defence exports rose sharply to an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, marking a 62.66% increase over the previous year’s Rs 23,622 crore, according to data released by the Defence Ministry on Thursday.
The surge was led by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), whose overseas sales grew 151% year-on-year to Rs 21,071 crore. Private sector exports also expanded, albeit at a more modest pace, rising 14% to Rs 17,353 crore. DPSUs accounted for 54.84% of total exports, with private firms contributing the remaining 45.16%.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the performance, saying India is steadily moving towards becoming a global hub for defence manufacturing. In a post on X, he credited the growth to policy push and industry participation, describing it as part of an “impressive defence exports success story” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The latest figures underline a broader upward trend, with exports nearly tripling over the past five years. Officials said the growth reflects rising global acceptance of Indian-made defence systems and components, as well as deeper integration of domestic firms into international supply chains.
India now exports defence equipment to more than 80 countries, spanning platforms, subsystems and components. The number of registered exporters has also increased to 145 from 128 last year, indicating a widening industrial base.
The government has attributed part of the growth to procedural reforms aimed at easing exports. The Department of Defence Production has introduced a revamped online portal and simplified authorisation processes, measures officials say have reduced timelines and improved industry access to global markets.
With both state-run and private players expanding their overseas footprint, the government is betting on sustained export momentum to strengthen India’s position in the global defence trade.
Team BharatShakti
