India’s defence exports have soared to a record Rs 23,622 crore (approximately USD 2.76 billion) in the financial year 2024-25, reflecting a 12.04% increase over the previous year. The growth highlights India’s expanding footprint in the global defence market and its commitment to self-reliance in military production.
According to official figures, exports in FY 2023-24 stood at Rs 21,083 crore. The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) played a significant role in the latest surge, contributing Rs 8,389 crore—marking an impressive 42.85% growth from Rs 5,874 crore in the previous year. Meanwhile, the private sector continued to dominate the export share, recording Rs 15,233 crore, a slight increase from Rs 15,209 crore in FY 2023-24.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a post on social media platform X, lauded all stakeholders for the achievement. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering defence exports, reiterating the goal of reaching Rs 50,000 crore by 2029 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
India’s defence exports have surged to a record high of Rs 23,622 crore in the FY 2024-25. An impressive growth of Rs 2,539 crore or 12.04% has been registered in the just-concluded FY over the defence exports figures of FY 2023-24, which were Rs 21,083 crore.
I congratulate…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 1, 2025
India’s defence exports now reach nearly 80 countries and cover a wide range of products, including ammunition, arms, sub-systems, and critical components. The country’s transition from being heavily reliant on imports to becoming a growing exporter highlights the success of initiatives aimed at promoting indigenous defence manufacturing.
The Department of Defence Production has streamlined export procedures to support the growth in this sector. In the fiscal year 2024-25, a total of 1,762 export authorizations were issued, reflecting a 16.92% increase from the 1,507 granted in the previous year. Furthermore, the number of exporters in the sector grew by 17.4%.
Government reforms in recent years have played a crucial role in this surge. Measures such as simplifying industrial licensing procedures, removing parts and components from licensing requirements, and extending the validity of export licenses have helped accelerate the sector’s expansion. Further, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for granting export authorisations was enhanced in the last fiscal year to provide additional support to exporters.
With increasing global demand for Indian defence products and sustained government backing, the country’s march towards achieving the Rs 50,000 crore export target by 2029 appears firmly on track.
Team BharatShakti
