Defence Technology

The defence industry of India is a strategically important sector in India.

[1] India has one of the world’s largest military forces with a strength of over 14.4 lakh (1.44 million) active personnel. It has the world’s largest volunteer military of over 51 lakh (5.1 million) personnel.

[2] The total budget sanctioned for the Indian military for the financial year 2021 is ₹4.78 lakh crore (US$67 billion).It has the third largest annual defence budget behind USA (US$732 b) and China (US$261 b).

[3]It is the second largest defence importer behind Saudi Arabia making up 9.2% of global arms import. India has a domestic defence industry of which 80% is government owned. The public sector includes DRDO and its 50 labs, 4 defence shipyards, 5 defence PSUs and 41 ordnance factories.

[4]India has a new defence procurement, acquisition and manufacturing policy to reduce imports and enhance domestic manufacturing.

[5]Post-independence, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was formed in 1958 for the military’s research and development under the control of the Ministry of Defence.