'India Emerging as Top Weapon Exporters, Will Become Developed Country by 2047': Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday stressed that 75% of India’s defence budget has been “set aside” to invest in Made-in-India weapons and said that the country is emerging as “one of the top weapon exporters”.

Addressing Firstpost’s Defence Summit 2024 being held in the national capital, Singh said, “We have set aside 75% of India’s defence purchase budget to invest in made-in-India weapons, to give a boost to domestic companies.”

“Exporting weaponry requires us to venture outside of our comfort zone, and we undertook that daring step,” Rajnath Singh said, adding that India is now one of the top 25 weapons exporters in the world.

‘India Will Be A Developed Country By 2047’: Rajnath Singh

Talking about India’s aspirations, the Defence Minister stated that the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has resolved to make the country “developed by 2047”.

“We haven’t concentrated on revdi culture. We do not guarantee to offer anyone a mixer or a colour television. We do not wish to handicap anyone. However, we wish to invest in youthful human resources. We will make India a developed country by 2047, this is our resolve,” the Defence Minister said.

“India lacks neither funds nor intent, lacks neither the courage to take risks nor the patience. India emerging as one of the top weapon exporters. We want to emerge as a global leader,” Rajnath Singh added during his address.

The Defence Minister also noted that the Indian soldiers are now using weapons that were created in India by Indians. “We have made sure that our army uses indigenous resources and we even took a step forward to export these arms and equipment,” he said.

Rajnath Singh on Increasing Role of Women

Rajnath Singh also ensured that the role of women in the Indian Army will keep increasing coming future. “Women are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men in every field in our country, I can say with confidence that the role of women in the Indian Army will increase in coming days,” he added.

“Women’s participation in various fields in India is continuously rising. They are now moving forward in the right direction. As a Defence Minister, I can definitely say that the participation of women in the defence sector has increased in recent times. Their role has grown with time and I assure you that their participation will further get bigger in the military,” Singh asserted.