Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday (October 16, 2025) said that 'Operation Sindoor' is the finest example of self-reliance in India's defence sector as the majority of the equipment used during the operation by the armed forces was indigenous.
Mr. Singh was speaking at the 6th convocation of the Symbiosis Skills & Professional University in Pune.
"We have started working towards becoming atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the defence sector. In the initial phase, it was difficult because we were trying to transform the entire system. Since Independence, we had been dependent on other countries for weapons. It had become a necessity for us to buy defence equipment from abroad, and indigenous production was almost non-existent," he said.
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India has now "broken the barrier" that had existed since Independence, the Minister said.
