New Delhi. This year, the entire nation is celebrating the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day shines like a ray of pride in India's history. It symbolizes the glorious victory of 1999 when our soldiers, facing snow-covered peaks and relentless enemy fire, recaptured the heights of Kargil with unparalleled courage and unwavering determination. On July 26, the tricolor once again flew proudly on the inaccessible hills of Ladakh, a symbol of sacrifice, valor, and unwavering national spirit.
The Kargil War proved to be a turning point in India's defense journey. It highlighted the need for better coordination, rapid modernization, and greater self-reliance. Over the years, India has undertaken several major reforms to strengthen its defense mechanism and develop indigenous capabilities. Today, these efforts are shaping a stronger, more capable, and increasingly self-reliant military.
From the establishment of the Department of Military Affairs to the Chief of Defence Staff, foreign direct investment in the defense sector, and a continuous increase in the defense budget—these reflect some of the major reforms and initiatives undertaken in recent years.
Under reforms in higher defense management, the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) was established. This department functions under the Chief of Defence Staff, who also serves as its Secretary. The DMA aims to promote jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force and ensure better coordination in defense policies, planning, resource management, and processes.
One of the most significant reforms in higher defense management includes the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The CDS acts as the principal military advisor to the government and plays a crucial role in strengthening jointness, coordination, and integrated military planning among the three services. General Bipin Rawat became India's first CDS in 2020. Currently, General Anil Chauhan holds this responsibility.
The defense industry has been opened up for wider participation by the private sector. To encourage investment in defense manufacturing, the limit for foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route has been increased to 74%. Additionally, FDI up to 100% is permitted through the government route for cases involving modern technology.
As of March 2026, FDI worth ₹6,670.59 crore has been received in the defense sector. The government is also actively promoting co-development and co-production with foreign original equipment manufacturers to strengthen advanced defense manufacturing capabilities.
India's defense budget has increased from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27. During the same period, capital expenditure has also grown from ₹94,587.95 crore in 2014-15 to ₹2.19 lakh crore in 2026-27. This increased investment in the defense sector is strengthening the country's long-term military capability through modern military equipment, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and strategic assets.
India's defense production reached an all-time high of ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, nearly four times the ₹46,429 crore in 2014-15. Furthermore, India's defense exports have increased from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, reflecting a growth of over 56 times. Indian defense products are now being exported to more than 80 countries.
Initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' have established India as an emerging defense manufacturing hub globally. Currently, about 65% of the country's defense requirements are met by indigenously manufactured defense equipment, whereas earlier 65-70% of India's defense needs depended on imports.
The nature of warfare has also changed extensively after the Kargil War. The modern battlefield demands advanced technology, more precise and effective firepower, and rapid decision-making capabilities more than ever before. India has continuously strengthened its military capabilities by incorporating modern military platforms and developing next-generation defense technologies. These capabilities have further enhanced the country's combat readiness and operational efficiency on land, air, sea, space, and other emerging operational domains.
In particular, India has incorporated modern platforms across all three services to strengthen combat capability and enhance operational effectiveness. The Arjun Mk-1A main battle tank, INS Vikrant, Rafale fighter jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, drone-based warfare capability, BrahMos cruise missile, Project 17A stealth frigates, Sandhayak-class survey vessels, and Anala-class shallow water anti-submarine warfare ships are precise examples.
The Arjun Mk-1A main battle tank was inducted into the Indian Army in February 2021, while India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 2, 2022. Meanwhile, the first successful launch of BrahMos took place on June 12, 2001. It has a strike range of up to 290 kilometers and a speed of approximately Mach 2.8.
India is modernizing its armed forces with cutting-edge technology to effectively meet the challenges of future battlefields.
