There used to be a time when India relied heavily on foreign imports to sustain its armed forces, creating inherent strategic vulnerabilities during geopolitical crises. Today, the nation has decisively pivoted toward a robust framework of self-reliance, indigenous innovation, and sovereign industrial capability. Consequently, the domestic defence ecosystem has rapidly expanded to replace foreign dependencies. Indigenous defence production soared to an all-time high of ₹1.78 lakh crore in the Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, representing a massive 15.6% growth over the previous year and a staggering 110% increase since FY 2020-21. This milestone reflects a definitive structural shift from a buyer-centric approach to a builder-centric industrial philosophy, a shift continuously validated by the Ministry of Defence.