New Delhi [India], July 7: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that global demand for Indian defence equipment has surged following Operation Sindoor, positioning India to tap into a growing USD 2.7 trillion world military market.
Speaking at the Controllers’ Conference organized by DRDO, Singh highlighted that the valor displayed by Indian soldiers during Operation Sindoor and the performance of indigenous defence equipment have enhanced India’s reputation internationally. “The world is looking towards our Defence sector… a big market is awaiting us,” he said.
Singh emphasized the importance of judiciously utilizing India’s defence budget—larger than the GDP of some countries—to ensure effective growth. “When a significant portion of people’s hard-earned income is allocated to the Defence Ministry, our responsibility increases exponentially,” he noted, urging optimal deployment of resources for national security objectives.
The Defence Minister lauded the Defence Acquisition Council’s approval of capital procurement through the GeM portal, calling it a “commendable step” towards transparency and efficiency. He also praised ongoing efforts to develop a Comprehensive Pay System and centralized database management for defence personnel.
Highlighting the role of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), Singh stressed that it is not just about managing finances on paper but also integral to the nation’s security framework. “When you work honestly, its impact even reaches the soldiers guarding our borders. They feel supported,” he said.
The Controllers’ Conference 2025, hosted from July 7-9 at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi, was inaugurated by Singh in the presence of senior military and civilian leaders, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. This flagship event serves as a platform for policy dialogue, strategic review, and advancing India’s defence financial architecture.
This year’s conference theme, ‘Transforming Financial Advice, Payment, Audit and Accounting through Defence Finance and Economics’, marks a shift in DAD’s mission, reflecting a new strategic vision for a future-ready defence finance ecosystem. The event features eight high-level business sessions on budget reforms, internal audit restructuring, pricing innovation, and capacity building.
DAD, managing a defence budget of Rs 6.8 lakh crore—including Rs 1.7 lakh crore for pensions—has recently implemented key digital reforms like:
- SAMPURNA: AI-driven automation for procurement and payments,
- SPARSH: Serving 32 lakh pensioners with transparent pension delivery,
- SPARSH VAN: Mobile pension outreach for veterans,
- e-Raksha Awaas: Recovering over Rs 500 crore in rent,
- Defence Travel System (DTS) and AI tools for smarter procurement.
These reforms underscore India’s push for a competitive and self-reliant defence industry aligned with emerging national security needs.