Bhubaneswar, March 20 -- In a strong push towards defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for India to emerge as a global hub for drone manufacturing in the coming years, highlighting the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern warfare. Addressing the National Defence Industries Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, he emphasised that building a robust indigenous drone ecosystem is critical in the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions worldwide.

Citing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia, the Defence Minister said that drones and counter-drone technologies are rapidly becoming central to future battle strategies. He stressed that India must not only manufacture drones domesticall...