The Ministry of Defence inaugurated the new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) Bhawan in New Delhi on 10 November 2025 and conducted a comprehensive review of the performance of all 16 DPSUs. The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also marked the conferment of Miniratna (Category-I) status to Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, India achieved defence production worth INR 1.51 trillion in FY2024–25, with DPSUs contributing 71.6 percent. Defence exports stood at INR 6.7 billion, reflecting rising international confidence in India’s indigenous systems. The Defence Minister urged DPSUs to focus on rapid indigenisation, research and development (R&D), product quality enhancement, and a strategic approach to expand export markets.
Three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were exchanged among the undertakings to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed MoUs with Yantra India Limited (YIL) to support its modernisation and to establish a 10,000-ton forging press facility aimed at reducing import dependence on aluminium alloys used in defence and aerospace manufacturing. HAL committed an interest-free advance of INR 4.35 billion to YIL, while BDL agreed to provide a sustained workload of 3,000 metric tonnes over ten years. A third MoU was signed for the creation of a Metal Bank at Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to ensure continuous supply of critical raw materials for strategic defence projects.
The Defence Minister also launched a series of R&D initiatives, including HAL’s R&D Manual and the consolidated R&D Roadmap for DPSUs. The roadmap integrates ongoing and planned initiatives to strengthen indigenous design, development and intellectual property creation, marking a transition from licensed production to technology self-sufficiency.
In a separate initiative promoting sustainability, the ministry launched SWAYAM – Sustainable and Green Defence Manufacturing, anchored in the Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Action Plan (CEEAP) 2023. The programme focuses on enhancing renewable energy adoption, improving energy efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions across DPSUs. It is supported by digital tools such as the SWARNA Dashboard and the DPSU Energy Efficiency Index.
India Optel Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were felicitated for achieving 100 percent renewable energy usage. IOL has been operating entirely on renewable energy since September 2025, reducing 8,669 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and saving INR 2.6 million in the first quarter of FY2025–26. BEL reached the RE100 milestone in January 2025, bringing down its Scope-2 emissions from 15,000 tonnes to zero as part of its net-zero transition.
The newly inaugurated DPSU Bhawan, developed by the Department of Defence Production, serves as a common platform for collaboration among the 16 DPSUs. Located at the World Trade Centre complex in Naoroji Nagar, New Delhi, the facility includes conference rooms, simulation areas and an exhibition space designed to promote innovation and showcase India’s defence manufacturing capabilities to domestic and international stakeholders.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, and the newly recognised Miniratna entities — HSL, AVNL, IOL and MIL — operate under the administrative control of the Department of Defence Production. Collectively, the DPSUs form the backbone of India’s defence manufacturing base, contributing to the nation’s self-reliance goals and export growth strategy.
