Rajnath Singh’s DPSU Review: 2025’s ‘Year of Reforms’ Targets Rs 50,000 Cr Exports
On November 10, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spearheaded the annual performance review of India’s 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in New Delhi, igniting the ‘Year of Reforms’ with a clarion call for innovation, indigenization, and explosive export growth. Amid a 51% surge in FY2024-25 exports to Rs 21,000 crore, the push targets Rs 50,000 crore by 2029, doubling R&D spends to Rs 32,766 crore over five years. This isn’t rhetoric—it’s a blueprint for Atmanirbhar Bharat’s defense engine.
Performance Snapshot: Turnover, Profits, and Export Leap
DPSUs clocked Rs 1.08 lakh crore turnover in FY2024-25, up 15.4% YoY, with Profit After Tax hitting Rs 20,021 crore—a 19.5% rise. Veterans like HAL, BEL, and BDL led R&D historically, but reforms spread investments: seven new DPSUs from Ordnance Factory corporatization pledge Rs 3,000 crore, shipyards Rs 1,300 crore.
| Metric | FY2023-24 | FY2024-25 | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover (Rs Cr) | 93,500 | 1,08,000 | 15.4 |
| Profit After Tax (Rs Cr) | 16,750 | 20,021 | 19.5 |
| Exports (Rs Cr) | 13,900 | 21,000 | 51 |
Reforms in Action: R&D Roadmaps and Green Initiatives
Singh unveiled HAL’s new R&D Manual for agile projects and the ‘Swayam’ report on renewable energy efficiencies across DPSUs—first-of-its-kind compilation. MoUs for private partnerships and felicitations highlighted export wins, from drones to electronics. Risks like global tariffs loom, but localization mitigates them, eyeing AI and hypersonics.
Global Ambitions: From Importer to Exporter
2025’s reforms democratize R&D, empowering newer DPSUs. With Samanvay 2025’s tech transfers, India eyes Southeast Asian markets, blending innovation with diplomacy.
This review cements 2025 as transformative: DPSUs aren’t just building weapons—they’re forging India’s global defense stature.
