Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat has found one of its most tangible expressions in the Srijan Defence Portal. It is a digital gateway that has fundamentally transformed India’s approach to defence indigenisation. Launched in August 2020 during the height of global supply chain disruptions, it represents a strategic paradigm shift from import dependence to indigenous innovation.

Srijan’s remarkable success, with over 36,000 defence items uploaded and more than 14,000 successfully indigenised, demonstrates how digital infrastructure can serve as a catalyst for national strategic autonomy.

The strategic implications extend far beyond procurement statistics. In an era where geopolitical tensions with China and evolving global defence dynamics demand self-reliance, Srijan has emerged as a critical instrument for reducing vulnerabilities while simultaneously positioning India as a credible defence partner on the global stage.

Its success coincides with India’s defence production reaching an unprecedented Rs 1.51 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, marking an 18% growth over the previous year and representing a 224% increase since 2014-15. This transformation reflects not merely economic progress but a fundamental recalibration of India’s strategic posture.

The conceptualisation of Srijan Defence Portal emerged from a critical recognition that India’s defence ecosystem required a structure strong enough to break decades of import dependence. Launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as part of Atmanirbhar Week celebrations, Srijan was designed as a one-stop shop connecting Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Service Headquarters, and private industry. The timing was also critical, following the May 2020 border tensions with China and amid global supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic, India needed........

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