PM Modi’s 11-Year Tenure Marks Bold Defence Reforms & Strategic Self-Reliance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed 11 years in office, surpassing Indira Gandhi to become the second-longest-serving PM after Jawaharlal Nehru.

His tenure has been transformative, especially in India’s defence landscape, with a strong emphasis on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, self-reliant India.

Since taking office in 2014, PM Modi has steered India towards reducing dependency on foreign arms imports.

His government prioritised indigenous defence manufacturing, turning India into one of the top 25 arms exporters globally. Between 2014 and 2024, India’s defence exports surged to ₹88,319 crore, a 21-fold increase compared to the previous decade.

Indigenous Military Achievements

Major strides have been made in developing homegrown weapon systems. These include the LCA Tejas fighter jet, Prachand Light Combat Helicopter, Dhanush artillery, ATAGS, Arjun Main Battle Tank, and Akash Missile Systems.

India has also produced Light Combat and Utility Helicopters, as well as naval assets like destroyers, submarines, and indigenous aircraft carriers.

The Ministry of Defence credited strategic reforms and increased private sector involvement for this growth. The government established defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to promote local manufacturing and allocated over 70% of the 2024–25 defence budget to indigenous procurement.

Under PM Modi, India’s military stance has become more decisive. After the 2016 Pathankot and Uri attacks, India carried out its first cross-border surgical strikes, signalling a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

In 2019, the Balakot airstrikes following the Pulwama attack marked the first Indian air raid on Pakistani territory since 1971.

This assertiveness reached new heights in May 2025 during Operation Sindoor, a large-scale retaliation after a terror attack in Pahalgam killed 26 civilians.

The mission targeted terror bases across the Line of Control and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, demonstrating India’s advanced surveillance and integrated warfare capabilities.

India’s defence forces continue to modernise through key acquisitions like Rafale jets, Apache and Chinook helicopters, and S-400 missile systems. Older platforms like the MiG-29 are being phased out in favour of next-generation aircraft such as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), under development by HAL and DRDO.

As PM Modi crosses this historic milestone, India’s defence ecosystem stands stronger, technologically, strategically, and globally.

His vision has laid the groundwork for a modern, self-reliant military prepared to face contemporary challenges while securing India’s place as a formidable force on the global stage.

Also Read: PM Modi’s 11-Year Tenure Marks Historic Milestone In Indian Governance