Madhya Pradesh is set to play a larger role in India’s defence manufacturing push, with Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laying the foundation stone for a T-Series tank overhaul project in Jabalpur on Thursday.
The project, costing more than ₹475 crore, was launched at the Vehicle Factory of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL). CM Dr Yadav and Singh jointly unveiled the commemorative plaque after performing the bhoomi poojan for the project.
MP CM Dr Yadav and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh performing rituals
Addressing the gathering, CM Dr Yadav said the new initiative would mark an important step towards strengthening the Indian Army and transforming Jabalpur into a major defence manufacturing centre.
Jabalpur’s defence legacy
CM Dr Yadav said Jabalpur had carved out a distinct identity in the defence sector and praised the city’s contribution to the country’s military preparedness.
“On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, a new project for protecting the country’s borders is being launched from Jabalpur,” he said, adding that the T-Series tank overhaul project would help the Army enter a new phase.
Referring to Jabalpur’s historical legacy, the Chief Minister recalled the bravery of Rani Durgavati and freedom fighters Raja Shankar Shah and Raghunath Shah. He said the history of warfare had repeatedly shown the importance of technology, making modernisation essential for national security.
A still from the event
CM Dr Yadav also highlighted the state government’s focus on industrialisation, investment and employment. He said Madhya Pradesh’s exports had crossed ₹76,000 crore and described the growing industrial investment in the state as a major step towards economic prosperity.
Defence push to create jobs
Singh described the project as significant for making the Indian Army more self-reliant. He said the overhaul facility would generate employment for local residents while creating new opportunities for small entrepreneurs.
The Defence Minister stressed that although warfare has increasingly incorporated drones, missiles and cyber technologies, tanks continue to play a crucial role in ground operations. He said India must continuously upgrade its military equipment in response to rapidly evolving battlefield technologies.
Singh also said Jabalpur had the potential to emerge as a hub for defence manufacturing, with local youngsters benefiting from new employment opportunities.
India’s defence production surges
Highlighting India’s progress in defence manufacturing, Singh said domestic defence production, which stood at around ₹46,000 crore in 2014, had risen to ₹1.80 lakh crore. Defence exports, he said, had also increased from around ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to ₹39,000 crore.
India has set a target of taking defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2030, Singh said.
He added that the country’s overall tank overhaul capacity would rise to 230 tanks annually following the new initiative. With changing warfare and emerging global security challenges, Singh stressed that India must reduce its dependence on other countries for military equipment.
He said India was steadily laying the foundation to become a global defence manufacturing hub, while empowering its armed forces with domestically produced and upgraded equipment.