India No Longer Imports Arms, UP Leads Defence Manufacturing: Rajnath Singh

Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that India is no longer reliant on imported weapons and is steadily building its own defence capabilities, with Uttar Pradesh at the forefront of this shift. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Lucknow, Singh underlined the role of the state’s defence industrial corridor and the UP Aerospace and Defence Unit and Employment Promotion Policy. He said the initiative is aimed at attracting major investments, creating large-scale employment opportunities for youth, and curbing migration. Singh added that Uttar Pradesh, once seen as backward, is now emerging as a key hub for industry and national security projects.