Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar stressed the need for self-reliance in India’s defence manufacturing to tackle conventional and unconventional challenges. Delivering a lecture on ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Sector and Various Government Initiatives’, organised by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in New Delhi on December 12, 2025, he defined Aatmanirbharta as avoiding dependence on others through indigenous design and development of equipment, upgrade capabilities, and full control over products. He highlighted initiatives like the Srijan Scheme, Positive Indigenisation Lists, Make Procedures, and iDEX in fostering a robust defence ecosystem, while underscoring the role of audit agencies in ensuring transparency. Kumar reiterated the government’s commitment to these efforts for strategic independence.