The Nifty Defence index saw a notable rise of 2.56% on Wednesday, driven by optimism over a strong order pipeline for defence stocks, with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) leading the gains at 5.48%. Recent approvals by the Defence Acquisition Council for procurement worth Rs 67,000 crore, including 97 Tejas Mk1A fighters, have bolstered market confidence. Analysts predict substantial order inflows, estimating over Rs 1 lakh crore for Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) alone. The overall positive sentiment reflects a robust outlook for the Indian defence industry, underpinned by government support and a commitment to sustained growth in domestic manufacturing capabilities.