India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh affirmed the country’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with Russia, highlighting that 60-70% of its defence equipment is of Russian origin. With a focus on indigenous production, India has allocated 1.33 lakh crore for defence procurement this year, predominantly sourced from domestic suppliers. The Defence Ministry aims for a 20% budget increase for modernisation, enforcing strict procurement timelines to prevent delays. Notable contracts signed last year, along with ambitions to boost defence exports to over 50,000 crore by 2030, reflect India’s strategic intent to maintain strong ties with Russia while simultaneously broadening partnerships with the US and other Western nations, thus ensuring its strategic autonomy in defence.