New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the goal is to make India the world’s biggest military power on its own. He launched seven new defence firms, in a big move to improve India’s self-reliance and defence preparedness.

The Government converted 41 Ordnance factories into 7 Government run corporate entities. Speaking on the occasion Modi said that for the first time since Independence, many major reforms were rolled out in India’s defence sector and it has more transparency and trust than ever before.

After dedicating the seven new Sate run defence firms replacing the over 200 year old Ordnance Factory Board, Modi said a single-window system has been put in place instead of stagnant policies to develop India as a major producer of defence equipment. Under the self-reliant India campaign, the country’s goal is to make India the world’s biggest military power on its own and development of modern military industry in India, he said.

Dedicating seven new defence companies to the nation. https://t.co/13GpYvGyFm

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 15, 2021

In the last seven years, the country has worked to carry forward this resolve with the mantra of Make in India, he added. PM in his video address at the event said that as India enters 75 years of Independence; projects are being completed that were stuck for a long time.

Today, there is more transparency, trust, and technology driven approach in the defence sector of the country than ever before. For the first time after Independence, so many major reforms are happening in our defence sector. Instead of stagnant policies, a single-window system has been put in place, he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and representatives from the defence industry associations were present on the occasion. The seven new defence companies that have been incorporated are Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVANI), Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWE India), Troop Comforts Limited (TCL), Yantra India Limited (YIL), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Gliders India Limited (GIL), the PM’s Office said.