India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the successful use of indigenously built weapons during this year’s Operation Sindoor has triggered a sharp rise in international demand for Indian-made defence systems. Addressing the Controllers’ Conference 2025 of the Defence Accounts Department in New Delhi on 7 July, Singh said “the world is looking at our defence sector with new respect” as combat performance has validated locally produced platforms once largely imported. Singh urged the Defence Accounts Department to evolve from a “controller” to a “facilitator” as private industry’s role in defence expands. He argued that delays in financial clearances can directly affect operational readiness and called defence spending an economic “investment with multiplier impact.” Citing Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data that put global military expenditure at US$2.7 trillion in 2024, he said the figure presents “tremendous opportunities” for Indian exporters. Warning that “peacetime is an illusion,” the minister said India must remain prepared for sudden security shocks even during periods of calm. He added that the government’s next objective is to begin manufacturing large engines domestically, further reducing import dependency and strengthening the country’s status as an emerging arms supplier.