Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat broadcast on June 28, highlighted India’s growing self-reliance in defence and technology.
He cited the maiden flight of the made-in-India C-295 aircraft, successful indigenous missile tests, and the commissioning of locally built naval platforms as key achievements.
Modi said the first C-295 military transport aircraft completed its maiden flight on June 10, strengthening India’s aviation sector. The Indian Air Force is procuring 56 aircraft, with 40 being assembled in Vadodara by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in partnership with Airbus. He noted that the project boosts MSMEs and creates employment opportunities.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Shanshak, and INS Agrya into the Navy’s fleet, all designed and manufactured indigenously. He added that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) off Odisha’s coast on June 15, underscoring India’s technological progress.
Modi emphasised that “from the seas to the skies, India is becoming increasingly secure and self-reliant.” He also spoke about initiatives in agriculture, education, environment, and culture, including chemical-free farming, AI courses at Central Sanskrit University, conservation of Meghalaya’s root bridges, and eco-brick projects in Madhya Pradesh.
