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R&D share in defence budget dips amid self-reliance ambitions
The decline comes at a time when the DRDO is executing 292 projects valued at over ₹1 trillion
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 "Bhaswar Kumar")
 "Imaging done by Ajaya Mohanty")
Imaging done by Ajaya Mohanty
Closing the most critical gap in India’s defence ecosystem by developing high-thrust indigenous jet engines will require an investment of ₹40,000–50,000 crore: nearly double the Department of Defence Research and Development’s (DDR&D’s) 2025–26 budgetary allocation of around ₹27,000 crore. Although this investment would be spread over multiple years and includes the creation of critical testing infrastructure, it points to the inadequacy of current defence R&D expenditure. While outlining in January the financial and developmental requirements for building a next-generation aero engine in India, DDR&D Secretary and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Samir V Kamat argued that R&D spending
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Bhaswar Kumar
Bhaswar Kumar has over seven years of experience in journalism. He has written on India Inc, corporate governance, government policy, and economic data. Currently, he covers defence, security and geopolitics, focusing on defence procurement policies, defence and aerospace majors, and developments in India’s neighbourhood.
 "Bhaswar Kumar")
First Published: Nov 07 2025 | 5:45 PM IST
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