Year of Reforms 2025: MoD records significant progress in implementing wide-ranging reforms

As the curtains came down on 'Year of Reforms 2025', Ministry of Defence, under the leadership of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, has recorded significant progress in implementing wide-ranging reforms aimed at strengthening jointness, enhancing defence preparedness, promoting self-reliance and improving welfare delivery mechanisms. These reforms, undertaken across the Ministry, reflect a whole-of-government approach towards building a modern, integrated and future-ready defence ecosystem.

• Acquisition Approvals: Defence Acquisition Council approved capital acquisition proposals worth a total of cost of over Rs 3.84 lakh crore since January 2025 to enhance the country's defence readiness, with focus on modernisation through indigenisation.

• Contracts Signed: In the Financial Year 2025-26 till the end of December 2025, Ministry of Defence has signed capital contracts amounting to Rs 1.82 lakh crore for the modernisation of the Armed Forces.
• Expenditure: Ministry of Defence has achieved 80% (Approx. Rs 1.2 lakh crore) expenditure under Capital Acquisition Budget by the end of December 2025. The allocation under this is spent on modernisation of the Armed Forces. The overall capital expenditure of MoD has also reached upto 76% which includes expenditure on Infrastructure, land, R&D etc in addition to capital acquisition.
• Defence Industry & Innovation Enablement: To promote greater indigenisation in defence and secure supply chains, private sector participation has been increased. This includes streamlining defence manufacturing licenses, mapping the competencies of MSMEs, and preparing Market Intelligence Reports to enhance demand-supply analysis in defence procurement. Additionally, testing and trial infrastructure lab facilities are being shared with the private sector. 25% of defence research grants are also being allocated to them along with academic institutions and MSMEs to encourage innovation & strengthen collaboration in the defence sector.
• Acquisition & Procurement Reforms: Procurement processes have been streamlined to reduce timelines, including Simplification of the iDEX manual, Rationalisation of defence export permissions, Revamping of the Defence EXIM Portal, Simplification of Technology Transfer policy and Decentralisation through revised Delegation of Financial Powers and Procurement Manuals (Defence Procurement Manual 2025, implemented w.e.f. November 01, 2025).
• Defence Policy & International Engagement: Review and revision of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, Encouragement of Foreign Direct Investment in defence, Enhanced engagement with friendly countries, Defence Lines of Credit including Bharat Maitri Shakti, and Rationalisation of restricted distance norms near defence establishments are under progress.
• Defence Production & Quality Enhancement: Formation of an Export Promotion Body, Implementation of Quality Assurance 4.0 & Industry 4.0 in DPSUs and Establishment of a National Integrated Test Laboratory for defence platforms are being advanced.
• Jointness & Future Preparedness: Establishment of Joint Operations Control Centre, promulgation of Vision 2047 for the Armed Forces, Creation of a Future Operations Analysis Group, Promotion of joint training programmes and Finalisation of the Integrated Capability Development Plan are under various stages of implementation. Steps taken in this direction bore fruit during the planning and execution of Operation Sindoor.
• Operational Integration & Capability Enablement: Deployment of Tri-Service Geographical Information System, Review and Harmonisation of policies, SOPs and Tactics, Techniques & Procedures for Tri-service uniformity, Expansion of women's roles in combat and leadership positions, Promotion of military tourism and Preparation of a long-term roadmap for operational infrastructure and accommodation have been completed.
• Veterans' Welfare Reforms: To improve delivery of medical cover for veterans and their dependents under ECHS, pan-India doorstep delivery of medicines to 70 year plus Ex-servicemen (ESM) with infirmity introduced, authorised local chemist limits doubled, eSeHAT tele-medicine consultation introduced, pan-India rollout underway; AYUSH treatment at ECHS introduced, Stress management facilities created, Common drug list enhanced, Upgradation of some ECHS polyclinics, Creation of some new polyclinics underway. Enhancement of welfare grants to ESM and their dependents including Penury, Education & Marriage grants implemented.
• SPARSH Pension Portal: 31.69 lakh defence pensioners have been onboarded on SPARSH, India's largest digital pension platform. Out of 6.43 lakh discrepant cases migrated from previous systems, 6.07 lakh have been normalised without affecting pensioners' entitlements.

The sustained reform momentum during the 'Year of Reforms 2025' has strengthened India's defence preparedness and institutional efficiency. These reforms are not isolated initiatives, but part of a continuous process to build a modern, integrated and self-reliant defence ecosystem capable of safeguarding the nation's security interests in the decades ahead.

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VK/Savvy