SIDM Champion Awards 2026: Record Defence Exports and the Push for Private Sector and R&D in Defence
The Defence Minister presented the SIDM Champion Awards 2026 at the 8th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi on 9 October 2026. 15 awards recognised firms for indigenous technology, product innovation, design, import substitution (making at home what was earlier imported), manufacturing and exports.
The session's theme was "Sovereign Capabilities, Contested Frontiers: Accelerating India's Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Disruption".
India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, over 60% higher than the year before. The target of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029 was repeated.
The Ministry of Defence asked industry to raise the private sector's share of defence production from about 24% to 50%, to treat R&D (research and development) spending as an investment, and to build surge capacity (the ability to quickly raise production in a war).
Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, the ministry stressed that modern wars depend on drones, missiles, air defence and fast-changing software and communication technologies.
Reforms listed as helping private industry: the Defence Acquisition Procedure, the Defence Procurement Manual, the Positive Indigenisation Lists, the SRIJAN portal and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX). SIDM itself was set up in 2017 as a common platform for large firms, MSMEs, startups, academia and foreign equipment makers.
India's Defence Exports
Defence exports are the weapons, equipment, parts and services that Indian companies sell to the armed forces of other countries. They include missiles, radars, guns, helicopters, patrol boats, body armour, ammunition and software. For most of its history, India mainly bought weapons from abroad. Since the mid-2010s, it has been trying to become a seller too, and exports have grown many times over.
The record exports of ₹38,424 crore were the headline achievement highlighted at the SIDM session. The ministry's calls for more private sector production, higher R&D spending and surge capacity are the steps needed to reach the ₹50,000 crore export target by 2029 and to reduce India's dependence on imports.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is the Ministry of Defence's scheme to get startups, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), individual innovators, research labs and universities to solve problems faced by the armed forces. It gives them grants (money that does not have to be repaid), mentoring and a path to sell their product to the forces. It was launched on 12 April 2018 at DefExpo 2018 at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
iDEX was named among the reforms that have widened the role of private industry, including startups and MSMEs that SIDM represents. The ministry's push for more R&D and fast-changing technologies like drones and air defence is exactly the area where iDEX challenges bring new firms into defence.
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020
The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 is the Ministry of Defence's rulebook for buying weapons and equipment for the armed forces. It decides how a purchase is approved, from whom equipment is bought and how it is tested. It came into force on 1 October 2020 and gives first preference to equipment designed and made in India. One of its key tools for self-reliance is the Positive Indigenisation List.
The Defence Acquisition Procedure and the Positive Indigenisation Lists were named among the reforms that have opened space for India's private defence industry. By reserving purchases for Indian-made products, they create a steady home market that helps companies grow, invest in R&D and then export.
- SIDM Champion Awards 2026: 15 awards, at SIDM's 8th Annual Session, New Delhi, 9 October 2026
- SIDM established: 2017
- Session theme: "Sovereign Capabilities, Contested Frontiers: Accelerating India's Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Disruption"
- Defence exports 2025-26: ₹38,424 crore, growth of over 60% (62.66%) over 2024-25
- Export target: ₹50,000 crore by 2029
- Private sector share of defence production: about 24%; goal of 50%
- Defence production 2025-26: ₹1.78 lakh crore
- Reforms cited: Defence Acquisition Procedure, Defence Procurement Manual, Positive Indigenisation Lists, SRIJAN portal, iDEX