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News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
'We'll Bury You In Orders': Defence Secretary Pushes For Private Sector R&D Surge
Last Updated: Speaking at CII Summit, Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh highlighted the full potential of defence sector would only be realised through stronger private sector participation. In a strong pitch for deeper industry involvement, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh urged India's private sector to ramp up investment in research and development (R&D), assuring them of robust order books in return. His comments came during the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) Annual Business Summit 2025, held just days after the successful Operation Sindoor, which showcased India's indigenous military strength on the global stage. Addressing industry leaders, Singh stated emphatically, 'We'll bury you, the private sector, in orders — but there is a need for greater investment in R&D from your side." The defence secretary highlighted that while public sector undertakings and government-backed initiatives had led to consistent growth in recent years, the full potential of India's defence sector would only be realised through stronger private sector participation. Operation Sindoor, conducted earlier this month, demonstrated the combat-readiness of Indian-made systems like the Pinaka rocket launchers and Akash missile defence systems, which outperformed Chinese counterparts in field simulations as India struck terror sites and airbases in Pakistan and intercepted drones and missiles launched from Pakistan. The success has elevated global interest in Indian defence exports, creating a ripe opportunity for private firms to scale up their capabilities. Despite India's defence expenditure decreasing to around 1.9 per cent of GDP, Singh stressed that the funds available are sufficient for modernisation goals if efficiently utilised. 'Last year, for the first time in many years, the capital budget was fully spent. Procurement decisions are happening faster now," he noted. Singh also addressed systemic hurdles, acknowledging that remnants of the 'licence raj" still obstruct industry entry. He emphasised ongoing government efforts to streamline licencing and procurement, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and facilitate a more dynamic defence ecosystem. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who also spoke at the summit, echoed the call for self-reliance. 'India cannot remain dependent on others for its security needs. Our goal is not just import substitution but also becoming a global hub for defence manufacturing," he said. He praised the success of Operation Sindoor as evidence of India's evolving military competence and technological edge. Rajnath Singh also reiterated the government's long-term goal of positioning India among the top defence exporters, stating, 'Our indigenous solutions are now proven on the battlefield. We are no longer just a buyer — we are a builder." The summit concluded with a unified call for synergy between policy, innovation, and industry — laying the groundwork for India's defence ambitions in the coming decades. First Published:
India.com
4 days ago
- Business
- India.com
MP Liquor Ban: CM Mohan Yadav Mulls Total Alcohol Prohibition, Promotion Of Milk Production
BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government is inching toward liquor prohibition, following Gujarat's model, while also taking proactive measures to promote milk sales. Speaking at an event commemorating "Lord Jugal Kishore Lok" in Panna, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav indicated this shift, announcing that his government had already banned the sale of liquor within the municipal limits of 19 cities, with more restrictions to follow. 'Liquor destroys families. Our government is mulling over shutting down all liquor shops and replacing them with milk shops, as we are actively promoting animal husbandry, particularly cow protection, through various schemes across the state. In Indian tradition, a person who owns a cow is known as Gopal, while someone who cares for members of the cow's family (kul in Hindi) -- the bovine -- is known as Gokul. Our goal is to establish as many 'Aadarsh Vrindavan' villages with a population of one lakh,' he said. Yadav has set a goal to increase Madhya Pradesh's contribution to India's total milk production from the current 9 per cent to 20 per cent. Also, a plan to cover half of the state geography through cooperative milk procurement centres. At present, the number of such cooperatives is very low, barely 7000. Beginning April 1, 2025, a blanket ban on the sale of liquor within the municipal limits of 19 designated "holy" cities will come into effect in Madhya Pradesh, including the temple town of Ujjain. Notably, the government had shut down 47 composite alcohol shops under the ban that will take effect in 19 locations, including 17 holy cities, from April 1 this year. Composite shops consist of separate outlets for Indian-made foreign liquor and country liquor. The move, announced by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after the approval of the new excise policy, is expected to result in an estimated loss of Rs 450 crore in excise revenue for the state government. Officials note that there are approximately 3,600 composite liquor shops in Madhya Pradesh. The newly introduced excise policy mandates the closure of liquor outlets in revered locations such as Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, and several others. This initiative aims to uphold the sanctity of these towns by prohibiting the issuance of new liquor licenses from April 1 onward. Liquor sales, which play a crucial role in Madhya Pradesh's excise revenue, are expected to generate nearly Rs 17,500 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, compared to Rs 15,500 crore in 2024-25. In addition to the liquor ban, the latest excise policy introduces a new category known as "Low Alcoholic Beverage Bar." Under this policy, establishments will be allowed to serve only beer, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages with a maximum alcohol content of 10 per cent in restaurants, while the sale and consumption of spirits will be strictly prohibited.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India's defence production hits ₹1.46 trn, exports at ₹24k cr: Rajnath
India's domestic defence production has reached an all-time high of ₹1.46 trillion, while exports have crossed ₹24,000 crore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. Addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Summit 2025, Singh said this transformation highlights the strength of the Make in India initiative, which has reduced dependence on imports and bolstered national security. 'India's defence export was less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago; it has now reached a record ₹23,500 crore,' he said. 'This growth shows the credibility of Indian-made systems globally.' Referring to Operation Sindoor —India's counter-terror strike after the Pahalgam terror attack —Singh said it proved the strategic value of indigenous defence capabilities. 'Our home-grown systems surprised the world with their strength and precision,' he added. Focus on new defence technologies Beyond conventional defence systems like fighter aircraft and missile technologies, Singh said India is investing in cyber warfare, space-based capabilities, and AI-driven systems. In the Union Budget 2025, India allocated ₹6.81 trillion to the Defence Ministry, a 9.5 per cent rise from last year's ₹6.22 trillion. This allocation accounts for 13.45 per cent of the total budget and around 1.9 per cent of projected GDP. Singh said the government is encouraging private sector involvement in advanced defence manufacturing, alongside increased funding for R&D. On Pakistan and PoK dialogue Rajnath Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks about recalibrating dialogue with Pakistan. 'Now, whenever talks happen, they will only be on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),' he said. 'The business of terrorism is no longer cost-effective,' Singh said, adding, 'Pakistan now understands this new reality.' He expressed hope that people in PoK, separated 'geographically and politically,' would one day return to India's mainstream. 'We are committed to the resolve of 'One India, Great India',' Singh concluded.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rockford whisky maker Modi Illva eyes Rs 2,000 cr revenue by 2026, ramps up premium play with Singhasan
New Delhi: Modi Illva India , the maker of Rockford whisky and Arctic Vodka, is aggressively targeting a revenue of Rs 2,000 crore in 2025-26 as it accelerates expansion in India's premium and super-premium alcohol segments, a company's top official told ETRetail in an interview. The company ended 2024-25 with Rs 1,500 crore in revenue, marking a significant leap in its trajectory, fueled by rising consumer demand for premium Indian-made liquor . The company's flagship portfolio under the House of Rockford—which includes Rockford Reserve and Rockford Classic—has clocked an impressive 78 per cent CAGR, making it one of the fastest-growing national whisky brands, the official shared. Overall, Modi Illva has maintained a 55 per cent CAGR, underscoring robust growth across categories, he added. Further, Abhishek Modi, executive director of Modi Illva, shared, "Now, the company is doubling down on the premiumisation trend with the launch of Singhasan , its new super-premium Indian whisky aimed at the Rs 1,500–Rs 2,500 price bracket." Positioned to rival imported Scotch labels like 100 Pipers, Teachers, and Black & White, Singhasan is fully Indian-made—a deliberate move to capture the shifting preferences of aspirational, quality-conscious Indian consumers. "We believe today you don't need Scotch to make a quality product," said Modi. "Indian consumers have evolved. They're proud of homegrown excellence—and Indian single malts have laid the foundation for this acceptance." Developed over two years, Singhasan is already seeing encouraging traction from early-launch markets like Goa, Odisha, and Haryana. A broader rollout is now planned post the upcoming state excise policy cycles. "The initial response from trade has been fantastic. What's more important is we're already seeing repeat consumer purchases," Modi added. The broader premium IMFL segment, especially whisky, continues to drive the company's growth. Whisky accounts for nearly 65 per cent of India's alcohol consumption, with strong demand in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, where Rockford already has a deep presence. Newer markets like Maharashtra and West Bengal are showing accelerating momentum. Rockford, which competes with Blenders Pride and Signature, is now present in 20 states and is increasingly penetrating tier 2 and 3 towns, a shift Modi attributes to the changing aspirations of India's emerging consumers. "What was a tier 1 phenomenon a decade ago is now strongly visible in tier 3 markets. Smaller towns are driving serious demand," he said. Modi Illva is also aligning its distribution and marketing strategies to match this demographic shift, particularly focusing on strengthening its Maharashtra presence—one of its fastest-growing territories. Singhasan's rollout strategy includes a premium-focused retail and bar presence. Modi emphasized that the super-premium segment is no longer niche. "This category is now a 5-6 million case segment and available across 80 per cent of India's premium retail outlets. Our focus is ensuring tertiary movement and consistent shelf visibility," he said. With plans to deepen penetration in high-growth states and push its Indian super-premium whisky narrative, Modi Illva is betting that evolving tastes and rising confidence in local craftsmanship will fuel its next phase of growth. "The Indian consumer today is more experimentative, values quality, and is open to Indian brands competing with global names. That's the big shift we're tapping into," Modi noted.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Smuggler fails to take cops for a ride after using horse to sneak liquor into 'dry' Bihar
PATNA: Horses are the latest mode of transportation for smugglers bidding to sneak liquor into 'dry' Bihar. After a similar attempt two months ago, a horse carrying two cartons of liquor was intercepted by police in Bihar's West Champaran district on Tuesday. Though the horse and liquor were seized, the smuggler managed to give the police the slip. The consignment of two cartons of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) was brought to Nautan police station. Rajesh Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Nautan police station, said the consignment was being brought from Uttar Pradesh. As patrolling on roads has been intensified, smugglers have changed their modus operandi and are using horses for transportation of alcohol from the neighbouring state. 'Liquor smugglers now prefer to transport the banned consignment through the Gandak riverine belt to hoodwink police. We came to know the latest modus operandi of liquor smugglers recently and laid a trap,' Kumar said. Around 3 am, a police team attached to Nautan police station intercepted the horse along the riverside. However, the smuggler managed to escape, taking advantage of the darkness, the SHO revealed.
