Defence Minister since 2019; Home Minister 2014–19
Role
Defence
Current Role
MP since 2014 · Present
Born
1951 · Age 75
Education
MSc (Physics), Gorakhpur University
Terms in Office
Defence Minister since 2019; Home Minister 2014–19
About
Defense Minister of India since 2019
Rajnath Singh is an Indian politician and lecturer who has served as the 29th Minister of Defence since 2019 and as the Deputy Leader of the House, Lok Sabha since 2014. He is a Member of Parliament from Lucknow since 2014. He previously served as the 25th Union Minister of Home Affairs in the first Modi ministry from 2014 to 2019, making him the first person born after Indian independence to hold the office. He was President of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2014. Singh is a veteran leader of the BJP who started his career as a swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh..
ReachGovt. reported: 65,000 km of highways planned; 22,000+ km completed as of 2024.
Since 2017 · National highway development programme covering economic corridors, ring roads, and coastal/port connectivity.
Defence Exports Growth
रक्षा निर्यात
Ongoing
BudgetTarget: ₹50,000 crore/year by 2028–29
ReachGovt. reported: Defence exports rose from ₹1,941 crore (2014) to ₹21,083 crore (2023–24) — a 10× increase.
TargetExport target 2028-29
Since 2019 · Policy and manufacturing push for India to become a major defence exporter. PLI for defence (₹1,000 crore), iDEX startup fund, and Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 enabling private sector.
Agnipath Scheme
अग्निपथ योजना
Ongoing
BudgetBudget-neutral vs regular recruitment; Agniveer Corpus Fund: ₹30,000 crore over 5 years
Since 2022 · 4-year short-service military enlistment scheme for youth aged 17.5–23; 25% retained permanently. Controversially introduced in June 2022; protests followed; scheme continues with modifications.
ReachGovt. reported: 6,500+ km of border roads constructed/upgraded since 2014; Zoji La tunnel, Atal Tunnel commissioned.
Since 2019 · Border Roads Organisation (BRO) accelerated construction of strategic roads, tunnels, and bridges in border areas, particularly along the China and Pakistan frontiers.