Overview

• NATO’s 32 member states agreed to allocate 3.5% of GDP to core defence needs and 1.5% to wider security spending by 2035 after sustained pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
• The Nifty India Defence Index climbed about 1% as shares of Sika Interplant Systems and Taneja Aerospace & Aviation jumped roughly 6.5% and 5%, respectively.
• Some defence counters gave up early gains and slipped into negative territory following a ceasefire in the West Asia conflict that eased regional tensions.
• India’s defence exports have risen 13-fold since FY16, with private sector shipments growing from 13% to 62% of total exports by FY24.
• The government is pushing self-reliance under its Make in India programme while targeting Rs 5 lakh crore in overseas arms sales by 2028-29.