Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the bravery of India's combat troops is recognised worldwide.
Singh's remarks came during his visit to the Indo-Chinese border in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, where he's celebrating the festival of Dussehra with soldiers guarding the nation's frontier with the Dragon country.
"The valor and dedication of the armed forces is one of the main reasons why India's stature on the international stage has grown and it is now one of the most powerful nations," Singh was quoted as saying in a statement released by India's defense ministry.
The minister emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has made vigorous efforts to strengthen India's defence sector, particularly by promoting the domestic production of military equipment.
By achieving this, India would achieve self-sufficiency in the long run, liberating itself from the need to rely on foreign nations for the import of military equipment.
"Earlier, we used to rely on imports to upgrade our military. But today, a number of major weapons & platforms are being manufactured within the country. Foreign companies are being encouraged to share their technology and produce the equipment in India with domestic industry," Singh concluded.