Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the country's defence production has gone up by 334 per cent in the last seven and India was now being recognised as a defence exporting country, a far leap from being the top defence importer in the world a few years back.

Addressing a meeting during the review of the progress of the UP Defence Manufacturing Corridor in Lucknow, Singh claimed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the country has achieved a big milestone in defence manufacturing, UNI news agency said. 

"A few years back, we were among the top importers of defence equipment in the world, but now, we have slipped to the second spot after defence manufacturing units started production in a big way. India is now exporting defence items to 75 countries and it is among the 25 countries, which are known as defence exporting countries," he claimed, adding that 64 per cent of defence requirements were being manufactured in the country.

 "During 2000 to 2014, the Centre (government) had issued just 200 defence manufacturing licence but in our seven years of rule, we have have already given 350 licence, while much more is in the pipeline," Singh asserted.(SAM)