Amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and the ongoing armed conflict between India and Pakistan, the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) is positioned to fortify the country’s defence manufacturing and military ware capabilities.
The UPDIC is proactively addressing India’s strategic and defence requirements.
The Corridor is not only propelling India toward self-reliance in defence production, but laying a robust foundation for large-scale employment generation in UP.
So far, the UPDIC has attracted investment commitments worth approximately Rs 30,000 crore through 170 MoUs, potentially creating around 50,000 employment opportunities.
Land has been leased to 57 investors at various stages of setting up production units, with actual investments totaling Rs 9,462 crore.
The Corridor is boosting the state’s economy and playing a critical role in reducing India’s dependence on defence imports.
It is among the flagship projects of the Yogi Adityanath government in UP, which also seeks to bolster ‘Make in UP’ mission.
The industries being established will manufacture cutting-edge military equipment to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces, and also cater the lucrative export market.
It is helping UP emerge as a significant industrial and defence manufacturing hub, and marks a concrete step towards realising the national visions of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
The Corridor spans six nodes viz. Lucknow, Aligarh, Kanpur, Jhansi, Agra, and Chitrakoot, with each developed for strategic defence production.
Jhansi: Center of Explosives and Ammunition
16 companies in the Jhansi node have been allotted 531 hectares of land, under which an investment of Rs 4,372 crore and direct employment to 2,928 people are proposed.
Enterprises such as explosives, ammunition, propulsion systems and mobile platforms for mid-caliber infantry weapons will be set up here.
Kanpur: Small arms and bulletproof jackets
211 hectares have been allotted to 5 companies in the Kanpur node, generating an investment of Rs 1,758 crore and employment for 2,200 people.
Units of small, medium, and large-size ammunition, bulletproof jackets, special clothing and small arms are being set up here.
Aligarh: Hub of drones and counter drones
64 hectares have been allotted to 24 companies in the Aligarh node, with an investment of Rs 1,921 crore and employment for 5,618 people proposed.
This node is becoming a hub for drones, loitering ammunition, counterdrone systems, precision instruments, mechatronics, small arms and radar manufacturing.
Lucknow: BrahMos missile hub
12 companies, including BrahMos Aerospace, have been allotted 117 hectares in the Lucknow node. This will lead to an investment of Rs 1,411 crore and generate employment for 2,930 people.
Apart from the world’s most powerful supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, missile systems, ammunition, defence packaging, drones and small arms will be manufactured here.
UPDIC is a transformative initiative, anchoring UP’s rise as a defence production powerhouse, while contributing significantly to national security and economic self-reliance.