India’s Deeptech Industry Poised to Reach $30 Billion by 2030, Powered by Defence and Robotics: Report

New Delhi — India’s deeptech sector is on the brink of a major expansion, with market potential expected to reach $30 billion by 2030, driven primarily by advances in defence innovation and robotics manufacturing, according to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants.

Once viewed as a niche segment, deeptech — encompassing areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous systems, and advanced propulsion technologies — is rapidly evolving into one of India’s key economic growth engines. The sector is increasingly aligning with the country’s national security priorities and the rising global demand for cutting-edge industrial technologies.

The report highlights that India’s defence deeptech expenditure has doubled over the past decade, climbing to $80 billion. This pace of growth surpasses that of traditional defence powerhouses like the United States and China. Consequently, India’s overall deeptech market base has expanded to an estimated $9–12 billion in FY2025, representing a 2.5-fold increase over the past five years.

“India is rapidly emerging as the world’s only trusted, low-cost, large-scale alternative to China,” the report noted, adding that defence and robotics are spearheading this momentum. Globally, the robotics industry, currently worth around $60 billion, is forecast to nearly quadruple to $230 billion by 2030 — with humanoid robots alone accounting for a $10 billion opportunity.

India holds a strong competitive edge due to cost efficiency — the report found that building humanoid robots in India is 73% cheaper than in the US, thanks to local manufacturing integration, lower labour costs, and streamlined supply chains.

Emerging growth areas include autonomous systems, AI-driven military training platforms, and advanced drone propulsion technologies, all of which are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for Indian companies.

Redseer emphasized that India’s unique blend of strategic defence priorities, cost advantages, and a thriving startup ecosystem will reshape its position in global deeptech value chains.

“Deeptech is no longer a bet on the future — it is a present-day reality,” the report concluded. “India’s defence-deeptech ecosystem is accelerating rapidly, creating investible, predictable, and scalable growth opportunities for the coming decade.”

With inputs from IANS