On the eve of Republic Day, Satyanarayan Nuwal, founder and chairman of Solar Industries India Limited, was awarded the Padma Shri in the category of Trade and Industry. The honour recognised his long-standing contribution to Indian industry and national defence. His company had drawn national attention after manufacturing the “Nagastra” weapon systems that were deployed during “Operation Sindoor” in May last year, as reported by The Times of India. These systems were successfully used during the operation, marking a key moment for private sector participation in India’s defence preparedness.

Nuwal also serves as the chairman of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL). The company is regarded as perhaps the first and largest private facility in the country to manufacture military-grade explosives. Beyond loitering munitions, SDAL has also supplied boosters for BrahMos missiles, highlighting its growing role in some of India’s most critical missile programmes. This recognition through the Padma Shri places Nuwal among a select group of industrial leaders whose work has had a direct impact on national security.

Chosen for his exceptional contribution to industry and society, Nuwal stands out as the only businessman from the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra to receive this prestigious honour in recent years. Reacting to the announcement, he told The Times of India, “I did not expect that such a big honour would be conferred on me. The award only adds to my commitment towards the country, and profit is not the objective in running the defence business,” underlining his belief that defence manufacturing should be driven by national interest rather than commercial gain alone.

A first-generation entrepreneur, Nuwal began his journey in the mid-1990s by supplying commercial explosives to Coal India Limited. During those early years, he often travelled alone and spent long hours waiting on railway platforms, a sharp contrast to the stature he holds today. His entry into the defence sector came much later, in 2010, when his company began producing military-grade explosives, at a time when private participation in defence manufacturing was still limited.

Reflecting on that phase, the 74-year-old recalled the uncertainty and challenges of entering an unexplored sector. “It was an entirely new field for a private-sector company to enter. I used to hear about the supply-side challenges faced by the armed forces and realised that the country needs more players. Considering the scenario, we decided to make a small contribution towards the country’s defence,” he said, explaining the motivation behind the company’s strategic shift.

During a visit to the SDAL facility earlier this month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed on the company’s defence capabilities. He was informed that the Nagastra drone-mounted loitering munition had struck enemy targets with precision during India’s key military operation. Nuwal also highlighted the uniqueness of another system during the interaction, saying, “In America or any other country, they can launch four missiles simultaneously. But our Bhargavastra fires 60 micro-missiles at once. No such system exists anywhere else in the world to date,” showcasing the advanced nature of the Bhargavastra system. Bhargavastra is a multi-layer micro-missile Anti-Drone or Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), designed to counter emerging aerial threats.

The Defence Minister was further briefed on the Pralay short-range ballistic missile programme. A company official explained the depth of SDAL’s manufacturing capability, stating, “We make so many motors of Pralay but our capability is that we can manufacture the whole missile,” and added that the company could build the complete missile within just two months if given the opportunity. This statement reflected the growing confidence of private industry in handling complex defence projects.

In addition to missiles and drones, SDAL has developed SE-BEX-2, which is considered the most powerful high-energy material after an atomic bomb and is twice as powerful as conventional trinitrotoluene (TNT). The company also became the first private entity to supply the Indian Army with a complete munitions system. This included multimodal hand grenades that replaced older, outdated models, marking a significant upgrade for the armed forces.

The company’s defence journey began with fulfilling orders for Pinaka rockets. Over time, it expanded its portfolio to include multimodal grenades, which were the first complete munitions systems produced by a private company in India. Gradually, SDAL moved into advanced areas such as anti-drone systems and drones. Recently, the company acquired land in Nagpur’s Mihan-SEZ to develop robotics-based systems and artificial intelligence technologies, signalling its future focus on next-generation defence solutions.

From Modest Roots to National Recognition

Today, Nuwal is counted among India’s richest individuals, with a net worth of $5.2 billion, or more than ₹46,500 crore, according to the Forbes list. Solar Industries is widely respected in the defence sector and holds the distinction of being the first company in India to receive a government licence to manufacture explosives for the armed forces. Yet, the man behind this vast enterprise came from a humble background in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. His father worked as a government accountant and encouraged him to develop business sense from an early age.

Due to financial difficulties, Nuwal could not continue his education beyond the 10th standard. He later spent a year in Mathura with his gurudev and explored small business opportunities. Speaking to Forbes, he once said, “More than education, I was interested in doing business,” a statement that reflects his early clarity of purpose.

After returning home, he tried his hand at several ventures, including manufacturing fountain pen ink, running leasing businesses, and even starting a transport company. During this period, he got married at the age of 19, and family responsibilities increased rapidly. In 1977, he left home to earn a living and moved to Chandrapur in Maharashtra to work with a relative. With limited income, he often spent nights at railway stations, unable to afford even basic accommodation.

A turning point came when Nuwal met Abdul Sattar Allah Bhai, the owner of a gunpowder depot licensed to handle explosives. Nuwal attempted to rent the depot for ₹1,000 per month, but even this amount was beyond his means at the time. Despite these hardships, his business gradually began to grow, and he started receiving large orders from coal mines. By 1984, his company had evolved into a consignment agency, and by 1990, he had become a major explosives dealer.

A Turning Point in the 1990s

The 1990s proved decisive for Nuwal’s career. Drawing on years of experience, he founded Nagpur-based Solar Industries in 1995. With ₹60 lakh raised from banks and personal savings, he began manufacturing slurry explosives. The company soon expanded into bulk explosives and detonators, with Coal India Limited emerging as one of its key clients. The public sector undertaking continues to use these explosives in its mining operations.

Solar Industries went public in 2006, at a time when it reported a net profit of around ₹11 crore and a turnover of ₹78 crore. The funds raised were largely reinvested into expansion, leading to the establishment of 13 manufacturing units. Over the years, the company set up six plants in Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey, Tanzania, and South Africa. Its operations expanded across 29 cities in nine Indian states, along with facilities in Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia.

The company also achieved a major milestone by becoming the first private enterprise to receive a government licence to manufacture weapons and explosives for India’s armed forces. Understanding the long-term need for domestic ammunition production, Nuwal began building capabilities in this area. The company moved into producing grenades, medium and large calibre ammunition, high-energy explosive materials such as HMX and HMX compounds, propellants, and warheads.

Solar Industries was later awarded an ammunition order worth around ₹450 crore for the supply of multi-mode hand grenades over a two-year period. This marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a private company in India had received such an ammunition order in the defence sector.

Sandeep Agrawal, chairman of Sandeep Metallics, a division involved in manufacturing ammunition round systems, spoke about Nuwal’s journey as a self-made entrepreneur. He said, “Over the years, he came up with systems which were never put in place by private industries in the defence sector. He started investing in the sector in 2010, and only now the company started getting dividends, though the commitment remains strong,” highlighting both the long gestation period and sustained dedication.

Today, Solar Industries is one of India’s most important private partners in strategic weapons manufacturing. It works on several Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) missile programmes, including Pralay, Pinaka, Akash, and other guided weapon systems. The company is also a major supplier of solid rocket motors and propulsion systems.

Beyond business success, Nuwal is widely recognised for turning Solar Industries into a globally respected corporation while maintaining a strong focus on social responsibility. His continued support for social welfare, education, and community development has earned widespread appreciation. The Padma Shri not only acknowledges his professional achievements but also recognises his enduring contribution to nation-building and self-reliance in defence manufacturing.