New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), Bharat Defence (BDL), Astra Microwave Products, among other defence stocks rallied on Monday, despite a muted trend in the broader Indian stock market.

Astra Microwave Products, Cochin Shipyard, Data Patterns (India), and DCX Systems were among the top gainers in the Nifty India Defence index, rising 2-4% each. The index itself advanced nearly 1% in early trade.

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), Paras Defence and Space Technologies, Mishra Dhatu Nigam, Bharat Dynamics (BDL), and Bharat Electronics also traded higher.

The uptrend in defence counters came amid reports that the Ministry of Defence has received and begun discussions on a proposal from the Indian Air Force to acquire 114 'Made ...