Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called for greater support for innovation and technological advancement across sectors such as defence, cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that technology would be central to strengthening India’s strategic capabilities and advancing the goal of self-reliance.
Addressing the DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet VIMARSH 2026 in the national capital, themed ‘Varta Se Vikas’, Singh described technology as one of the most powerful tools of the 21st century. He said technological capability could play a decisive role in shaping India’s future and strengthening the country’s ability to remain self-reliant.
Singh highlighted the emergence of a new wave of defence start-ups in India and said these enterprises were giving fresh direction to the modern defence landscape. He pointed to areas such as drone technology, AI and cyber security, underlining the importance of turning innovation into future military capabilities. He also stressed that technological leadership would be crucial for gaining strategic advantage in future warfare.
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The Defence Minister said start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) had emerged as important drivers of innovation and self-reliance in the defence sector. From deep technology to futuristic technologies, these enterprises were contributing across the research and manufacturing ecosystem. He emphasised that their role would be crucial in building an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence.
Singh also called for stronger collaboration between research institutions such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), industry and the Armed Forces to accelerate technology development. He said closer coordination among these stakeholders would help strengthen indigenous capabilities and support the broader objective of self-reliance in the defence sector.
The Defence Minister linked the defence sector’s technological progress with the vision of ‘Developed India 2047’. He said the combined capabilities of DRDO, industry, start-ups and the aspirations of young people could help take India’s military capabilities to new heights. He described this convergence as the collective strength of a ‘New India’, while urging the country and its youth to develop greater confidence in indigenous technology and innovation.
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