Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh called on Indian youth to focus on indigenously developing high-end technologies that the country currently imports, emphasizing the need to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. He made these remarks during the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur.

 

During his address, Shri Rajnath Singh described technology as a crucial driver of rapid changes across various fields, with nations vying to master niche areas like Artificial Intelligence to gain an edge in today’s geopolitical landscape. He categorized countries into three groups based on their technological progress: those at the forefront, those stagnant, and those experiencing a technological take-off. He placed India in the third category, highlighting the country's momentum toward becoming a leader in technological advancements.

The Raksha Mantri urged the youth to harness their potential and contribute to the nation's progress, describing institutions like IIT Kanpur as vital engines for academic excellence that can elevate India in the global competitive arena. He pointed out that modern warfare has become increasingly technology-oriented, with advancements in drones, cyber warfare, and precision-guided missiles reshaping defense strategies. “The biggest challenge to achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defense is our reliance on imported high-end technologies. We must prioritize the defense applications of cutting-edge technologies to adapt to the evolving nature of warfare,” he added.

Shri Rajnath Singh assured full government support for this initiative, reiterating a commitment to collaborative efforts among the private sector, academia, and defense stakeholders. He remarked, “India aims to become a developed nation by 2047, empowered by our youth. We must work together to achieve this dream.”

He highlighted several government initiatives designed to foster self-reliance and innovation in defense, including the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, which offers grants of up to Rs 1.5 crore to innovators and start-ups. Additionally, the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme provides funding of up to Rs 25 crore for research and innovation in critical defense technologies.

The Raksha Mantri noted that India's defense exports, which stood at around Rs 600 crore a decade ago, have surged to a record Rs 21,000 crore in the 2023-24 fiscal year. He expressed confidence that this figure will reach Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30.

Shri Rajnath Singh explained that technology manufacturing involves three key steps: ideation, application, and production. He underscored IIT Kanpur's role in nurturing ideas and developing them into products that meet the needs of the Armed Forces.

As part of the celebrations, IIT Kanpur hosted an event focusing on defense innovation, in line with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ The Raksha Mantri visited a Defense Research, Product, and Incubation Showcase organized by the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), which featured groundbreaking solutions from 23 start-ups, including advancements in autonomous systems and AI-driven surveillance.

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to strengthen partnerships, including collaborations with BEML and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to enhance military logistics and defense innovation. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary of DDR&D and DRDO Chairman, presented sanction letters for six transformative DRDO projects.

The event also featured discussions on recent defense initiatives like the iDEX’s Defence India Start-up Challenge 12 and ADITI 2.0, providing insights into the evolving defense innovation landscape. A commemorative tree plantation led by Shri Rajnath Singh symbolized IIT Kanpur's commitment to technological advancement and sustainability.