Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has underscored the criticality of sustained focus on research and cultivating the element of surprise to stay future-ready in the present era of intense technological revolution. He was addressing defence personnel, industry captains, innovators, start-ups and academia representatives during the inaugural session of the three-day North Tech Symposium, organised by the Indian Army’s Northern & Central Commands and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today.
He highlighted the explosive rate of technological change being witnessed in modern-day warfare, in addition to the emergence of the constant “never-imagined-before” element of surprise. “In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the nature of warfare transformed from tanks and missiles to game-changer drones & sensors within a span of merely three or four years. Furthermore, things which are part of day-to-day life are turning into deadly weapons. The pager attacks in Lebanon and Syria have prompted a reassessment of modern warfare methods. In such a situation, we need to be prepared,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh emphasised the need to adopt a proactive approach and build capabilities that enable the country, should the need arise, to launch an unexpected strike against its adversary. “History bears witness that in warfare, the decisive edge invariably belongs to the side that possesses the element of surprise. While our defence forces are already working in that direction, we must make further progress with greater proactivity,” he said.
Underlining the importance of ensuring adaptability in the present complex and rapidly evolving environment, Raksha Mantri stressed that the nation that, most swiftly, adapts to the technological revolution holds the decisive edge in the future warfare landscape. He added that there’s no substitute for research in today’s world, and the manner in which future wars will be fought is being determined within the laboratories today.
Singh emphasised that the Government has placed defence research at the center of its priorities, and has endeavored to take it to the next level through DRDO. “DRDO is no longer embarking on this journey alone. Guided by the mantra ‘If you want to go far, go together’, it is marching ahead hand-in-hand with a large number of industries,” he said.
He pointed out that 25% of the Defence R&D budget has been allocated to the industry, academia, and start-ups, and to date, these entities have already utilised over Rs 4,500 crore of the budget. He added that a new Transfer of Technology policy has been implemented, wherein the 20% fee, levied earlier, has been completely waived off for Development-cum-Production Partners, Development Partners, and Production Agencies. As a result, DRDO has, so far, transferred over 2,200 technologies to various industries, he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh further stated that DRDO has initiated a policy granting Indian industries free access to its patents, a move that will bolster both their technological capabilities and global competitiveness. “DRDO’s testing facilities have also been opened up for the industries on a payment basis. Every year, hundreds of industries utilise these facilities for R&D support,” he said.
DM stressed that the industries must step forward and excel in areas such as Directed Energy Weapons, Hypersonic Weapons, Underwater Domain Awareness, Space Situational Awareness, Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. He extended the Government’s full support in this endeavor.
Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the defence forces & the industry for thoroughly analysing the evolving circumstances, and ensuring India’s preparedness, describing Operation Sindoor as a prime example of technological warfare and the nation’s readiness. “Op Sindoor demonstrated the valor and capabilities of our defence forces to the world. Cutting-edge indigenous equipment, including advanced missile systems such as Akashteer, Akash missile system & BrahMos, was used during the operation. It served as irrefutable proof that we not only understand the evolving nature of warfare but are deploying technological advancements with unwavering confidence,” he said.
Enumerating the steps taken by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government to strengthen the defence ecosystem of the country, Rajnath stated that the initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) and Technology Development Fund (TDF) are striving to foster innovation and significantly increase private sector participation. Infrastructure development within the defence sector is being prioritised, he added. He also highlighted the number of infrastructure projects directly linked to the defence sector launched in Uttar Pradesh, especially the setting-up of the Defence Industrial Corridor, which are actively enhancing India’s defence capabilities.
Shri Rajnath Singh underlined that the Government’s self-reliance efforts are yielding positive results as the domestic defence production has reached a record high of Rs 1.54 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26, with defence exports touching an all-time high figure of Rs 38,424 crore. This rise is poised to accelerate even more, he said, adding that the private sector has made a significant contribution to this achievement. Recalling his recent visit to Germany, he said that foreign companies are expressing keen interest in forging partnerships with Indian defence firms, which is a testimony to the growing stature of the Indian defence industry in the international market.
He described the North Tech Symposium, themed ‘Raksha Triveni Sangam – Where Technology, Industry & Soldiering Converge’, as a significant step towards fostering innovation and advancing India’s technological & defence preparedness. He hoped for concrete suggestions to enable all stakeholders to further enhance their performance. He suggested the creation of a Knowledge Corridor to enable the stakeholders to share expertise, and collectively enhance capabilities across emerging and unexplored domains. “It is our collective endeavor that we establish ourselves as the most formidable military power in the world in the times to come,” he said.
In his address, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command Lieutenant General Anindya Sengupta stated that the symposium provides a unique platform to the defence forces, Industry, start-ups, innovators, and academia to develop indigenous technological solutions aimed at addressing critical operational challenges. He added that the endeavor is guided by JAI (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta & Innovation) which is essential to strengthen the warfighting capabilities of the country.
GOC-in-C, Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma emphasised that the objective of the symposium is to transform ideas, innovation, and experience into deployable capabilities. He added that, in view of the recent conflicts, specific capabilities such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Counter-UAS systems, AI-enabled decision-making tools, precision strike capabilities, and advanced artillery systems have become indispensable for establishing dominance on the battlefield.
UP Government’s Cabinet Minister for Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI & Investment Promotion Shri Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi; Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi; Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan; DG, Armed Forces Medical Services Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin; SIDM President Shri Arun T Ramchandani; and Professor Ramakrishnan S, IIT Madras were present on the occasion.
During the symposium, Problem Definition Statements of Northern and Central Commands will be discussed at length by all the stakeholders with the aim to chart the way forward. These Problem Definition Statements has been prepared through structured progression from sensing the environment needs, identification of tech voids considering the contemporary conflicts and analysing & prioritising the requirements. Eight Focus Teams have been instituted across domains to spearhead interaction with troops deployed on ground, industry partners and academia.
As part of the symposium, an exhibition, showcasing indigenous solutions from an array of participants including MSMEs, private Defence Tech firms, start-ups and innovators in uniform, was organised. Two-hundred and eighty four (284) companies have set-up stalls to demonstrate their latest innovations and technologies.
