By Aritra Banerjee
In two back-to-back events on May 25, 2023, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a clarion call for a technologically advanced military and a greater impetus on innovation to safeguard national interests and promote India as a leading nation in global defence technology.
Addressing a two-day Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – Academia Conclave in New Delhi, Singh underscored the vital necessity for a technologically advanced military for India, a country facing dual threats on its borders. The conclave, attended by around 350 senior academics nationwide, focused on creating a synergistic dialogue between the DRDO’s needs and academia’s capabilities.
In his address, Singh emphasised that research and development (R&D) is a vital cog in the wheel of technological advancement, and it is integral to the country’s development. “Unless we do research, we will not be able to adopt new technologies,” said Singh. He further indicated that R&D has the power to turn ordinary substances into valuable resources, a theme that echoed through both his speeches.
Singh called for a robust partnership between DRDO and academia, where each entity could gain from the other. For DRDO, access to a skilled human resource base from institutions like IISC, IITs, NITs, and universities could be invaluable. In return, academia could benefit from the R&D funding of DRDO and access its advanced infrastructure and laboratory facilities.
Such collaboration, he suggested, could not only benefit the military but also have civil applications. The collaboration could also spur the growth of the start-up culture in the country, making India a powerhouse in defence technologies.
Simultaneously, at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) annual session in New Delhi, Singh appealed to industry leaders to innovate to transform India from an ‘imitator’ to a ‘leader’ in futuristic technologies. The theme of the session, ‘Future Frontiers: Competitiveness, Technology, Sustainability, and Internationalisation’, resonated with the Minister’s views.
The Defence Minister stated that security equations globally are changing at an unprecedented pace. Countries worldwide are heavily focusing on technological advancements in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and genetics. India must set ambitious goals and strive to achieve them through innovative methods to deal with challenges arising out of this evolving global situation.
According to Singh, R&D is crucial in achieving this goal, opening new dimensions vital for any nation’s development and security. He also urged industry leaders to increase their in-house R&D funding and delve into untouched sectors, products, goods, and services through new technologies.
Emphasising the Government’s role, Singh pointed out that initiatives like banking and regulatory policy, providing funds, labour policy, education and health policy have paved the way for youth and industry to collaborate in taking Indian R&D to greater heights.
Finally, he highlighted the socio-economic technology of good governance, which seeks to turn India’s once-considered liability – its population – into an asset. Asserting the potential of the youth, Singh said, “Today, there are about one lakh start-ups in the country; of which more than 100 are unicorns. Our industries need to work with the same passion to compete with global giants.”
Through the fusion of academia, defence, and industry, Rajnath Singh’s strategic vision seeks to advance India’s technological prowess, ensuring national security, and transform the country into a leader in the global arena. As India steps forward to face the challenges of the 21st century, it is this symbiotic relationship between these sectors that may very well determine the nation’s trajectory in the years to come.
