Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the need for India to become a global hub for indigenous drone production. He highlighted the importance of strategic autonomy and defense preparedness in the face of current geopolitical uncertainties. Singh stressed the significance of self-reliance in drone manufacturing, including at the component level, to address future warfare challenges.
Singh pointed out the necessity for India to manufacture all drone components domestically, from molds to software, engines, and batteries. He highlighted the dependency on imported critical components from China in many countries where drones are produced. The minister underlined the role of various stakeholders, including large industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and innovators, in building the nation’s defense industrial ecosystem.
Singh shared statistics indicating the growth of India’s defense innovation ecosystem. He mentioned that since 2018, around 676 start-ups, MSMEs, and individual innovators have joined the ecosystem. Notably, 58 prototypes have been cleared for procurement, with a total value of approximately Rs 3,853 crore. Additionally, 45 procurement contracts worth nearly Rs 2,326 crore have been signed.
As part of the National Defence Industries Conclave, Singh launched the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC-14) and the ADITI challenges under the iDEX framework. These initiatives aim to foster breakthrough innovations in collaboration with defense forces, the Indian Coast Guard, and the Defence Space Agency. The minister also introduced 101 innovation challenges from defense PSUs to promote design-led innovation by MSMEs and start-ups.
