Cost-effective top-end technologies, robust R&D and resilient supply chains must for Viksit Bharat: Shri Rajnath Singh

Supply chain management a strategic imperative: RM calls for time-bound roadmap identifying critical tech, industries & resources

“Stronger industry-academia collaboration, greater encouragement in educational institutions and increased opportunities for youth key for fostering a deep-rooted culture of research & innovation”

“Need to develop technologies for civil & military applications and inter-service utilisation to promote jointness”

New Delhi, Oct 26

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for ‘Aatmanirbharta 2.0’ in the defence sector, with emphasis on the development of top-end, state-of-the-art technologies, strengthening Research & Development (R&D), and building resilient supply chains to reduce import dependence and achieve technological superiority, thereby contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He was addressing the fifth edition of SWAVLAMBAN, the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar in New Delhi on October 26, 2026. He emphasised the need to build on the gains of the first phase of self-reliance achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ​​stating that defence innovators with futuristic vision and scientific discipline could play the role of ‘impact players’ in pursuing more challenging technological goals.

Highlighting the significant strides made by the nation towards Aatmanirbharta in defence over the last decade, Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that the progress achieved so far has created a strong foundation for the next phase, which must focus on advanced technologies and objectives that are considered difficult to achieve. He underlined the need to indigenously manufacture products that are cost-effective, operationally superior and globally competitive.

The minister described supply chain management as not just a technical issue but a strategic imperative directly linked to national security. He called for a dynamic roadmap that sets clear timelines for achieving self-reliance in each item, identifies the technologies to be developed and the industries that will drive their innovation, and outlines the resources required to achieve these objectives. “Supply chain dependencies arise from a limited domestic availability of certain raw materials, such as rare earth elements, and the absence of specific technologies within the country. While some external dependencies may persist until viable alternatives are developed or domestic resources become available, there is a need to prioritise critical areas for indigenisation,” he said.

Rajnath Singh underscored the need to remain prepared against potential disruptions in supply routes, stressing that the assessment of buffer stocks and domestic production capabilities must be carried out in advance rather than waiting for a crisis. He identified R&D as central to addressing these challenges. He exuded confidence in the ability of the nation’s talent pool to develop cutting-edge technologies indigenously with sustained focus and investment.

“While this risk aversion is, in one sense, natural, it also presents an opportunity. Can we develop funding mechanisms capable of supporting high-risk, high-reward projects? Can we attract more private sector participation in R&D, given its greater propensity for risk-taking? We must seriously consider how to advance in two key areas: engaging the private sector and fostering low-cost technologies. The private sector possesses a greater capacity for taking risks, while low-cost technologies allow us to achieve significant results through smaller-scale experiments,” he said.

Rajnath Singh highlighted the R&D culture in countries such as Israel, South Korea and the United States where innovation, he said, is embraced as a way of life, with failure being viewed as an opportunity to learn. He stressed the need to foster a deep-rooted culture of research and innovation in India through stronger industry-academia collaboration, greater encouragement in educational institutions and increased opportunities for the youth to pursue careers in R&D.

Highlighting the contribution of iDEX in enabling start-ups and MSMEs to develop technologies that India previously imported, Raksha Mantri stated that over 4,000 proposals had been submitted against 229 challenges issued by the Indian Navy, reflecting the depth of Indian talent and the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs. Commending the progress made through iDEX, he said Indian start-ups and MSMEs have developed solutions in naval systems, sensors, communications and other critical areas by translating operational challenges into opportunities for innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Krishna Swaminathan highlighted the SWAVLAMBAN’s growth since 2022, with Navy-specific iDEX challenges increasing from 20 to 229, accounting for approximately 35% of all iDEX challenges across the defence sector. He noted that 41 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) cases worth over Rs 3,500 crore have been accorded, while 25 contracts valued at over Rs 1,900 crore have been signed.

Emphasising the opportunities presented by advances in Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics and quantum sensing, the CNS underscored the need to translate promising innovations into operational capabilities. He highlighted five key areas for accelerating capability development: ideation, prototyping, testing, contracting and induction, and life-cycle support. He called for stronger collaboration between the Indian Navy, industry, start-ups and MSMEs to accelerate the development and induction of indigenous technologies and build a self-reliant, future-ready defence ecosystem.

Technology Exhibition

Raksha Mantri visited the technology exhibition with over 100 stalls by start-ups/MSMEs and interacted with innovators working on naval challenges  and problem statements. Start-ups/MSMEs engaged with naval users showcased niche technologies being progressed for operational capability development. Success stories section of the exhibition showcased developed products which are under induction by the Indian Navy.

Solutions in autonomous maritime platforms, quantum and AI in war-fighting, persistent surveillance, resilient navigation, advanced communications and counter-drone technologies illustrated the breadth of indigenous development. On the progress made since the launch of SWAVLAMBAN in 2022, Raksha Mantri stated that the platform has consistently contributed to meeting the operational requirements of the Indian Navy. He expressed confidence in the capability of Indian industry to develop reliable, high-end indigenous technologies, stating that the innovations showcased at the event reflected the country’s growing technological strength.

Publications and Recognition of Innovators

Rajnath Singh released ‘Compendium of Technology Imperatives, Problems Statements and Future Concepts’ and ‘Swavlamban 5.0’ document providing industry visibility of naval priorities and development opportunities. He also felicitated eminent speakers of the seminar and iDEX innovators, recognising their contribution to India’s defence capabilities.