New Delhi, May 4

Research & surprise element must to stay future-ready in today’s technology-driven era

“Nation that, most swiftly, adapts to technological revolution will hold decisive edge in future warfare”

“Defence research is at the center of Govt’s priorities; Over 2,200 technologies transferred to industries by DRDO”

“Headway must in emerging domains like Directed Energy & Hypersonic Weapons, Underwater & Space, Quantum Tech, AI & ML”

“Op Sindoor is irrefutable proof that India understands evolving nature of warfare & deploys technological advancements with unwavering confidence”

“Defence production reaches record high of Rs 1.54 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, with defence exports touching all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore; This rise set to accelerate even more”

Defence Minister 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 on May 04, 2026.

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,” the minister said.

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.

The minister 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.

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.