Should work in mission mode to emerge as world hub of indigenous drone manufacturing: Rajnath | India Information
Stressing on the pressing have to construct a drone-production ecosystem within the nation to make sure strategic autonomy, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stated India should work in a mission mode to emerge as a worldwide hub of indigenous drone manufacturing over the following few years.
Talking in the course of the inaugural session of the two-day Nationwide Defence Industries Conclave in New Delhihe additionally made a observe of the continued Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Israel conflicts to stress on the necessity for drones and counter-drone applied sciences in future warfare. “At this time, as your complete world is watching the continued battle involving Russia and Ukraine, together with Iran-Israel, we are able to clearly see the extraordinarily vital function of drones and counter-drone applied sciences in future warfare,” he stated, including, “there’s a have to construct such a drone manufacturing ecosystem in India, wherein we’re utterly self-reliant.”
He stated, “India should work in a mission mode to emerge as a worldwide hub of indigenous drone manufacturing within the subsequent few years.”
On the occasion attended by MSMEs, start-ups, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), non-public defence corporations, and policymakers, Singh stated, “Indigenous drone manufacturing ecosystem is a should for strategic autonomy, defence preparedness and self-reliance.”
Singh asserted that the continued conflicts are proof that self-reliance in drone manufacturing is important not merely on the product degree, however on the element degree as effectively. “From the drone’s molds to its software program, engines, and batteries, every thing should be manufactured in India. That is no simple process. In most nations the place drones are manufactured, a big variety of essential elements are at the moment imported from China,” he stated.
Whereas he referred to as for energetic contribution of the non-public sector on this regard, Singh prolonged the federal government’s full assist to remodel India into a worldwide hub for indigenous drone manufacturing.
On the function of MSMEs within the defence sector, he stated, “As of February 2026, roughly 676 start-ups, MSMEs, and particular person innovators have joined the defence innovation ecosystem because the inception of iDEX (Improvements for Defence Excellence) in 2018.”
As many as 548 contracts have been signed and 566 challenges launched. Of those, 58 prototypes have obtained clearance for procurement, valued at round Rs 3,853 crore, he added. “Moreover, 45 procurement contracts, value practically Rs 2,326 crore, have already been signed. These figures show that innovation is regularly materialising into tangible merchandise and applied sciences, and the function performed by our start-ups and MSMEs is steadily gaining energy,” he stated.
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Talking on the event, Secretary (Defence Manufacturing), Sanjeev Kumar highlighted that the conclave goals to advertise superior manufacturing applied sciences, and integration of MSMEs within the manufacturing ecosystem and whole worth chain.
Chief of Defence Employees Normal Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Chief of Military Employees Normal Upendra Dwivedi, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat had been additionally current.
The Nationwide Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026, organised by the Division of Defence Manufacturing (DDP), is predicated on the theme of ‘Superior Manufacturing Applied sciences’, as per the official launch. Singh additionally inaugurated an exhibition, which noticed 20 giant defence corporations showcasing their initiatives and programmes for co-opting MSMEs as companions, suppliers and innovators. As well as, 24 Indian and overseas corporations are taking part within the exhibition to show superior manufacturing applied sciences akin to automation, synthetic intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing and good supplies.
The initiative aligns with the federal government’s imaginative and prescient of Aatmanirbharta in defence, and seeks to boost India’s technological functionality and world competitiveness in defence manufacturing. It is usually anticipated to encourage industries from non-defence sectors to discover alternatives in defence manufacturing.