Hamirpur, Oct 14 Indigenous manufacturing alone cannot guarantee defence self-reliance, with sovereign control over critical hardware, software, design capabilities and maintenance infrastructure equally vital for India’s strategic autonomy, experts said at a defence conclave hosted by NIT Hamirpur.
The three-day Defence and Security Conclave, International Research Conference and Defence Innovation Challenge, organised under Shiksha Mahakumbh 6.0 earlier this week, brought together scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), policymakers, academicians, researchers and young innovators to deliberate on indigenous defence technologies, national security and emerging technological challenges.
Organised around the theme “Atmanirbhar Defence se Viksit Bharat — Bridging the Gap Between Academia, Industry and Research and Development (R&D)”, the conclave highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among educational institutions, defence research establishments and industry to accelerate indigenous technological development and advance India’s vision of strategic autonomy.
Dr O R Nandagopan, scientist and former director of the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), addressed the defence conference and highlighted the importance of advanced engineering research, naval architecture, structural mechanics, and indigenous technological capabilities in strengthening India’s defence preparedness.
He emphasised the need to translate fundamental scientific research into reliable, deployable defence technologies through closer collaboration between academic institutions and defence laboratories.
Dr J K Singh, a scientist at the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), presented insights into the human and psychological dimensions of national security, focusing on military psychology, human performance, psychological resilience and decision-making under challenging operational conditions.
His address underscored the importance of integrating behavioural sciences with emerging technologies to strengthen overall defence preparedness.
A major highlight of the event was a high-level panel discussion on “Atmanirbhar Defence se Viksit Bharat”, featuring five experts representing public administration, higher education, defence research and strategic studies.
Dr Amitabh Ranjan, registrar of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), emphasised that strategic autonomy requires sustained cooperation among government agencies, academic institutions, research laboratories and industry.
Prof Sandeep Sancheti, vice-president of Elsevier, highlighted the importance of recognising patents, working prototypes, technology transfer and deployable products as significant outcomes of academic research, particularly in strategically important sectors.
Dr Hem Kapil, a scientist at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), said genuine defence self-reliance requires indigenous expertise across the entire technology lifecycle, from design and development to testing, manufacturing and long-term maintenance.
Dr Akansha Pandey, assistant professor at Rashtriya Raksha University, highlighted the Indian Armed Forces’ crucial role in disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and emergency response.
Alongside the conclave, an International Defence Research Conference featured 46 research papers, with participation from three countries.
The research presentations covered a wide range of emerging areas, including artificial intelligence, autonomous aerial systems, radar technologies, advanced materials, cybersecurity, defence electronics, semiconductor technologies, disaster management, border security and strategic affairs.
Discussions also covered advanced radar technologies, radar absorption techniques and the strategic risks associated with dependence on foreign-controlled software development kits, firmware and other critical technological components.
The experts stressed that technological independence requires more than domestic production, with control over essential hardware and software, indigenous design capabilities and long-term maintenance infrastructure being equally important, particularly during situations involving national security concerns.
The Defence Innovation Challenge, held on October 10, witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 400 students, who showcased approximately 100 hardware and software projects.
(PTI News)
