New Delhi, Oct 26 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said India’s bid to achieve ‘aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence is entering the “second phase” as he called on all associated stakeholders to develop top-end and state-of-the-art technologies in the sector.
In his address at the plenary session of the Indian Navy’s annual seminar Swavlamban 2026 here, Singh underlined the need to indigenously manufacture products that are “cost-effective, operationally superior and globally competitive”.
While calling for ‘Aatmanirbharta 2.0’ in the defence sector, Singh emphasised on strengthening research & development (R&D), building resilient supply chains to cut import dependence and achieving technological superiority, thus contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Highlighting the significant strides made by the country towards aatmanirbharta in defence over the last decade, 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 emphasised the need to build on the gains of the first phase of self-reliance, and said defence innovators with futuristic vision and scientific discipline would play the role of “impact players” in pursuing more challenging technological goals in the next phase.
The Navy is hosting the fifth edition of its flagship seminar at the Manekshaw Centre here on October 26 and 27.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen N S Raja Subramani, Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth and Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan were also present on the dais.
Singh said supply chain management is not just a technical issue, but a strategic imperative directly linked to the 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 material, 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 added.
He underscored the need to remain prepared against “potential disruptions” in supply routes, and said the assessment of buffer stocks and domestic production capabilities must be carried out in advance rather than waiting for a crisis.
Singh identified R&D as central to addressing these challenges, and exuded confidence in the ability of the nation’s talent pool to develop cutting-edge technologies indigenously with sustained focus and investment.
The minister also highlighted that demand for naval ships is steadily increasing in view of the evolving situation in the Indian Ocean Region, and said, since their construction is capital-intensive, there is a need to explore ways to “reduce costs” while expanding domestic production.
He asserted that the next phase of aatmanirbharta must focus not only on the quantity of indigenous products, but also on their quality, efficiency and affordability, and emphasised that self-reliance must strengthen national security as well as economic resilience.
Singh highlighted the inherent risks associated with research, and called for a change in attitude towards failure. He highlighted that even countries with advanced R&D ecosystems experience high failure rates, which are a natural part of the innovation process.
He highlighted the R&D culture in countries such as Israel, South Korea and the US where innovation, he said, is embraced as a way of life, with failure being viewed as an opportunity to learn.
Singh also called for development of a ‘Dual Technology Roadmap’ to identify and prioritise technologies that can serve both civilian and military requirements.
He said there was a need to expand efforts beyond the existing Positive Indigenisation Lists, and develop priority lists of technologies and products required for civil and military shipping.
Singh also suggested identifying technologies that could be used across all three services and the Indian Coast Guard, terming it as a technological application of inter-service jointness, which can serve as a “significant milestone” in the second phase of self-reliance.
Addressing the plenary session, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan pitched for accelerating the pace of translating innovation into operational capabilities for the naval force, and urged all stakeholders to endeavour to stay ahead of the technology curve.
Advances in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems should be leveraged to bolster naval capabilities, he said.
Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS) Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, in his address at the inaugural ceremony of the seminar, pitched for shortening the “innovation to integration” cycle to augment naval capabilities.
The vice admiral referred to recent conflicts, from short-term engagements to protracted ones, including the conflict in Ukraine, and emphasised how drone production there has grown manifold in the last several years.
Singh also visited the technology exhibition pavillion featuring over 100 stalls by start-ups and MSMEs, and interacted with innovators working on naval challenges and problem statements.
The success stories section of the exhibition showcased developed products that are under induction by the Indian Navy.
The Union minister also released the ‘Compendium of Technology Imperatives, Problems Statements and Future Concepts’ and ‘Swavlamban 5.0’ document providing industry visibility of naval priorities and development opportunities.
(PTI News)
