New Delhi, Jan 27 (.) Citing the success of Operation Sindoor as proof of India’s growing defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asserted that indigenously developed systems are significantly enhancing the country’s operational preparedness, while calling for faster innovation and closer collaboration across sectors to strengthen national security.
Rajnath was addressing a gathering of defence scientists during a function organised by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) here. He said self-reliance in defence has now evolved into a national mindset, playing a pivotal role in the rapid transformation of India’s defence capabilities.
He stressed that in the evolving global security environment, speed of innovation and deployment would be critical, remarking that the world now follows the principle of “survival of the fastest” rather than merely “survival of the fittest.”
Exhorting the DRDO scientists to think innovatively and quickly, while not being afraid of taking risks, the minister said, “Technology is changing rapidly. Any tech that is new today may become irrelevant in 4-5 years. Therefore, in today’s times, especially on the battlefield, we must move forward keeping in mind the theory of ‘survival of the fastest’ and not just ‘survival of the fittest’. The country that thinks, decides and deploys technology quickly stays ahead.”
Singh urged the DRDO to move beyond the sectors where the private sector has already developed its capabilities, suggesting the creation of a separate wing within the organisation that takes risks in sectors where the chances of success may seem low. However, if success is achieved, it will be historic, he added.
Underscoring the importance of reducing the time between research and prototype, prototype to testing, and testing to deployment, the minister asserted that “timely induction in the Armed Forces should be the biggest parameter of our performance”.
He pointed out that the DRDO usually focuses on design and prototyping, and production is the role of industries, emphasising that it is necessary to bridge this gap. He stated that, similar to international models, a co-development approach can be adopted, where the industry is involved from the early stages, from design to production.
Calling upon the DRDO to collaborate extensively with public sector undertakings and the private sector, Singh stated that the time has come to move beyond conventional areas.
“For example, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which has emerged as a major achievement for us, is a testament to the knowledge sharing between DRDO and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Many more such achievements await us, but for that, it is essential that DRDO collaborates with academia and shares knowledge with the public and private sectors.
Government’s support will only be meaningful when DRDO moves away from a monopolistic R&D model to a collaborative ecosystem, and cooperates with the public sector, private industries, MSMEs, start-ups, and academia. Only then will we be able to make big strides towards an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.
The event was organised by the DRDO to honour dedicated scientists, technical experts, and innovators whose commitment, perseverance and excellence form the strong foundation of India’s defence capabilities.
The defence minister distributed awards to the recipients of the DRDO Award Scheme 2024. Dr Bhagavantam Technology Leadership Award 2024 to was given to Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad BV Paparao for successfully leading the scientific teams of the lab in the design, development, and demonstration of world-class technologies related to Agni missiles and India’s first-of-its-kind Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle technology for a Long-Range Hypersonic Cruise Missile.
Dr Nagchaudhuri Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 was given to Dr Balaguru V, Former Scientist CVRDE, Chennai for his exceptional efforts in realising prestigious defence platforms such as MBT Arjun MK-1 and the Indian Light Tank ‘Zorawar’.
. PWS .