By A Correspondent
New Delhi: In a powerful address that could define India’s technological future, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Nov. 11, 2025, urged the nation to transition from a consumer of technology to a creator, calling for a complete ecosystem overhaul to ensure India leads in next-generation defence innovation.
Speaking at the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2025, organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) on the theme ‘Harnessing New Age Technology for Defence Capability Development’, Singh emphasised that true innovation lies not merely in adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Quantum Computing but in building systems that make innovation natural, swift, and self-sustaining.
“If our foundations are strong, our institutions agile, our minds open, and our collaboration seamless, every new technological wave will not overwhelm us; it will propel us,” the minister said.
From Innovation to Indigenisation: India’s Next Leap
Rajnath Singh outlined his vision for a self-reliant, innovation-driven defence ecosystem, where soldiers, scientists, start-ups, and strategists work together.
He stressed that advanced tools like AI, swarm tech, and quantum computing mean little unless institutions and human capital are equipped to absorb and deploy them effectively.
He highlighted the often-overlooked “invisible technologies” behind defence readiness — secure data architectures, encrypted networks, automated maintenance systems, and interoperable databases — that form the digital backbone of modern warfare.
Ecosystem of Collaboration: DRDO, Industry, Academia
Citing the growing synergy among DRDO, Armed Forces, industry, and academia, Singh said India’s defence base was expanding with “renewed confidence and clarity.”
He called for a culture of innovation that rewards ideas, tolerates failures, and celebrates breakthroughs, noting that technology leadership cannot emerge from isolated brilliance but from a national ecosystem that encourages collaboration over silos and speed over bureaucracy.
The minister praised initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the Technology Development Fund (TDF) for nurturing start-ups and innovators contributing to the missions of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) and Aatmanirbharta (Self-Reliance).
“They are the architects of a future where quantum sensors, autonomous systems, and space-based surveillance will bear the imprint of Indian ingenuity,” he said.
From Hardware to Software Sovereignty
In one of his most striking remarks, Singh asserted that true strategic autonomy requires not just indigenous manufacturing but digital sovereignty: control over algorithms, data, and semiconductors that power India’s defence platforms.
“True autonomy will come only when our code is as indigenous as our hardware,” he declared, announcing steps to promote secure, homegrown AI models, trusted semiconductor supply chains, and indigenous software stacks.
He warned that while technology could amplify human judgment, it should never replace it. Singh urged India to take a civilisational lead in ethical, legal, and psychological frameworks guiding the responsible use of emerging military technologies.
Tech as a Resource Optimiser
Rajnath Singh also urged leveraging data analytics and AI in defence procurement to improve transparency and ensure optimal use of resources.
He revealed new directives to incorporate life-cycle cost assessments at the inception stage of every defence purchase—ensuring India considers long-term sustainability, not just upfront investments.
“It’s far better to import best practices than to import the best equipment,” he noted, urging the armed forces to adopt global standards in training, logistics, planning, and management systems.
The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, MP-IDSA Director General Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, diplomats from partner nations, and senior civil and military officials.
As India positions itself for the next technological revolution, Singh’s call marks a strategic pivot — from importing innovation to engineering it at home, laying the groundwork for an era where India’s defence technology is not just made in India, but imagined in India.
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