addressing emerging threats in the cyber and space domains
On Monday, Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister, urged research institutes to accelerate their work in advanced technology to enhance India’s capability in addressing emerging threats in the cyber and space domains.
Speaking at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune, Rajnath Singh provided insights into the dynamic political and economic landscape among nations in the current global scenario.
He emphasized the rapid evolution of science, technology, and warfare methods, stressing the need for swift progress in advanced technology to counter non-kinetic or contactless warfare, in addition to conventional methods. He expressed concerns about potential future challenges if our adversaries possess more advanced technologies.
Acknowledging the importance of technological advancements in the changing times, Rajnath Singh entrusted the responsibility of progress to our institutions. He compared the defence sector to a flowing river, urging everyone to surge ahead and overcome obstacles.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the close relationship between cutting-edge technologies and defence research. He called upon institutions like DIAT to innovate and develop solutions that are beneficial not only to the defence sector but also to civilians.
Discussing the government’s vision of achieving self-reliance (‘Aatmanirbharta’) in defence, the Defence Minister regarded it as a crucial component for strengthening the country’s security apparatus. He clarified that self-reliance does not mean isolation but rather fulfilling the Armed Forces’ needs and security requirements of friendly nations through building necessary equipment and platforms using our own capacity.
Rajnath Singh emphasized that relying on defence equipment imports can hinder India’s strategic autonomy. Thus, the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is dedicated to achieving self-reliance in the sector. He stated that self-reliance is essential to make independent decisions aligned with national interests, reduce adverse impacts on the country’s balance of trade, strengthen the economy, and create more employment opportunities.
To promote self-reliance, the Ministry of Defence has taken several steps, including the issuance of positive indigenisation lists for the Armed Forces and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). These lists encompass a wide range of systems, equipment, and strategically-important components, demonstrating the government’s commitment to attaining self-reliance.
Rajnath Singh also emphasized the government’s focus on innovation. He highlighted India’s position as the second-largest hub for start-ups and the Ministry of Defence’s reception of innovative ideas. He noted the significant contribution of Indian start-ups in the pursuit of self-reliance in the defence sector through initiatives like the Defence India Start-up Challenge.
The Defence Minister pointed out the visible results of the government’s efforts, citing the domestic manufacturing of rifles, BrahMos missiles, Light Combat Aircraft, and indigenous Aircraft Carriers. He mentioned the substantial increase in defence exports, which rose to approximately Rs 16,000 crore in the Financial Year 2022-23 from Rs 900 crore in 2014. He expressed satisfaction with the growing interest and faith shown by other countries in India’s manufacturing capabilities, calling for the full realization of the Prime Minister’s dream of a strong, prosperous, self-reliant, and developed India by 2047.
During the convocation, Rajnath Singh, as the Chancellor of DIAT, conferred degrees upon 283 students, including M.Tech./M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduates. He witnessed laboratory demonstrations showcasing various frontier research activities at DIAT, such as free-space entanglement distribution, a biomedical health-care device developed by a start-up, Nuclear-Diamond battery, Drone interception and combat technology, Tera-Hz applications, and space to undersea communication.
The event was attended by Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO & Governing
