Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday inaugurated a two-day National Defence Industrial Conclave in Delhi, urging innovators and MSMEs to focus on achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, particularly in drone technology. Highlighting ongoing global conflicts such as Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Israel, he stressed that drones and counter-drone systems will play a crucial role in future warfare.

He called for the development of a fully indigenous drone manufacturing ecosystem in India, emphasizing that not just the final products but also key components like moulds, software, engines, and batteries should be made domestically. Acknowledging challenges, he noted that many countries depend on imports, especially from China, for critical components, and underlined the importance of self-reliance for India’s defence preparedness and strategic autonomy. Encouraging innovators, he assured government support and urged collective efforts to make India a global hub for indigenous drone manufacturing by 2030. He also inaugurated a Defence Industry Exhibition, praising the contributions of MSMEs and startups in strengthening defence self-reliance.

During the event, the 14th edition of the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) was launched with over 100 challenges for the first time, mainly from Defence Public Sector Undertakings. Singh emphasized the role of MSMEs as the backbone of innovation, job creation, and economic growth, and called for greater integration of small industries into large defence projects.

He highlighted the need for adopting advanced technologies such as automation, robotics, and AI, and pointed out the vast growth potential in the sector, noting that MSMEs in India have grown significantly in recent years. Initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence and ADITI were described as key drivers supporting startups and MSMEs in developing solutions for the armed forces. Senior officials including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and other top defence leaders were also present at the inaugural session.