At a time when some nations are adopting protectionist policies and sometimes withholding information on disruptive technologies, India has successfully challenged these hurdles, hence proving that a country can become self-reliant in any field if its intentions are clear, said the Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh. Protectionist policies are government measures that restrict international trade to protect domestic industries and jobs from foreign competition.
"The scope of cutting-edge tech is very restricted. Sometimes, some countries resort to protectionism when it comes to disruptive technologies. Sometimes, they do not share information with other countries. India has challenged these limitations. We have shown that if our intentions are clear and policies are unambiguous, we can become self-reliant in any field," he said.
Rajnath's remarks came on Thursday, during the visit of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence, headed by him, to the city-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the aegis of the Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE) cluster.
India cannot depend on the import of technologies to safeguard its national interests, and the government is not only aiming to make the country self-reliant in the defence sector, but also focusing on establishing itself as a global innovation hub in the field, the defence minister said, adding that India is now being seen as a trusted defence partner.
One of the purposes of the committee’s visit was to inspect the state-of-the-art products developed by different laboratories of the cluster. The notable products demonstrated include Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, PINAKA Rocket System, light tank 'Zorawar', Wheeled Armoured Platform and AKASH-New Generation missile. The committee was further notified about the status of the technologies being developed in the fields of robotics, rail gun, electromagnetic aircraft launch system, high-energy propulsion materials, and others, while being presented with a detailed future roadmap of the cluster.
The defence minister talked on the 'Emerging Technologies and DRDO' topic in the meeting, as he stressed the requirement to understand as well as adapt to the transformation taking place in the defence sector and the evolving nature of warfare.
Rajnath’s statement -
"Today is an era of technological dominance. The nation that prioritises science and innovation will lead the future. Technology is no longer limited to labs; it has become the foundation of our strategic decisions, defence system, and future policies. Our goal is not only to achieve 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence, but also to develop a culture that inspires future generations and establishes India as a global defence innovation hub.”
"We should not only be the users of technology, we should also be the creators. To achieve this, there is a need to accelerate our self-reliance efforts. Atmanirbharta in defence is not just a goal, it is the strongest shield for national security.”
"DRDO, public sector enterprises, private industries, start-ups, and academia are together setting new benchmarks in defence innovation. Our youth are continuously making breakthroughs in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Robotics, Quantum Communication, and Space Technology. India is becoming a technology leader due to the hard work and talent of our people. Emerging technologies not only modernise the forces but also open up new opportunities for the youth.”
Other members of the committee expressed satisfaction over the achievements and work being carried out by the ACE cluster, and gave suggestions for future policy making, too.
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