Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday said that Jharkhand has immense potential to contribute to the defence sector, given its rich reserves of raw materials and uranium. He noted that the state could play a crucial role in nuclear weapons production.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the East Tech Symposium 2025 (Defence Expo) at Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, Khelgaon, Soren highlighted that Jharkhand has always had a unique identity in India’s industrial growth.
“Several major industries have been established here, and many small and medium enterprises have flourished,” he said.
Calling the event “a distinctive platform to explore new dimensions in defence,” Soren reaffirmed his government’s commitment to work with the Centre to strengthen India’s self-reliance in the sector.
The CM also underlined the decline of Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in Ranchi, once a leading contributor to satellite and nuclear components. “It is painful to see such a premier institution not performing to its potential due to flawed policy decisions. Both Centre and state must work together to revive such industries,” he stressed.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, in his keynote address, underscored the importance of indigenisation in defence manufacturing. “Although India began indigenisation late, we are now on the right path. Strategic selection of weapons and alignment of R&D with modern needs are vital,” he said.
Highlighting the role of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, General Chauhan called for an expanded defence manufacturing base. He also noted that states like Jharkhand and West Bengal can play a pivotal role in realising the Centre’s ‘Act East’ policy and the vision of self-reliance in defence.
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, Eastern Command chief Lt Gen Ramchandra Tiwari, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Surat Singh, along with senior officials from the Defence Ministry and leading industry representatives, also attended the event.
The Governor, CM, and other dignitaries visited the Defence Expo stalls, which featured participation from defence experts, industrial houses, technical institutions, and MSMEs from across the country.
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