Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance of advanced military technology for the protection of Indian interests on Thursday.
During the inauguration of a two-day ‘DRDO-Academia’ conclave in New Delhi on Thursday, Rajnath Singh, addressed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), scientists and other senior officials, emphasizing the criticality of possessing a technologically advanced military for a country like India.
He underscored the significance of this advanced military strength, particularly due to the dual threat the nation faces on its borders.
“Today we are one of the largest armed forces in the world, the bravery and valor of our military are praised all over the world. Countries across the world express their willingness to conduct joint exercises with our armed forces. In such a situation, it becomes imperative that we have a technologically advanced military to protect the interests of the country. For a country like India, it becomes very important because we are facing a double threat on our borders,” the Defence Minister said.
During the event, Rajnath Singh underscored the importance of the theme “DRDO-Academia Partnership – Opportunities and Challenges” and told In the 21st century, it is imperative that DRDO and Academia collaborate closely to address the challenges confronting our nation. Working in partnership, they can find effective solutions to overcome these hurdles that we currently face. “This partnership will prove helpful in making India a leading nation in defence technologies,” he told.
Research and Development crucial for advanced military tech, development of the country: Rajnath Singh
Singh emphasized the crucial role of research and development (R&D) in the development of a country, highlighting that the path to acquiring advanced military technologies lies in fostering robust R&D efforts.
“Unless we do research, we will not be able to adopt new technologies. R&D has the ability to convert ordinary substances into valuable resources. It has been a key factor in the development of civilizations throughout history,” Rajnath went on to say.
With a strong conviction, he expressed his belief that as the collaboration between DRDO and Academia reaches unprecedented levels, the outcomes of this partnership will unleash the untapped potential of numerous new resources, ultimately bringing substantial benefits to the entire country.
Expanding on the advantages of the DRDO-Academia partnership, the Defence Minister emphasized that this collaboration would provide the DRDO with a proficient human resource foundation sourced from prestigious institutions such as IISC, IITs, NITs, and other universities across the nation. These institutions foster a substantial talent pool comprising skilled and talented youth.
The Defence Minister also asked the DRDO scientists and academia to consider the possibility of deploying DRDO scientists as faculty in academic institutions for a set period of time, which would provide a fresh perspective to our Academia, while Academia intellectuals could also serve on deputation as scientists within DRDO.
During the event, Singh honored the distinguished scientists who have made significant contributions in the fields of Aeronautics, Armaments, Life Sciences, and Naval Systems, as well as other DRDO requirements through grant-in-aid DRDO programmes.
He also issued a Compendium of Invited Talks on Thrust Areas for Academia in Understanding DRDO Requirements and Opportunities.
Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman of DRDO, as well as top executives from the Ministry of Defence and senior scientists from DRDO and academia, were in attendance.
Through a synergistic interaction between DRDO Directors, scientists, and academics, the two-day conclave strives to develop an interface between DRDO’s requirements and Academia’s potential. Around 350 eminent academicians from throughout the country are attending.
