Rajnath Singh stresses the need to promote innovations useful for defence, civil sectors

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for institutions to encourage innovation that not just serves defence purposes but can also be utilized for civilian purposes. Rajnath Singh gave these remarks at Pune while speaking at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT).

He quoted examples of the way navigation systems were first used for military purposes but later played a significant role in civilian life. “Plastic surgery is also deeply related to the defence sector. We see that many a time soldiers get injured during the war, and different parts of their bodies get damaged in an unfortunate way. For this plastic surgery is a boon that is also helping civilian life,” said the Defence Minister.

He added that countries need to be steadfast in developing technologies for progress. “We have to keep in mind that if our adversaries have more advanced technologies, then it can become a problem for us in the coming times. That’s why we have to move fast towards technological advancement along with the changing environment,” he stated.

Need to take cyberspace and space threats, non-kinetic and kinetic warfare: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath highlighted the new emerging threats such as cyberspace and the space sector apart from conventional land and air threats.

The Defence Minister also stated that concepts like non-kinetic or contactless warfare have made the need for cutting-edge technology in the defence industry more critical than ever.

“In the last few decades, we have seen that the methods of warfare are changing at a faster rate…. The dangers of conventional war are in front of us, but going beyond them, now completely new types of threats are looming in front of us,” Rajnath said.

Rajnath stressed that a huge country like India cannot depend on imports only, citing the government’s Atmanirbhar push. “If we only import defence equipment and platforms, it will make us dependent on other countries in the defence sector. This dependence can also be a hindrance to our strategic autonomy,” he added.

During his visit to Pune, Rajnath Singh also met former President of India, Pratibha Patil and expressed his condolences over the demise of her spouse Dr Devisingh Shekhawat.