Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government’s efforts to achieve self-reliance are yielding the desired results as defence exports, which were just Rs 600 crore ten years ago, have now crossed the record figure of Rs 21,000 crore in the financial year 2023-24. He expressed confidence that this progress will continue and defence exports will reach Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30.
IIT Kanpur hosted a special event on defence innovation in line with the vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ as part of the celebrations. Rajnath Singh visited the Defence Research, Product and Incubation Showcase organised by the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur. It featured leading solutions from 23 SIIC-incubated start-ups and presented advancements in defence technology such as autonomous systems, AI-powered surveillance and next-generation communication equipment. The Defence Minister interacted with startup founders and research teams at the exhibition stalls and appreciated their contribution towards enhancing national security.
Several MoUs were also signed on the occasion aimed at strengthening partnerships, including IIT Kanpur’s collaboration with BEML and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to foster advancements in military logistics and defence innovation, and a partnership with Kanpur University to strengthen incubation efforts. Dr. Sameer V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), presented acceptance letters for six transformational DRDO projects, while SIDBI’s Special Offer for iDEX-funded start-ups also provided the necessary funding support.
The event also included key discussions on the country’s latest defence initiatives such as iDEX’s Defence India Start-up Challenge 12 and Aditi 2.0 Challenge, providing attendees valuable insights into the defence innovation landscape. A tree plantation ceremony was organised under the leadership of Rajnath Singh, symbolising IIT Kanpur’s enduring legacy in technology and defence advancement and commitment to sustainability.
The ceremony was attended by Secretary, Defence Production, Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Dr Sameer V Kamat, Director, IIT Kanpur, Professor Manindra Agrawal, Professor in charge, SIIC, Professor Deepu Philip, students of the Institute and several eminent alumni.
