India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has made a significant announcement that the country's defence exports are projected to reach a staggering Rs 50,000 crore by the fiscal year 2029-30. This projection was made during his address at the 65th Foundation Day celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur. The Defence Minister's statement underscores the success of India's Aatmanirbhar or self-reliance drive in the defence sector, which he said was yielding the desired results.

A decade ago, India's defence exports were a mere Rs 600 crore. However, they crossed a record Rs 21,000 crore in the financial year 2023-24. This exponential growth in defence exports is a clear indication of the success of the government's efforts to achieve self-reliance in the defence sector. The Defence Minister's projection is a testament to the remarkable growth in India's defence exports over the past decade.

During his address, Rajnath Singh urged the youth of India to develop high-end technologies indigenously. He emphasized the need for India to gain mastery over high-end technology and encouraged young minds to realize their potential and contribute to the country's progress.

India's Technological Leap in Defence

He referred to institutions like IIT Kanpur as academic engines that can provide dynamism to India in the current competitive environment. The Defence Minister highlighted the increasing role of technology in the global defence ecosystem. He noted that the use of drones, laser warfare, cyber warfare, precision-guided missiles, and hypersonic missiles has transformed warfare into a technology-oriented domain.

He identified the import of high-end technologies as a significant hurdle in achieving 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence and stressed the need to focus on the defence application of modern cutting-edge technologies. Rajnath Singh assured the government's full support in this endeavour and reiterated the commitment to take all stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, together to make India self-reliant in defence.

He also spoke about the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, which provides a grant of Rs 1.5 crore to innovators and start-ups. The Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme was also mentioned, which promotes innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.

Defence Innovation and Collaboration

The Defence Minister's visit to IIT Kanpur was marked by a special event on defence innovation, aligning with the vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. He visited a Defence Research, Product, and Incubation Showcase organized by the Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur. The showcase highlighted pioneering solutions from 23 SIIC-incubated start-ups, presenting advancements in defence technology such as autonomous systems, AI-driven surveillance, and next-generation communication tools.

Rajnath Singh engaged with Start-up founders and research teams at the exhibition stalls, commending their contributions to enhance national security. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed to strengthen partnerships, including IIT Kanpur's collaborations with BEML and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to drive advancements in military logistics & defence innovation, and a partnership with Kanpur University to strengthen incubation efforts.

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 Challenges, which provided attendees with valuable insights into the defence innovation landscape. A commemorative tree plantation, led by Rajnath Singh, symbolised IIT Kanpur's enduring legacy in technological and defence advancement and commitment to sustainability.

In conclusion, the Defence Minister's projection of India's defence exports reaching Rs 50,000 crore by 2029-30 is a testament to the country's growing self-reliance in defence. The government's initiatives, such as iDEX and ADITI, are fostering innovation in defence technology, and institutions like IIT Kanpur are playing a crucial role in this endeavour. With the government's full support and the active participation of all stakeholders, India is well on its way to becoming a global leader in defence technology and exports. This projection and the subsequent events at IIT Kanpur are reminiscent of similar initiatives in the past aimed at boosting India's defence capabilities, reflecting the rapid strides India is making in the defence sector.