Rajnath Singh urges defence startups to lead the next tech revolution

New Delhi, October 7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on Indian innovators and startups to spearhead a technological revolution in defence, stating that the wars of the future would be fought with algorithms, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.

Addressing ‘Raksha Navachar Samvaad: Interaction with iDEX Startups’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, ahead of the National Conference on October 7, Singh said technologies such as drones, anti-drone systems, quantum computing, and directed-energy weapons would define modern warfare, as seen during Operation Sindoor.

“The battlefield has changed. We must not remain imitators or followers in technology; we must become creators and standard-setters for the world,” the Defence Minister emphasised, urging innovators to “think beyond existing solutions” and develop next-generation capabilities.

Highlighting India’s progress toward self-reliance in defence, Singh noted that domestic capital acquisitions had grown from Rs. 74,000 crore in 2021-22 to Rs. 1.2 lakh crore in 2024-25. He described this as a “change in mindset – from dependence to confidence”. Underlining the government’s commitment to small businesses, he said that at least 25 percent of annual procurement was reserved for micro and small enterprises (MSEs), with over 350 items earmarked exclusively for them.

“India’s self-reliance in defence has moved from being a slogan to becoming a movement – from policy to practice, and from innovation to impact,” Singh said, crediting the nation’s startups and young entrepreneurs for driving this transformation.

Encouraging startups to set higher benchmarks, the Minister noted that India had more than 100 unicorns but none in the defence sector.

“Let the first defence unicorn of India emerge from among you. It will be a matter of pride for the entire nation,” he said, assuring that the government would support innovators “from ideation to implementation”.

Singh lauded the contribution of startups to record-breaking defence production worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crore and exports exceeding Rs. 23,000 crore in 2024–25. “You are the architects of a new India that believes in designing, developing and producing for itself,” he remarked.

Reflecting on the success of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative launched in 2018, Singh described it as a “transformational programme” that connected India’s youth with the technological needs of the armed forces. He said more than 650 iDEX winners had emerged, leading to prototype procurements worth over Rs. 3,000 crore – a development he called “a revolution in India’s defence innovation landscape”.

Before iDEX, Singh noted, Indian talent was making global contributions in IT, telecom, and space, but not in defence.

“Through iDEX, we ensured that India’s talent works for India’s security. It has become a movement shaping the future of our defence manufacturing,” he said.

The Minister outlined several initiatives to support startups and MSMEs, including reforms in procurement, production, and testing infrastructure. He said the new Defence Procurement Manual (DPM-2025) would provide assured orders for five years – extendable by another five – ensuring predictability for innovators. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) is also being revised to simplify processes, speed up trials, and secure assured procurement for innovative solutions.

Singh said frameworks such as iDEX, the Technology Development Fund, the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme, and Self-Certification provisions were creating a robust ecosystem to promote innovation.

“Our aim is to make India not just a defence manufacturer but a defence innovator for the world,” he asserted.

Commending iDEX winners such as Refi M. Fiber and Gravity Systems for their contributions during Operation Sindoor, Singh said Indian startups were now earning global recognition, with several showcasing technologies at international platforms like the Dubai Airshow 2025.

“It is a matter of pride when our soldiers salute innovations born from India’s own soil,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Defence was partnering with other government departments and financial institutions to ensure end-to-end support for startups – from ideation to market-ready production.

“Our goal is to build an ecosystem where every idea grows into a product, every prototype scales to production, and every innovation strengthens India’s defence preparedness,” Singh said.

He concluded by underscoring that India’s defence manufacturing sector had become a major driver of private investment, R&D, and employment.

“The defence innovation journey of India is moving from concept to creation and from vision to victory,” Singh declared. “Together, we will make India not just self-reliant but a global leader in defence technology.”

The event, organised by iDEX under the Department of Defence Production, featured an exhibition of cutting-edge defence technologies developed under iDEX and ADITI. Panel discussions were held on ‘Scaling Defence Startups’, ‘Bridging Innovation and Production’, and ‘Accelerating Aatmanirbharta through R&D Collaboration’.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, and several senior officials, innovators, and industry leaders attended the event.