Boosting India’s Defence R&D: Key Insights from Pune Seminar
In a push for stronger self-reliance in defence, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted the urgent need for more investment in research and development (R&D). Speaking at the Defence Tech 2025 Seminar in Pune, he pointed out how Operation Sindoor acted as a wake-up call for India’s armed forces. It showed exactly where we can improve and adapt to the demands of modern nuclear warfare.
The event, organized by the Indian Army’s Southern Command at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal Auditorium and Memorial (RSAMI), focused on "Atmanirbharta through Partnership – Industry, Academia, Armed Forces." It brought together experts from academia, industry, research bodies, and the military to spark collaborations and speed up homegrown tech for defence. Lt. Gen Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, led the proceedings alongside top Army officials and key players from the defence ecosystem.
Singh stressed that India currently spends just 0.66% of its GDP on R&D, with most of that—around two-thirds—handled by public bodies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "We can’t advance in defence without ramping up R&D," he told reporters on the sidelines. He called for a bigger role from the private sector, which has contributed very little so far.
To change this, the government is sharing 25% of DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) with private firms and startups. They’ve also set up a massive Rs 1 lakh crore research fund through the Department of Science and Technology. In the last three years alone, about Rs 1,500 crore has gone to startups and private companies via TDF, Singh revealed.
On building indigenous defence equipment, he shared exciting progress. "We’ve committed to spending at least 75% of our defence budget on domestic sources, and last year, we hit 81%—all within India." This push for Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing is gaining real momentum.
Singh isn’t pushing for a hike in the overall defence budget just yet. "We should first make the most of what we have," he said. With no major financial hurdles, the finance ministry is ready to boost capital expenditure by 10-15% annually, which should cover the armed forces’ needs.
Looking ahead, India is nearing a big partnership with a global engine manufacturer, working alongside DRDO, to develop fighter jet engines. "It’s a detailed process that could take up to a decade," Singh noted. Efforts are also underway to cut reliance on imports for marine engines, strengthening our naval capabilities.
Sessions at the seminar dove into hot topics like fast-tracking niche technologies for indigenous systems. Experts discussed reverse engineering, industry-backed academic research, and DRDO’s pivotal role. Another key talk covered the growth of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, spotlighting inputs from private industries, public sector units (PSUs), and academia.
This seminar is a big step toward a stronger, self-reliant defence industry. By fostering partnerships, India aims to tackle future national security challenges head-on and embrace cutting-edge technologies.
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