New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said India’s efforts to achieve ‘atmanirbharta’ in defence are entering the “second phase”, asserting that innovators will play the role of “impact players” in the endeavour.
In his address at the plenary session of the Indian Navy’s annual seminar Swavlamban 2026 here, he also suggested building a roadmap of specified areas in which self-reliance is needed, and the timelines for achieving those goals.
The Navy is hosting the fifth edition of its flagship seminar at the Manekshaw Centre here on October 26 and 27.
Highlighting the significant strides made by the nation towards Aatmanirbharta in defence over the last decade, Rajnath Singh asserted that the progress achieved so far has created a strong foundation for the next phase, which must focus on advanced technologies and objectives that are considered difficult to achieve. He underlined the need to indigenously manufacture products that are cost-effective, operationally superior and globally competitive.
The Minister described supply chain management as not just a technical issue but a strategic imperative directly linked to national security. He called for a dynamic roadmap that sets clear timelines for achieving self-reliance in each item, identifies the technologies to be developed and the industries that will drive their innovation, and outlines the resources required to achieve these objectives. “Supply chain dependencies arise from a limited domestic availability of certain raw materials, such as rare earth elements, and the absence of specific technologies within the country. While some external dependencies may persist until viable alternatives are developed or domestic resources become available, there is a need to prioritise critical areas for indigenisation,” he said.
Rajnath Singh underscored the need to remain prepared against potential disruptions in supply routes, stressing that the assessment of buffer stocks and domestic production capabilities must be carried out in advance rather than waiting for a crisis. He identified R&D as central to addressing these challenges. He exuded confidence in the ability of the nation’s talent pool to develop cutting-edge technologies indigenously with sustained focus and investment.
He spoke of the inherent risks associated with research, and called for a change in attitude towards failure. He highlighted that even countries with advanced R&D ecosystems experience high failure rates, which are a natural part of the innovation process. “While this risk aversion is, in one sense, natural, it also presents an opportunity. Can we develop funding mechanisms capable of supporting high-risk, high-reward projects? Can we attract more private sector participation in R&D, given its greater propensity for risk-taking? We must seriously consider how to advance in two key areas: engaging the private sector and fostering low-cost technologies. The private sector possesses a greater capacity for taking risks, while low-cost technologies allow us to achieve significant results through smaller-scale experiments,” he said.
Singh highlighted the R&D culture in countries such as Israel, South Korea and the United States where innovation, he said, is embraced as a way of life, with failure being viewed as an opportunity to learn. He stressed the need to foster a deep-rooted culture of research and innovation in India through stronger industry-academia collaboration, greater encouragement in educational institutions and increased opportunities for the youth to pursue careers in R&D.
Highlighting the contribution of iDEX in enabling start-ups and MSMEs to develop technologies that India previously imported, the Minister stated that over 4,000 proposals had been submitted against 229 challenges issued by the Indian Navy, reflecting the depth of Indian talent and the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs. Commending the progress made through iDEX, he said Indian start-ups and MSMEs have developed solutions in naval systems, sensors, communications and other critical areas by translating operational challenges into opportunities for innovation.
Rajnath Singh highlighted that the demand for naval ships is steadily increasing in view of the evolving situation in the Indian Ocean Region, and since their construction is capital-intensive, there is a need to explore ways to reduce costs while expanding domestic production. He stated that the next phase of Aatmanirbharta must focus not only on the quantity of indigenous products but also on their quality, efficiency and affordability. He emphasised that self-reliance must strengthen national security as well as economic resilience.
