SHRI RAJNATH SINGH CALLS UPON DRDO TO CONTINUE MOVING AHEAD IN
SYNC WITH RAPIDLY-EVOLVING TECHNOLOGICAL ECOSYSTEM & KEEP
COMING OUT WITH NICHE PRODUCTS
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on January 02, 2025, visited DRDO Headquarters in
New Delhi, and interacted with senior scientists & officials to mark the 67th Foundation
Day of the organisation. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth also attended the
meeting. In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh commended DRDO for developing the
indigenous capabilities of the country by equipping the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art
technologies/equipment, and bolstering the defence sector through collaboration with the
private sector.
On 2025 being declared as the ‘Year of Reforms’, Raksha Mantri asserted that DRDO
will play a crucial role in achieving the set objectives. He called upon DRDO to continue
moving ahead in sync with the rapidly-evolving technological ecosystem, and keep
coming out with products that are relevant to the changing times. He urged the scientists
to keep an eye on the products & processes being adopted by the technologically-
advanced countries, and develop niche technologies with the aim to make DRDO one of
the strongest R&D organisations in the world. He also expressed his view that each lab
of DRDO should identify 2-3 critical projects, which should be completed by 2025. “By the
next foundation year, we should have 100 such projects completed,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated the efforts of DRDO towards increasing the collaboration
with the private sector, including providing its technologies and free access to its patents.
He urged the organisation to identify more such areas, which can enhance the
participation of the private sector, emphasising that a nation can only progress when all
stakeholders work together.
Raksha Mantri called upon DRDO to explore the possibility of including start-ups in its
R&D efforts. This would promote valuable exchange of ideas and provide an opportunity
for the Indian defence sector to come out with innovative technologies according to the
changing times. He expressed that each lab should organise two open days every month
for interaction with the industry. He also suggested that laboratories can raise awareness
about the works being carried out by DRDO and motivate the youth to contribute to
nation building.
“DRDO can play the role of a catalyst for other similar organisations, academia, industry,
etc., which can help in bringing a technological revolution in the country. A new
ecosystem can be created, which focusses on defence as well as dual-technology areas,
that can bring about a transformative change for civilian users,” added Shri Rajnath
Singh.
During the meeting, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr
Samir V Kamat briefed Raksha Mantri about the ongoing R&D activities, achievements of
DRDO in 2024, various initiatives of DRDO in promoting industry, start-ups & academia
and the roadmap of DRDO for 2025. He said, so far 1,950 Transfer of Technologies
(ToTs) on DRDO-developed systems have been handed over to Indian Industries, of
which, 256 Licensing Agreements for ToTs were signed with Indian industries in 2024.
The DRDO Chairman added that more than 19 Development cum Production
Partners/Production Agencies were chosen last year for Mission Mode projects. The
DRDO test facilities have been opened to the industries for utilisation and over 18,000
tests have been carried out for private industries/DPSUs in the past three years with
more than 5,000 tests in 2024 itself.
Shri Rajnath Singh also felicitated the design team of Long Range Hypersonic Anti Ship
Missile on the occasion. DRDO celebrates its foundation day on 1st January every year.
