India must move from Technology Adoption to Technology Leadership: Rajnath Singh
November 11, 2025
New Delhi: The Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) inaugurated the second edition of the Delhi Defence Dialogue on ‘Harnessing New Age Technology for Defence Capability Development’ in New Delhi today. The two-day event, being held from November 11–12, 2025, brings together policymakers, defence experts, industry leaders, and scholars to discuss the evolving role of technology in national defence. It also marked the 60th Anniversary of the founding of IDSA in 1965.
In his Inaugural Address, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh extended his heartiest felicitations to MP-IDSA on its 60th Foundation Day, acknowledging the Institute’s six-decade-long contribution to strategic research, policy guidance, and national security discourse.
The Raksha Mantri highlighted the evolving nature of warfare and the critical role of new-age technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, and Swarm Systems in redefining defence preparedness. He remarked that the power of technology is not limited to devices or algorithms—it lies in its all-encompassing nature, the way it redefines every process, every system, and every decision that contributes to national defence.
He emphasised that harnessing new-age technology is not just about upgrading weapons and platforms, but about transforming the entire defence ecosystem—from research and development to logistics, procurement, and decision-making. “Technology is not only a tool but a culture,” he said, underscoring the need to make defence institutions agile, anticipatory, and adaptive.
Shri Rajnath Singh also stressed the importance of leveraging data analytics and process technologies for better decision-making, resource optimisation, and transparency. He called for integrating life-cycle costing and global best practices into procurement to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
Outlining India’s vision, he stated that the nation must move decisively from technology adoption to technology leadership, driven by innovation, collaboration, and the spirit of Atmanirbharta. He added that true digital sovereignty extends beyond hardware to indigenous software, algorithms, and AI models trained on Indian data.
The Raksha Mantri praised initiatives like iDEX and the Technology Development Fund, which are nurturing a new generation of innovators contributing to national defence. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to building a secure, self-reliant, and ethical technological ecosystem that enhances both capability and confidence.
Ambassador Sujan Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA, in his Welcome Address, extended a warm welcome to all the participants and dignitaries attending the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2025. He highlighted the special significance of the occasion, which coincides with the 60th Foundation Day of the Institute.
In his remarks, Amb. Chinoy reflected on the transformative role of technology in shaping modern defence capabilities, emphasising that armed forces worldwide are transitioning from the industrial to the information and cyber age. He noted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Quantum Physics are becoming crucial determinants in warfare and security.
Amb. Chinoy stressed upon the importance of striking a balance between foreign technology acquisition and indigenous defence manufacturing, advocating for a self-reliant approach under India’s Atmanirbharta policy. He acknowledged the challenge of integrating advanced technologies while ensuring independence in critical defence capabilities.
Also speaking on the occasion was Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, who in his Special Address on “Impact of Technology on Modern Warfare” emphasised that the core objective of warfare remains victory, as conflicts offer no second chances. The CDS highlighted the recent Operation Sindoor as a compelling example of modern warfare, where precision strike capabilities, network-centric operations, digitised intelligence, and multi-domain tactics were effectively deployed within a compressed timeframe.
The CDS underscored the imperative for military leadership to adapt swiftly to these evolving realities, noting that technological superiority has become the decisive factor in determining success on the battlefield. He stated that warfare remains fundamentally about securing victory, and those who lead in technology will ultimately prevail.
The Dialogue brings together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and academia to share insights on how new-age technologies can be effectively harnessed for enhancing India’s defence capability. The ongoing discussions are expected to contribute significantly to the development of data-driven defence systems and future technological advancements in security.
