Has India Proven Its Supremacy in Tech-Driven Warfare?

New Delhi, May 11 (NationPress) Modern warfare is completely reliant on technology, and India's dominance has been clearly demonstrated over the past four days, stated Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Sunday.

While speaking at the National Technology Day event at the Ambedkar International Centre, the minister remarked that under the astute leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has effectively developed and implemented indigenous technologies that have greatly strengthened its national security and defence capabilities.

He emphasized that India has significantly enhanced its defence capacity over the last ten years and credited Prime Minister Modi for creating a supportive environment for scientific innovation. “India has always had the talent, but now we possess leadership that encourages creativity,” he noted.

“Most of the technologies utilized in defence today are developed locally, and it is Prime Minister Modi who has inspired us to pursue Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Singh declared.

Reflecting on the inception of National Technology Day, Dr. Singh mentioned that it was first celebrated in 1998 to honor the successful Pokhran nuclear tests, an initiative conceived by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “The vision that motivated us in 1998 has evolved under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, transforming India into a global technology powerhouse,” he added.

Dr. Singh underscored that indigenization has been a key focus since 2014, thanks to Prime Minister Modi’s unwavering advocacy for self-reliance. “India is no longer reliant on foreign entities. Our achievements in modern warfare are indicative of our journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047,” he stated.

Expressing pride in scientific progress, Dr. Singh commended the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for backing groundbreaking projects, including the 1000-drone display during the Beating Retreat ceremony. He pointed out that drones, which were once mere symbols, have now become central to India's evolving defence landscape.

The Union Minister praised TDB’s tradition of establishing new themes annually and highlighted this year’s theme, ‘YANTRA’, which signifies transformation through cutting-edge research and technological advancement.

In discussing India’s extraordinary advancements in science, technology, and innovation, Dr. Singh pointed out several notable achievements that reflect the nation’s increasing global prominence. He mentioned India’s impressive rise in the Global Innovation Index, moving from 81st to 39th place, and noted that nearly 56 percent of patents are now filed by Indian residents—indicating a significant rise in domestic innovation.

India has also established itself as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, nurturing entrepreneurship and technological progress. In the defence arena, exports have surged from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 16,000 crore, highlighting the robustness of indigenous capabilities. Furthermore, he noted that funding for Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has more than doubled, from Rs 60,000 crore to Rs 1,27,000 crore, along with over a 100 percent increase in DST and DBT budgets. Notably, the budget for the space sector has nearly tripled, thanks to the sector's opening to private participation—positioning India as a future-ready technological leader.

Dr. Singh also mentioned key initiatives such as ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ and a unified portal for fellowships within the Science and Technology departments, which have simplified the research process in India.

During the event, the Union Minister unveiled a compendium of ‘Super 30 Startups’ funded by TDB over the last five years and initiated two new calls for proposals under the National Quantum Mission. He also awarded project grants to industry-academia partnerships engaged in pilot projects for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).

In conclusion, Dr. Singh remarked, “The 27th National Technology Day signifies international acknowledgment of India’s leadership in science and technology, setting the stage for India @2047.”

The event also featured Padma Bhushan Ajai Chowdhary, who advocated for a “Whole of Nation” strategy to reduce reliance on foreign technology, and endorsed initiatives like Anusandhan NRF for achieving true Aatmanirbharta.

Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary DST; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary DBT; Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary TDB; alongside senior officials, scientists, and dignitaries from the science and technology community were also present during the occasion.