India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, has highlighted the importance of focusing on defense technology advancement due to the “double threat” the country faces along its borders with China and Pakistan. Speaking at the DRDO Academia Conclave in Delhi, Singh emphasized the need for extensive research in developing defense technologies to address various security challenges. He called for collaboration between the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and academia to achieve desired technological advancements.
Singh stated, “India is facing a double threat on our borders. In such a situation, we must advance technologically.” He acknowledged India’s status as one of the world’s largest armies and stressed the significance of having a technologically advanced defense force to safeguard the country’s interests.
The Defense Minister’s remarks come amidst the ongoing border tensions in eastern Ladakh and Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorism.
During the conference, Singh emphasized the importance of collaboration between DRDO and academia, stating that research is the key to technological advancement. He encouraged both entities to work together and highlighted the potential for India’s research sector to grow through such partnerships.
Singh further urged individuals and institutions to foster connections at both professional and personal levels. He emphasized that India faces various challenges and emphasized the need for collective efforts and partnerships to effectively address them.
The Defense Minister also highlighted the potential of the DRDO-academia partnership in developing dual-use technologies, which can be utilized for both defense and civilian purposes. He expressed that establishing this collaboration would enable DRDO to advance in the development of such technologies.