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India must transition from a reactive posture to a proactive, future-focused defence strategy to stay ahead in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. Addressing Swavlamban 2025, the Indian Navy’s flagship innovation and indigenisation summit at the Manekshaw Centre, Singh declared that India was entering a “golden era of defence innovation”.
The Minister called for rapid capacity building across the defence ecosystem, urging industry to think “bigger, bolder and faster”. He encouraged the private sector to adopt a “profit-plus” model in defence production – prioritising not just commercial returns but national interest, duty and strategic responsibility.
“A profit-plus approach encompasses monetary gains, nationalism, a sense of duty and strategic responsibility,” Singh said. “Our goal should not be limited to economic activity; it must become a national mission.” He also urged the industry to work towards increasing the private sector’s contribution to defence manufacturing to 50 per cent or more in the coming years. Strengthening India’s manufacturing and innovation base, he said, would directly enhance national security and accelerate the country’s move toward self-reliance in defence.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi highlighted the sharp rise in participation and impact of the Swavlamban series. From 800 participants in the first edition in 2022, the event drew nearly 3,000 attendees last year. The Navy accounts for 35 per cent of all challenges issued under the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) initiative – an achievement Admiral Tripathi attributed significantly to the momentum created by Swavlamban.
He noted that products developed by startups and MSMEs under iDEX were now strengthening not only the Navy but also the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Central Armed Police Forces. It, he said, reflected a “whole-of-defence approach” that harnesses innovation across services.
An expansive technology exhibition accompanied the seminar, featuring cutting-edge solutions in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced communication, quantum computing, stealth technologies and smart munitions. Nearly 80 startups and MSMEs showcased deployable prototypes tailored to Navy operational requirements – many of which are expected to enter service soon. The Defence Minister visited the exhibition and was briefed on various systems on display.
Since its launch in 2022, Swavlamban has evolved into a national platform that connects the armed forces with Indian innovators, offering real-world challenges and accelerating the development of homegrown solutions for frontline military use.
Ravi Shankar
Dr Ravi Shankar has over two decades of experience in communications, print journalism, electronic media, documentary film making and new media.
He makes regular appearances on national television news channels as a commentator and analyst on current and political affairs. Apart from being an acknowledged Journalist, he has been a passionate newsroom manager bringing a wide range of journalistic experience from past associations with India’s leading media conglomerates (Times of India group and India Today group) and had led global news-gathering operations at world’s biggest multimedia news agency- ANI-Reuters. He has covered Parliament extensively over the past several years. Widely traveled, he has covered several summits as part of media delegation accompanying the Indian President, Vice President, Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister across Asia, Africa and Europe.
