India’s Tech Supremacy in Modern Warfare Proven: Dr. Jitendra Singh on National Technology Day

New Delhi: “Modern warfare is entirely technology-driven, and India’s supremacy has been proven over the last four days,” said Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, addressing the 27th National Technology Day celebrations at the Ambedkar International Centre. The Minister underscored India’s remarkable transformation into a technology-driven defence power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and other key portfolios, said that India’s recent defence operations have once again demonstrated the nation’s cutting-edge technological capability. “Most technologies used in defence today are indigenously developed. It was Prime Minister Modi who instilled the confidence to pursue Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he remarked.

Reflecting on the genesis of National Technology Day, which commemorates India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, Dr. Singh said the vision first articulated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has matured under PM Modi. “What began as an assertion of our nuclear strength has evolved into a broader commitment to technological self-reliance and leadership on the global stage,” he said.

He stated that since 2014, India has prioritized indigenization across sectors, significantly reducing dependence on foreign technologies. “Our success in modern warfare is a clear marker of our journey toward a Viksit Bharat @2047,” he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the Technology Development Board (TDB) for spearheading advanced innovation, notably India’s 1000-drone display during the Beating Retreat ceremony—once a symbolic act, now a statement of drone-based defence readiness. The Minister unveiled this year’s National Technology Day theme, “YANTRA”, symbolizing transformation through advanced research and technological acceleration.

He emphasized that India’s defence exports have seen an eightfold increase—from ₹2,000 crore to ₹16,000 crore—demonstrating the rising global trust in Indian-made defence equipment.

India’s leap from the 81st to 39th position in the Global Innovation Index, along with the fact that 56% of patents are now filed by resident Indians, was hailed as a sign of domestic innovation flourishing. “India was never short of talent, but now we have leadership that fosters innovation,” Dr. Singh noted.

He highlighted a sharp increase in R&D investments, with Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) rising from ₹60,000 crore to ₹1.27 lakh crore. The space sector, too, has nearly tripled its budget—propelled by private sector participation and India’s growing stature in global space technology.

India, he added, now ranks as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, a feat made possible through robust policy support and an enabling research ecosystem. Initiatives like ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ and a unified fellowship portal are further streamlining the ease of doing research.

During the event, the Minister launched two new calls for proposals under the National Quantum Mission and released a compendium titled “Super 30 Startups”, showcasing the TDB’s support for pioneering ventures over the past five years. He also handed over grants to industry-academia consortia working on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) pilot projects.

Prominent attendees included Padma Bhushan Ajai Chowdhary, who emphasized a “Whole of Nation” approach for technological independence, and endorsed the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) as pivotal for achieving true Aatmanirbharta.

Also present were Dr. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB; and a host of senior officials, scientists, and industry leaders.