Self-Reliant Defence Technology Showcased Amid Armed Conflict
New Delhi, May 11 — India's strides in science and technology over the last 11 years were on full display during the recent armed conflict with Pakistan, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh said on Sunday. Speaking at an event commemorating National Technology Day, the minister emphasized that the nation's technological capabilities, especially in the defence sector, have reached a point of global recognition.
Singh noted that the majority of the weapons and systems deployed during the conflict — including drones and missiles — were products of India's commitment to self-reliance, an ethos encapsulated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" vision.
Indigenous Defence Systems a Symbol of Viksit Bharat
“Over the last few days, there has been an abundant opportunity for India to demonstrate its scientific prowess to the rest of the world,” Singh said at the National Technology Board event under the Ministry of Science and Technology. “Any armed conflict these days is driven by technology. Therefore, it was a vindication of India having acquired supremacy in every sphere of scientific technology, including defence.”He added that what the world witnessed on television was largely indigenous — a product of the self-reliant India narrative — and offered a glimpse of what a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, aspires to be.
Technology Day Marks a Historic Milestone
National Technology Day, observed on May 11, marks the anniversary of India’s nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998. Singh used the occasion to underscore how India’s technological ecosystem has matured under sustained government policy.Drones: From Ceremonial Displays to Tactical Assets
Singh recalled how the Technology Development Board (TDB) was the first to fund a drone project showcased at the Beating Retreat ceremony a few years ago. “That day, you celebrated the fascination and romanticism of the manner in which they coloured the skies. What drones can actually do, you have witnessed over the last four days,” he remarked, highlighting their battlefield application.Ten Years of Strategic Development in Defence
According to the minister, much of the defence equipment used in the conflict was developed or procured within the past decade, often through Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements. “Most of the equipment you saw used in the last four days was actually acquired in the last 10 years,” Singh said, without delving into specifics.Science Needs Political Vision
Singh concluded by stating that while India has no shortage of scientific talent, its effective utilisation depends on the direction set by the nation's leadership. “The government has moved in that direction in the last 11 years and that stands vindicated today,” he said.The minister also referred to recent comments by a Pakistani minister, suggesting that even adversaries now recognise India’s transformation into a technologically capable and assertive nation.
