Emphasizes Resilient Supply Chains and High-Risk R&D
KOCHI: Union Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Shri Rajnath Singh called for ‘Aatmanirbharta 2.0’, the next evolutionary leap in defence self-reliance, at the fifth edition of the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar (SWAVLAMBAN 2026) held in New Delhi on October 26, 2026.
Addressing top military leadership, industry representatives, and academic experts, Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized that the second phase of self-reliance must focus on high-end technologies, robust R&D ecosystems, cost-effective manufacturing, and resilient domestic supply chains to support the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Highlighting supply chain management as a critical strategic imperative directly tied to national security, the Raksha Mantri urged stakeholders to establish a time-bound roadmap identifying critical raw materials, key technologies, and industries needed to mitigate import dependencies. To foster a risk-tolerant innovation culture, he advocated for novel funding mechanisms supporting high-risk, high-reward projects and called for a ‘Dual Technology Roadmap’ to bridge civilian and military operational requirements across the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard.
Speaking at the seminar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Krishna Swaminathan highlighted SWAVLAMBAN’s rapid growth since 2022, noting that Navy-specific iDEX challenges have surged to 229 (representing 35% of all defence iDEX challenges). To date, 41 Acceptances of Necessity (AoNs) worth over ₹3,500 crore have been granted, and 25 contracts valued at over ₹1,900 crore have been signed.
Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar reaffirmed that SWAVLAMBAN 5.0, organized under the theme ‘Strength and Power through Innovation & Indigenisation’, serves as a vital collaborative platform connecting startups, MSMEs, and defence leaders.
