RT team
On October 29, 2024, in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh introduced the third installment of the ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) challenge and the 13th Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC 13). This launch, part of the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation’s (NIIO) ‘Swavlamban’ seminar, emphasizes boosting domestic defense capabilities and efficiency.
ADITI 3.0 introduces a challenge from the Indian Navy focusing on creating a High-Power Microwave Weapon System. Meanwhile, DISC 13 spans seven challenges, with contributions from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, targeting advancements in Artificial Intelligence, military communications, and autonomous technology.
During the event, Shri Rajnath Singh acknowledged previous iDEX winners and Hackathon participants, highlighting the significant strides in indigenous proposals received under the SPRINT initiative, spearheaded by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. These proposals have led to numerous contracts and partnerships with MSMEs and startups, significantly fostering innovation.
The Minister underlined India’s advancements in digital payments and governmental scheme delivery through the Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile (JAM) trinity, encouraging continued innovation in defense. He stressed the critical shift towards self-reliance in defense, facilitated by both public and private sectors, with an enhanced role for the private sector in the defense ecosystem.
The seminar also served as a platform for reiterating the commitment of various defense sectors towards self-reliance, with special mentions of the Navy’s push to become entirely self-sufficient by 2047. Significant collaborations and the launching of new challenges mark this year’s ‘Swavlamban’, showcasing a substantial increase in participation across the defense sector, aiming to transform these innovative challenges into practical solutions.
Among other highlights were the Flag-off of the ‘Sagarmala Parikrama’ autonomous navigation from Mumbai to Tuticorin and a key MoU between Bharat Electronics Limited, 3rdiTech, and Bharat Semiconductors to enhance semiconductor manufacturing. The event was attended by high-ranking officials from the military and defense sectors, showcasing the collaborative spirit driving India’s defense innovation forward.
Source: Press Information Bureau
