PUNE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that institutions need to promote innovation which is not only useful for the defence industry but also for civilian purposes.
“We need to promote such innovations in the defence sector which are not only useful for defence but also equally effective for the civil sector,” Rajnath Singh made the statement during the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune's 12th convocation event.
He gave examples of how navigation systems were first used for military purposes but later played a significant role in civilian life.
“Plastic surgery is also deeply related to the defence sector. We see that many a time soldiers get injured during the war, and different parts of their bodies get damaged in an unfortunate way. For this plastic surgery is a boon which is also helping civilian life,” the Defence minister said.
According to Rajnath Singh, nations must grow technologically quickly.
“We have to keep in mind that if our adversaries have more advanced technologies, then it can become a problem for us in the coming times. That’s why we have to move fast towards technological advancement along with the changing environment,” he said.
The minister stated that in addition to the land and the air, internet and the space industry also pose hazards.
The minister claimed that ideas like non-kinetic or contactless combat have made the need for cutting-edge technologies in the defence industry more critical than ever.
“In the last few decades, we have seen that the methods of warfare are changing at a faster rate…. The dangers of conventional war are in front of us, but going beyond them, now completely new types of threats are looming in front of us,” added Rajnath Singh.
Additionally, he mentioned the government's Atmanirbhar initiative and stressed that a vast nation like India cannot rely solely on imports.
“If we only import defence equipment and platforms, it will make us dependent on other countries in the defence sector. This dependence can also be a hindrance to our strategic autonomy,” he said.
Additionally, Rajnath Singh visited with former president Pratibha Patil and personally sent her condolences following the passing of her husband, Dr. Devisingh Shekhawat.
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