Defence gets its mainstream stage

The event opened with a fireside conversation featuring Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and A K Bhattacharya. Singh laid out a vision of a self-reliant defence sector, stressing that “true indigenisation” means intellectual property and design remain with India. 

  He noted that last year, 88 per cent of capital procurement contracts went to Indian vendors, exceeding government targets. Under the existing Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), procedural timelines have been compressed. In the new DAP document, expected to be released in December this year, these processes would be simplified further and structured support for startups would be introduced.

  Singh also addressed R&D, stressing the need for private sector participation. “In India, if something is given free, it is rarely valued,” he noted, advocating nominal royalties for technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 

  He also emphasised quality control with a “carrot and stick” approach for production agencies, and highlighted the importance of resource security, including rare earth reserves, to shield India from global supply chain shocks.

    Industry perspectives followed with Rajinder Singh Bhatia, chairman of Kalyani Strategic Systems and president of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). Speaking with Bhaswar Kumar, Bhatia laid out an ambitious road map: “Why stop at a few thousand when we can aim for 100,000 startups across defence, aerospace, and technology?” 

  He underscored the need for shorter acquisition cycles to prevent outdated equipment from entering service and highlighted civilian technology as a key driver of innovation. Bhatia’s message was clear: India’s engineering talent is abundant, and it was time to fully leverage it.

    The day concluded with a look beyond Earth. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, in discussion with Satarupa Bhattacharjya, highlighted the strategic importance of satellites for communication, disaster management, and surveillance. Recounting milestones like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, Narayanan shared plans for a fully indigenous space station by 2035 and crewed lunar missions by 2040.

  “Our responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of every citizen of India,” he said. He recounted milestones such as Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, and shared plans for crewed lunar missions by 2040 and a 52-tonne space station by 2035, noting the development of fully indigenous systems.

  The conclave offered a first glimpse of the magazine’s vision in action. In a rapidly evolving, multipolar world, Blueprint aims to deliver incisive reporting, thoughtful analysis, and expert commentary on the issues shaping defence, diplomacy, and strategic affairs.