India to Become Global Drone Hub: Rajnath Singh Calls for Strategic Autonomy at Defence Conclave 2026

New Delhi March 19,2026 :- Addressing the National Defence Industries Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that India must operate in “mission mode” to become a global leader in indigenous drone manufacturing within the next few years.

Highlighting the shift in modern warfare seen in recent global conflicts, he emphasized that building a domestic drone ecosystem is vital for strategic autonomy and national security. The minister stressed that self-reliance must extend beyond finished products to include every critical component, such as software, engines, and batteries, to reduce dependence on foreign imports.

To fuel this ambition, he launched the 14th edition of the Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC-14) and the 4th edition of ADITI challenges, unveiling over 200 new problem statements from the Armed Forces and defence agencies to inspire breakthrough innovations.

The conclave underscored the growing strength of India’s defence innovation ecosystem, with the minister revealing that 676 start-ups and MSMEs have joined the iDEX framework since its inception.

This collaboration has already led to 58 prototypes receiving procurement clearance worth ₹3,853 crore and the signing of 45 contracts valued at approximately ₹2,326 crore.

Singh urged small businesses to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies—including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Digital Twins—to enhance their capabilities through both horizontal and vertical integration.

Supported by Secretary of Defence Production Sanjeev Kumar and top military leadership, the event also saw the release of five key publications aimed at streamlining defence exports and easing the path for MSMEs to integrate into the global supply chain, reinforcing the vision of a self-reliant and “Viksit Bharat.