DRDO 67th Foundation Day | Raksha Mantri meets Senior Scientists & Officials

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DRDO
DRDO

On January 2, 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh visited the DRDO Headquarters in New Delhi to engage with senior scientists and officials as part of the organization’s 67th Foundation Day celebrations. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth also participated in the event. In his address, Shri Rajnath Singh praised DRDO for strengthening India’s indigenous defense capabilities, equipping the Armed Forces with advanced technologies, and fostering collaboration with the private sector to boost the defense industry.

With 2025 designated as the ‘Year of Reforms,’ Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized that DRDO will be pivotal in realizing the goals for the year. He urged the organization to adapt swiftly to technological advancements, continuously developing products suited to modern challenges. He encouraged DRDO scientists to monitor global technological trends and develop specialized technologies to position DRDO as one of the world’s leading R&D organizations. Additionally, he called for each DRDO lab to identify and complete 2-3 key projects by 2025, aiming for 100 such projects by the next Foundation Day.

Shri Rajnath Singh also acknowledged DRDO’s efforts in expanding private sector collaboration, including providing access to technologies and patents. He stressed the importance of further identifying areas for private sector involvement, highlighting that national progress is driven by collective effort.

He urged DRDO to consider integrating start-ups into its R&D initiatives, fostering a valuable exchange of ideas and helping the Indian defense sector innovate in line with contemporary needs. He also proposed that DRDO labs host two open days each month to engage with industry, raising awareness of DRDO’s contributions and inspiring youth involvement in nation-building.

“The DRDO can serve as a catalyst for similar organizations, academia, and industry, contributing to a technological revolution in the country. A new ecosystem focused on defense and dual-use technologies can transform civilian sectors as well,” he added.

During the meeting, Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, briefed Shri Rajnath Singh on DRDO’s ongoing R&D activities, achievements in 2024, and initiatives to support industry, start-ups, and academia. Dr. Kamat highlighted that DRDO had transferred over 1,950 technologies to Indian industries, including 256 licensing agreements in 2024. Moreover, 19 development and production partners were selected for mission-mode projects last year, with DRDO’s test facilities used for more than 18,000 tests in the last three years, 5,000 of which were in 2024 alone.

Shri Rajnath Singh also honored the design team behind the Long Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile during the event. DRDO observes its Foundation Day annually on January 1st.