**Executive Summary**
This document reports on a National Seminar organized by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) on March 11, 2026, commemorating its 25th Anniversary. The seminar focused on India's commitment to its neighbours and its evolving defence and security landscape. Key developments announced include the launch of a policy document on Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain, the SAMADH AI platform, and the Integrated Online Training and Evaluation Programme (IOTEP).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **India's Neighbourhood Policy:**
* India is committed to the welfare of its neighbours while maintaining zero-tolerance towards terrorism.
* Relations with Bangladesh are valued, particularly in trade.
* India and Nepal share inseparable ties due to history, culture, and security interests, with India supporting Nepal through infrastructure projects.
* **Defence Industrial Transformation:**
* Defence exports have significantly increased, projected to reach Rs. 29,000 crores in 2026 and Rs. 50,000 crores by 2029.
* The defence budget has reached an all-time high of Rs. 7.85 lakh crores.
* Significant progress has been made in the indigenisation of defence components, with 3,190 components out of 5,012 achieved.
* The MSME sector in defence has expanded substantially, contributing to employment.
* India's start-up ecosystem has experienced rapid growth, establishing India as the world's third-largest start-up nation.
* **Technological Advancements:**
* A policy document on Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain was released, aiming to enhance national security capabilities.
* SAMADH (Situational Awareness for Aerial Drones), a sovereign AI platform for real-time situational awareness, was launched.
* The Integrated Online Training and Evaluation Programme (IOTEP) was launched to foster a joint operational mindset in middle-level military leadership.
* **Geopolitical Dynamics:**
* The evolving geopolitical dynamics and challenges in India's neighbourhood require careful assessment and sustained engagement.
* Coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholders are crucial to address these challenges and advance India's strategic interests.
**Impact Analysis**
**Policymakers**
* **Impact:** Informed about India's strategic vision, defence industry growth, and technological advancements impacting national security and regional stability.
* **Action Required:** Deliberate on India's evolving security environment and its implications.
**Diplomats**
* **Impact:** Provided insights into India's neighbourhood policy, bilateral relations, and regional security challenges.
* **Action Required:** Engage in discussions and strategize based on the evolving geopolitical dynamics.
**Military Leaders**
* **Impact:** Gain knowledge on defence modernization, indigenous capabilities, AI integration in military operations, and the importance of a joint operational mindset.
* **Action Required:** Foster a joint operational mindset through the IOTEP and leverage advancements like SAMADH.
**Strategic Scholars and Practitioners**
* **Impact:** Received information on India's defence industrial base, export growth, start-up ecosystem, and the application of AI in military domains.
* **Action Required:** Analyze and contribute to discussions on national and regional stability in the context of evolving security challenges.
Key Entities Referenced
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth: The key individual delivering the keynote address and outlining policy directions.
SAMADH (Situational Awareness for Aerial Drones): A newly launched AI platform for drone awareness, highlighting technological advancements in defence.
Integrated Online Training and Evaluation Programme (IOTEP): A program launched to develop joint operational mindset among military leadership.
Operation Sindoor: A past military operation cited as an example of indigenous capability and national resolve.
DRDO: The organization responsible for the development of SAMADH, a key AI platform.
Ministry of Defence
India is Committed to welfare of its Neighbours:
Raksha Rajya Mantri
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 7:54PM by PIB Delhi
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth said today that India is committed to welfare of its neighbours,
while steadfast on zero-tolerance towards terrorism. He was delivering keynote address at National
Seminar: "Changing Dynamics in India's Neighbourhood", organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence
Staff (HQ IDS) as part of the activities being undertaken to commemorate its 25th Anniversary in New
Delhi, on 11 March, 2026.
Invoking the civilizational ethos of India, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, and averring it being the land of
Lord Krishna and Chhatrapati Shivaji, combining compassion with decisive strength, Shri Sanjay Seth
made special reference to Operation Sindoor, a landmark military operation demonstrating the Nation’s
resolve following the Pahalgam terror attack. He further said that unlike all previous wars since 1947,
Operation Sindoor was executed with various indigenous platforms, a powerful testament to the success of
self-reliance in the defence sector.
Shri Sanjay Seth, while outlining the transformation of India's defence industrial base said that Defence
exports have grown from Rs. 686 crores in 2014 to Rs. 23,622 crores in 2025, with a target of Rs. 29,000
crores in 2026 and Rs. 50,000 crores by 2029. Defence budget has reached an all-time high of Rs. 7.85
lakh crores. Department of Defence Production has achieved indigenisation of 3,190 defence components
out of 5,012 under the positive indigenisation lists. The MSME sector in defence has grown from
approximately 1 crore units in 2014 to 6.5 crore units today, providing employment to 25 crore people.
India's start-up ecosystem has grown from 1,000 start-ups in 2014 to over 2.9 million, establishing India
as the world's third-largest start-up nation.
Commenting on India relations with its neighbours, Raksha Rajya Mantri said that Bangladesh is a valued
trade partner. He stated that India and Nepal are inseparable, united by history, culture, and shared
security interests. India continues to support Nepal through infrastructure projects including the Janakpur-
Kurtha railway link, hydropower projects, trauma centres, and the Motihari pipeline.
The event witnessed the release of a landmark policy document on Artificial Intelligence in the Military
Domain, reflecting India's forward-looking vision for AI integration in national security — enhancing
operational capability, strengthening decision superiority, and promoting responsible innovation.
SAMADH (Situational Awareness for Aerial Drones), designed and developed by the Centre for Artificial
Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), a premier deep-tech laboratory of DRDO, was officially launched at the
event. SAMADH is a scalable, extensible sovereign AI platform providing real-time situational awareness
across the full spectrum of warfare, including autonomous and swarm drone environments. The Integrated
Online Training and Evaluation Programme (IOTEP) was also launched to cultivate a joint operational
mindset among India's middle-level military leadership.
Air Marshal Asutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC), in his remarks underscored thecritical importance of the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics in India’s neighbourhood. He highlighted
that the changing strategic landscape and emerging challenges in the immediate neighbourhood require
careful assessment and sustained engagement. Emphasising the growing complexities in regional
relations, he noted that coordinated and comprehensive efforts across multiple stakeholders would be
essential to effectively address these challenges and advance India’s strategic interests in the region.
The event brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, military leaders, strategic scholars and
practitioners to deliberate on India's evolving security environment and the broader implications for
national and regional stability.***
VK/SR/GC
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