Date: 2026-03-20Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
MSMEs and start-ups are safeguarding national interests by strengthening defence capabilities & contributing to self-reliance vision: Raksha Rajya Mantri at National Defence Industries Conclave 2026
**Executive Summary**
The National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026 was held on March 19–20, 2026, in New Delhi to advance the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" vision through the theme of "Advanced Manufacturing Technologies." The event facilitated collaboration between MSMEs, start-ups, and the public sector to strengthen India’s defence ecosystem. Key objectives include achieving Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports and Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production by the year 2030.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Financial and Production Goals**
* **Budgetary Support:** An all-time high allocation of Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence in the Union Budget 2026-27 is intended to catalyze MSME and start-up participation.
* **2030 Targets:** The government aims to reach Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports and Rs 3 lakh crore in total defence production by 2030.
* **Global Positioning:** The initiative seeks to transform India into a global defence manufacturing hub as part of the "Viksit Bharat" vision.
**Technological and Technical Focus**
* **Emerging Technologies:** Discussions focused on Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, semiconductor manufacturing, and additive manufacturing.
* **Domain Expertise:** Specialized sessions covered artillery guns, naval platforms, missile systems, and advanced materials/composites.
* **Operational Support:** Focus was placed on Defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and lifecycle support to enhance force readiness.
**Collaborative Ecosystem and Exhibition**
* **Platform for Engagement:** The conclave allowed MSMEs and start-ups to engage directly with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and policymakers.
* **Gap Identification:** Stakeholders interacted to identify technology gaps and capability requirements across the defence value chain.
* **Industry Showcase:** An exhibition featured 20 large defence companies and 24 Indian and international firms showcasing smart materials and automation technologies.
**Impact Analysis**
**MSMEs and Start-ups**
**Impact**
They are positioned as "brand ambassadors of innovation" and are central to achieving national self-reliance. They now have increased access to high-value government contracts and direct engagement with larger DPSUs.
**Action Required**
Must leverage the record budget allocation to scale operations, adopt advanced manufacturing technologies, and integrate into the national supply chain.
**Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)**
**Impact**
DPSUs benefit from a broader base of private-sector innovators to help bridge technological gaps and improve production efficiency.
**Action Required**
Required to collaborate with MSMEs for technology development and supply-chain integration to meet the 2030 production targets.
**Academia and Innovators**
**Impact**
Provided with a platform to align research and development with the specific "capability requirements" of the Indian defence forces.
**Action Required**
Must focus research efforts on emerging fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, smart materials, and guidance systems as identified during the conclave.
**Government and Policymakers**
**Impact**
The event reinforces the government's commitment to policy reforms and indigenous industrial growth.
**Action Required**
Must continue to facilitate innovation platforms and implement policy reforms to sustain the growth of the indigenous defence industrial base.
Key Entities Referenced
National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026: A major event focused on 'Advanced Manufacturing Technologies' and industry participation to strengthen India's defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Department of Defence Production (DDP): The primary organizing department under the Ministry of Defence responsible for policy reforms and innovation platforms in the defence sector.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national vision for self-reliance which serves as the primary policy driver for indigenizing defence production and capabilities.
Union Budget 2026-27: The referenced financial document that allocated a record Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence to support self-reliance.
iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence): An innovation platform that led sessions on emerging technologies like smart manufacturing and AI during the conclave.
Ministry of Defence
MSMEs and start-ups are safeguarding national
interests by strengthening defence capabilities &
contributing to self-reliance vision: Raksha Rajya
Mantri at National Defence Industries Conclave
2026
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 6:35PM by PIB Delhi
The National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026, organised by the Department of Defence
Production (DDP) on the theme ‘Advanced Manufacturing Technologies’, concluded at the Manekshaw
Centre, New Delhi on March 20, 2026, after two days of extensive discussions on advanced
manufacturing technologies and industry participation in defence production. The conclave brought
together MSMEs, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), private defence companies, innovators,
policymakers and academia to deliberate on strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and
accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies.
The valedictory session was graced by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth. In his address, Raksha
Rajya Mantri highlighted the critical role of MSMEs, start-ups & innovators in strengthening India’s
industrial base and contributing to the vision of Aatmanirbharta in defence. He also commended them for
strengthening the capabilities of the defence forces, thereby safeguarding the nation from different kinds
of threats.Shri Sanjay Seth described the MSMEs and start-ups as the brand ambassadors of innovation, who are
playing a central role in making India a global defence manufacturing hub and Viksit Bharat, as
envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Extending the Government’s full support in this
endeavour, he expressed confidence of achieving the target of Rs 50,000 crore worth of defence exports
and Rs 03 lakh crore worth of defence production by 2030.
Raksha Rajya Mantri listed out the number of steps taken by the Government to increase the participation
of the private sector, especially MSMEs and start-ups. He stated that the all-time high allocation of Rs
7.85 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence in the Union Budget 2026-27 provides an opportunity to the
MSMEs and start-ups to make the nation self-reliant.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar gave a broad overview of
the discussions and sessions organised as part of the two-day conclave. He stated that these sessions
provided a platform for MSMEs to engage directly with DPSUs, industry leaders and policymakers,
helping identify opportunities for collaboration, technology development and supply-chain integration.
The Secretary (DP) emphasised that the conclave facilitated extensive interaction between government,
industry and academia, helping identify technology gaps, capability requirements and opportunities for
collaboration across the defence manufacturing value chain. He added that the discussions reinforced the
importance of innovation, advanced manufacturing and MSME participation in strengthening India’s
defence production capabilities and enhancing global competitiveness.
Technical Discussions
Over the course of two days, the conclave hosted multiple thematic and domain sessions covering key
areas of defence manufacturing including:
Artillery guns, small arms and infantry weapons
Defence metallurgy, special alloys and precision manufacturing
Advanced materials and defence compositesNaval platforms and shipbuilding technologies
Armoured vehicles and logistics platforms
Ammunitions, explosives and propellants
Missile systems and air defence technologies
Defence Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and lifecycle support
Several iDEX and DRDO-led sessions focused on emerging technologies such as:
Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
Guidance, Control and Navigation Systems
Propulsion and Mobility Technologies
Advanced Materials and Composites
Semiconductor Manufacturing for Defence Systems
Industry Exhibition
The exhibition organised alongside the conclave served as an important platform for showcasing the
capabilities of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. It featured stalls from 20 large defence
companies, along with 24 participation from Indian and international companies demonstrating advanced
manufacturing technologies in areas such as automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive
manufacturing and smart materials. The exhibition also showcased initiatives of the Department of
Defence Production and its associated organisations, highlighting policy reforms and innovation platforms
aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous defence industrial base.The NDIC 2026 marks another significant step towards advancing the Government’s vision of
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence and building a robust, globally competitive defence manufacturing
ecosystem.
***
VK/Savvy
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