The North News
Mandi(HP), February 24
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday projected India’s technology sector to reach $300-350 billion in the next five years, citing the country’s emergence as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with over 1.25 lakh startups and 110 unicorns. Addressing the 16th Foundation Day of IIT Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, he urged students to drive innovation and position India as a global leader in research and development.
Singh highlighted the importance of fostering entrepreneurship in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cybersecurity. He lauded IIT Mandi’s contributions to technological advancements and called for deeper collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on AI-driven warfare, quantum computing, and indigenous chip development.
Emphasising India’s growing self-reliance in defence, Singh revealed that the country has achieved 88% self-sufficiency in ammunition production, with defence exports reaching ₹23,000 crore in 2023-24. The government aims to boost exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029. He encouraged IIT Mandi students to contribute to defence innovation, reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy.
Singh also praised India’s expanding digital economy, noting that the country’s telecom sector is now the world’s second-largest, while digital payment platforms like UPI are setting global benchmarks. He urged students to embrace the digital revolution, ensuring India’s leadership in emerging technologies.
Encouraging a culture of bold innovation, Singh advised students to be “disruptors, not just adapters.” He stressed the need for resilience in facing technological challenges and highlighted the “Indian Dream”—a vision of redefining global technology paradigms.
Singh inaugurated two new facilities at IIT Mandi—the Guidance and Counselling Centre and the Centre for Continuing Education—designed to strengthen research, student development, and technological excellence.
