By: Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd), Editor, GSDN
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 composites
- Naval 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.
About the Author
Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd) is the Founder-Editor, Global Strategic & Defence News and has authored the book “China’s War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate”. He tweets at @JassiSodhi24.
