Highlight
- PM Modi addresses seminar by NIIO where he outlined India’s goal of self-reliance in defense force
- He said that self-reliant defense system is important for the economy and also from strategic point of view.
- “Innovation is important and it has to be indigenous. Imported goods cannot be a source of innovation”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a seminar titled ‘Swavalamban’ organized by the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organization (NIIO), in which he outlined India’s goal of self-reliance in the defense forces.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that the goal of self-reliance in defense forces is very important for 21st century India and a big challenge is to organize the first ‘Swavalamban’ (self-reliance) seminar for a self-reliant Navy. Important step in this direction.
The Prime Minister said that in this era of taking new resolutions for India, the resolution to make 75 indigenous technologies is inspiring in itself and expressed confidence that it will be fulfilled very soon.
“We have to work to continuously increase the number of indigenous technologies. Your goal should be that when India celebrates 100 years of independence, our Navy is at unprecedented heights,” he said.
Referring to the importance of oceans and coasts in India’s economy, the Prime Minister said that the role of the Indian Navy is constantly growing and therefore self-reliance of the Navy is very important.
Recalling the country’s glorious maritime tradition, the Prime Minister said that the defense sector used to be very strong even before independence as India was an important supplier of defense equipment during World War II.
Modi said, “Our howitzers and machine guns made at the Ishapur Rifle Factory were considered the best. We used to export a lot. But then what happened is that at one point we became the world’s biggest importer in this field.”
The Prime Minister said that a self-reliant defense system is important for the economy and also from a strategic point of view.
He said that the country has worked in mission mode to reduce this dependency after 2014.
“Innovation is important and it has to be indigenous. Imported goods cannot be a source of innovation,” he said.
Over the past eight years, the Prime Minister said that the government has not only increased the defense budget, but “we have also ensured that this budget is useful in the development of the defense manufacturing ecosystem in the country”.
“Today, a major part of the budget earmarked for the purchase of defense equipment is being spent on procurement from Indian companies,” Modi said.
As India is establishing itself on the global stage, Modi said there are constant attacks through misinformation, misinformation and false propaganda.
“The forces which are harming India’s interests, whether at home or abroad, will have to be thwarted in their every endeavor,” Modi said.
“As we move forward with a ‘Sampoorna Sarkar’ approach for a self-reliant India, a uniform ‘Sampoorna Nation’ approach is the need of the hour to protect the nation. Collective national consciousness is the strong foundation of security and prosperity,” The Prime Minister concluded.