The insightful articles, inspiring narrations and analytical perspectives presented by the Editorial Team, establish an alluring connect with the reader. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications.
"Over the past 60 years, the growth of SP Guide Publications has mirrored the rising stature of Indian Navy. Its well-researched and informative magazines on Defence and Aerospace sector have served to shape an educated opinion of our military personnel, policy makers and the public alike. I wish SP's Publication team continued success, fair winds and following seas in all future endeavour!"
Since, its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has consistently demonstrated commitment to high-quality journalism in the aerospace and defence sectors, earning a well-deserved reputation as Asia's largest media house in this domain. I wish SP Guide Publications continued success in its pursuit of excellence.
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 Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth. In his address, Minister of State for Defence highlighted the critical role of MSMEs, start-ups & innovators in strengthening India's industrial base and contributing to the vision of Atmanirbharta in defence. He also commended them for strengthening the capabilities of the defence forces, thereby safeguarding the nation from different kinds of threats.
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 Narendra Modi. Extending the Government's full support in this endeavour, he expressed confidence of achieving the target of ₹50,000 crore worth of defence exports and ₹03 lakh crore worth of defence production by 2030.
Minister of State for Defence 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 ₹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) 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.
Over the course of two days, the conclave hosted multiple thematic and domain sessions covering key areas of defence manufacturing including:
Several iDEX and DRDO-led sessions focused on emerging technologies such as:
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 Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence and building a robust, globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.
