DRDO 67th Foundation Day, Celebrating Decades of Innovation and Self-Reliance

On January 2, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) marked its 67th foundation day, reflecting on decades of contributions to India’s defence capabilities. Since its establishment in 1958, DRDO has grown from a modest setup of 10 laboratories to a robust network of 52 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs), covering a vast spectrum of defence technologies.

DRDO’s 67th Foundation Day

The event was graced by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, who visited the DRDO Headquarters and interacted with senior scientists and officials. He lauded DRDO’s contributions to India’s defence sector and emphasized the need for increased collaboration with the private sector and start-ups. Key participants included Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat.

DRDO’s Mission: Empowering India’s Defence

• Mission Statement: Equip India’s armed forces with state-of-the-art defence technologies.
• Self-Reliance: Achieve self-reliance in critical defence systems and reduce dependence on foreign imports.

Key Achievements of DRDO

1. Missile Development: Agni and Prithvi missile series capable of delivering nuclear warheads.
2. Indigenous Fighter Jet: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
3. Battle Tank: Arjun Main Battle Tank.
4. Nuclear Submarine: INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear-powered submarine.
5. Advanced Systems: Development of radars, electronic warfare systems, medical, and remote sensing technologies.

Future Endeavors

• Hypersonic Missiles: Cutting-edge missile technologies.
• Directed Energy Weapons: Advancing defence capabilities.
• Artificial Intelligence: Incorporating AI into defence systems.
• 5G Networks: For seamless military communication.
• Quantum Computing: Building next-generation computational systems.

Key Highlights of 67th Foundation Day

1. Year of Reforms: Shri Rajnath Singh declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ for DRDO.
2. Critical Projects: Each DRDO lab is tasked to complete 2-3 critical projects by 2025, aiming for 100 completed projects by the next foundation day.
3. Collaboration and Innovation: Focus on integrating private sector and start-ups into R&D initiatives.

Key Announcements

• Collaboration with Private Sector:
  • 1,950 Transfers of Technologies (ToTs) handed over to Indian industries.
  • 256 Licensing Agreements signed in 2024.
• Support for Start-Ups:
  • Promote start-up participation in R&D efforts.
  • Conduct “open days” for industry interaction twice a month.
• Youth Engagement:
  • Encourage youth to contribute to nation-building through innovation.

Recognition and Felicitation

Shri Rajnath Singh felicitated the design team of the Long-Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile for their outstanding contribution to defence technology.

Vision for the Future

DRDO aims to become one of the world’s leading R&D organizations by:

• Focusing on niche technologies.
• Creating a dual-use technology ecosystem benefiting both defence and civilian applications.

Conclusion

With a focus on cutting-edge technologies, DRDO is poised to propel India into a new era of military and technological self-reliance. Celebrating 67 years of excellence, the organization stands as a pillar of India’s strategic defence infrastructure, committed to safeguarding national interests in an increasingly complex global landscape.

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