Rajnath Singh Launches Aatmanirbharta 2.0 for Defence Self-Reliance

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the launch of Aatmanirbharta 2.0, the second phase of India's pursuit of defence self-reliance, during the Swavlamban 2026 seminar in New Delhi. Singh called for a strategic roadmap to develop globally competitive, cost-effective technologies to support the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. This new phase emphasizes strengthening research and development, building resilient domestic supply chains, and implementing a Dual Technology Roadmap for civilian and military applications.

Singh urged the private sector to engage in high-risk R&D and advocated for a cultural shift that treats failure as a learning opportunity. He noted that innovators would serve as "impact players" in achieving technological superiority. During the seminar, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan reported that Navy-specific iDEX challenges increased from 20 in 2022 to 229, resulting in 25 contracts worth over Rs 1,900 crore.

Parallel to these strategic goals, the Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Singh, approved procurement proposals totaling Rs 2.12 lakh crore. These acquisitions include long-range Kamikaze drones, light multi-role helicopters, high mobility vehicles, and various air defence and surveillance systems intended to enhance the Indian Army's operational mobility in challenging terrains.