India’s Defence Startup Revolution Gets a Push: Inside NITI Aayog’s Big Two-Day Consultation

Tpday, NITI Aayog’s headquarters was markedly different—charged, hopeful and buzzing with a certain kind of energy that only comes when policymakers, innovators and industry builders gather under one roof with a shared mission. For two days, India’s most influential voices in defence manufacturing, technology, and start-up innovation came together to answer a powerful question: How can India not just build for itself but become a global force in defence exports?

This wasn’t just another government meeting. It was a strategic huddle—one that could shape how India emerges as one of the world’s most dynamic defence innovation hubs in the coming decade.

A National Push to Reimagine Defence Innovation

In its effort to propel India from being a defence importer to an innovation-first defence exporter, NITI Aayog hosted a high-level stakeholder consultation titled “Expanding Defence Production for Exports” on 11–12 November 2025 in New Delhi. The consultation was steered under the guidance of Rajiv Gauba, Member, NITI Aayog.

The presence of top officials—including B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog; Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence; Dr. Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission; and Ashwini Lal, ADC, MSME—set the tone of the event. Their participation underlined a core belief: India’s defence future will be shaped not just by traditional players but by a new wave of nimble, tech-forward start-ups and MSMEs.

Start-ups and MSMEs Remain the Stars of the Conversation

Across the rooms and break-out sessions, one theme was unmistakable—the role of start-ups is no longer peripheral; it is foundational.

The consultation brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders, including:

• Senior government officials

• Industry leaders

• Start-up founders

• iDEX innovators

• MSMEs

• Domain experts

Their discussions revolved around how India could build a defence ecosystem where innovation thrives, cutting-edge technologies find buyers globally, and startup-led breakthroughs become export-ready products.

With frameworks like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and initiatives of the Atal Innovation Mission, India has already seeded a robust DefenceTech environment. These programmes have enabled young companies to enter complex areas such as R&D, product development and supply chain participation—domains traditionally dominated by large defence PSUs and global giants.

The consultation reaffirmed that the future of India’s defence capability will be shaped by this new generation of innovators.

The Four Pillars Guiding India’s Defence Export Ambition

Over two days, the conversations unfolded around four key themes—each representing a crucial piece of India’s defence export roadmap.

1. Policy Reforms & Institutional Frameworks

Stakeholders examined what India needs to simplify defence production, improve export processes, and build faster regulatory mechanisms.

2. Industry Challenges & Export Competitiveness

Market access, global partnerships and enabling international collaborations were top priorities. Participants discussed how India can position itself as a reliable defence exporter.

3. The Start-up, MSME & Innovation Ecosystem

Funding, incubation, mentorship and scaling emerged as crucial areas where innovators need support. The goal: turn DefenceTech startups from idea-stage ventures into global suppliers.

4. Learning from Global Best Practices

Delegates explored models adopted by leading defence-exporting nations and how India could adapt these frameworks to suit its own evolving ecosystem.

A Stronger Vision for a Self-Reliant, Export-Oriented DefenceTech India

A recurring message across sessions was clear: collaboration is the backbone of India’s defence transformation.
This includes:

• closer coordination between government and industry

• smoother processes and easier compliance for defence manufacturers

• increased private investment in R&D

• support for dual-use technologies that serve both defence and civilian markets

India’s startups have already begun innovating in high-impact areas such as:

• AI-led surveillance

• Unmanned and autonomous systems

• Cybersecurity technologies

• Smart manufacturing tools

These sectors not only strengthen national security but also offer tremendous export potential.

A Confident Step Toward Becoming a Global Defence Hub

As the two-day consultation wrapped up, one sentiment echoed across the venue: India is ready to scale, innovate and compete on the world stage.

The call for technology-driven manufacturing, export-led reforms, and greater startup participation aligns perfectly with the government’s broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. By empowering innovators and MSMEs, India hopes to accelerate its rise as a major exporter of high-quality defence technologies.

This consultation may well be remembered as a pivotal moment—one where India’s defence ecosystem collectively decided to think bigger, build faster and compete globally with confidence.