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

NITI Aayog hosted a dynamic two-day consultation in New Delhi aimed at transforming India from a defence importer to a leading defence exporter The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to strategize on boosting the country's defence start-up ecosystem.

The consultation, led by prominent figures like Rajiv Gauba and B V. R. Subrahmanyam, emphasized the role of start-ups and MSMEs as pivotal to India's future in defence innovation, marking a shift from traditional defence players to more agile, tech-savvy companies.

Key discussions revolved around building a robust DefenceTech environment through initiatives like iDEX and the Atal Innovation Mission, which have already enabled start-ups to engage in complex R&D; and product development areas

The event focused on four main themes: policy reforms and institutional frameworks, industry challenges and export competitiveness, the start-up and MSME ecosystem, and learning from global best practices to enhance India's defence export capabilities

Participants highlighted the need for simplified processes, faster regulatory mechanisms, and stronger international collaborations to position India as a reliable defence exporter on the global stage

Funding, incubation, mentorship, and scaling were identified as crucial areas needing support to turn DefenceTech start-ups into global suppliers, facilitating their growth from idea-stage ventures

The consultation stressed the importance of collaboration between government and industry, increased private investment in R&D;, and support for dual-use technologies to drive India's defence transformation

Indian start-ups are already innovating in high-impact areas such as AI-led surveillance, unmanned systems, and smart manufacturing tools, which not only bolster national security but also offer significant export potential

The gathering underscored India's readiness to scale and compete globally, aligning with the government's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by empowering innovators and MSMEs to enhance the country's standing as a major defence technology exporter

This consultation could be a turning point for India's defence sector, setting the stage for the country to think bigger, build faster, and confidently compete on the world stage in defence exports