Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils ‘SPRINT Challenges’ aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday unveiled ‘SPRINT challenges’, aimed at giving a boost to the usage of indigenous technology in the Indian Navy.

While addressing the gathering, PM Modi said the goal of self-reliance in the Indian defence forces is very important for India of the 21st century. “Innovation is critical and it has to be indigenous. Imported goods can’t be a source of innovation,” PM Modi said.

Referring to the importance of the oceans and coasts in India’s economy, PM Modi said that the role of the Indian Navy is continuously increasing and therefore its self-reliance is of critical importance.

He also stressed the self-reliant defence system is critical for the economy and also from the strategic point of view. He said the country has worked in mission mode to reduce this dependence after 2014.

In the last eight years, the Prime Minister noted that the government has not only increased the defence budget, “we have also ensured that this budget is useful in the development of the defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country itself. Today, a large part of the budget earmarked for the purchase of defence equipment is being spent on procurement from Indian companies.”

The Prime Minister warned against the new danger. He said, “We also have to intensify our war against forces challenging India’s self-confidence, our self-reliance. As India is establishing itself on the global stage, there are constant attacks through misinformation, disinformation and false publicity, etc. Keeping faith, the forces that are harming India’s interests, whether in the country or abroad, have to be thwarted in their every effort. National defence is no longer limited to borders, but is much broader. Therefore, it is equally necessary to make every citizen aware about it.”

He continued “as we are moving forward with the ‘whole of the government’ approach for a self-reliant India, Similarly, the ‘whole of the Nation’ approach is the need of the hour for the defence of the nation.” “This collective national consciousness of various people of India is the strong basis of security and prosperity”, PM Modi said.

The seminar was organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

The NIIO, in cooperation with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy in sync with ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ commemorating 75 years of the country’s Independence.