Pune: Southern Command Conducts Seminar on Aatmnirbharta to Chart a Course towards Self-Sufficiency in Defence Manufacturing

Pune, 15th June 2024: The Regional Technology Node of HQ Southern Command on Friday organised a pivotal seminar, “Swavalamban se Shakti: Bharat ki Nayi Disha,” at the Rajendra Sinhji Army Mess and Institute (RSAMI) in Pune. The event, aligned with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, aimed to bolster self-sufficiency in defence manufacturing. The seminar brought together a diverse range of stakeholders including representatives from the Armed Services, Defense Industries, and Academia across peninsular India to discuss strategies and collaboration for a robust, self-reliant defence sector in India.

Key speakers during the Seminar were: –

– Lt Gen K S Brar, AVSM, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Dakshin Bharat Area.
– Col RS Bhatia (Retd), Chairman Defence Business, Kalyani Group.
– Lt Gen PR Shankar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Professor at IIT Madras.
– Lt Gen VG Patankar, PVSM, UYSM, VSM (Retd)
– Kishore Dutt Atluri, Founder & Joint Managing Director, Zen
Technologies.
– Abhishek Jain, Chief Business Officer, Zeus Numerics.
– Commander Ramesh Madhavan (Retd), Co-founder & Tunga
Aerospace.

– Col P Hani (Retd), Founder & CEO, Edge Force Solutions, shared
perspectives on defence solutions and startup ecosystem growth.

– Prashant Girbane, Director General, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA).
– Wg cdr P Madhusoodan (Retd), VP (Aerospace & Defence) TIDCO).
– Prof G Jagdeesh, Professor of Aerospace.
– SM Vaidya: Ex-Vice President & business Head Godrej Aerospace
-Lt Gen SS Hasabnis, PVSM, VSM (Retd)

The insightful seminar focused on advancing defence manufacturing in India through three interactive sessions. Discussions centered on integrating best practices in Indian Armed Forces to streamline manufacturing processes and improve quality standards within the defence sector. Emphasis was placed on nurturing a dynamic startup ecosystem to drive innovation and support defence manufacturing. A key focus was on establishing a defence manufacturing corridor, fostering regional industrial hubs, and facilitating knowledge transfer and collaboration between the Services, Industry, and Academia.

Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, underscored the critical need for a robust, self-reliant defence sector in India. He lauded the efforts of all participants and highlighted the importance of collaborative endeavours to achieve national security objectives through indigenous defence production. His address reiterated the commitment to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, aiming for a future where India stands as a global leader in defence manufacturing. The seminar also saw the release of the first edition of the Southern Star Defence Manufacturer’s Directory, a collaborative effort between State Industrial bodies and the Southern Command to map defence manufacturers of peninsular India.