Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Thursday said technology-driven warfare is redefining the global security landscape, with Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, biotechnology and space capabilities set to become the cornerstones of future national security architectures.
Addressing senior officers and course participants at the National Defence College (NDC), Singh said modern conflicts are increasingly determined by technological superiority rather than conventional military strength alone. Delivering a special address on the theme “Future Trajectory of Science & Technology and its Impact on National Security”, the minister stressed that scientific innovation has become central to national security, economic resilience and strategic preparedness.
Highlighting India’s growing self-reliance in defence, Singh said defence production has risen by nearly 174 per cent since 2014 to around ₹1.54 lakh crore, while defence exports have surged nearly 34-fold to over ₹23,000 crore. He noted that more than 16,000 MSMEs and hundreds of startups are contributing to India’s expanding defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The minister called for deeper integration of civilian innovation with military requirements and greater collaboration among government institutions, industry, academia and startups to accelerate the development of strategic technologies.
Emphasising the role of AI, quantum technologies, biotechnology and space-based systems in future warfare, he said India must remain ahead of the technology curve to effectively tackle emerging security challenges and strengthen its position as a leading technology-driven nation.
