The 21st Subroto Mukerjee Seminar on "Atmanirbharta in Aerospace and Defence: Way Ahead" (7th Jan 2025, Delhi) was a motivating and action-oriented event. We had the opportunity to hear about the way forward and the key challenges in Aatmanirbharta in the aerospace segment from the end user's point of view.

Our brief interaction with the Chief of Air Staff was truly overwhelming. He is well updated on the technology and trends. This conversation was very informative and encouraging.

In the opening remarks, Shri Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Chairman, Defence Business, Kalyani Group, and President of Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, highlighted the key role of Atmanirbharta in defence and extended its definition to "Swavlamban," which encompasses technology control within the country.

The Chairman of DRDO stated that several technologies developed by DRDO are ready to be released under various functioning models of production for industries. He also indicated the need for more budget allocation for the defence sector and highlighted the key role DRDO is playing in the nation's "Atmanirbharta."

The Chief of Air Staff provided insights into the importance of being self-reliant. He stated that the year 2025 is being considered the Year of Reforms, and the government is active and aggressive in executing important policy changes to facilitate technology development. He also highlighted the critical role that control over technologies plays in this subject matter. He emphasised the importance of timely deliveries. The IAF has indicated that all-around support is being provided to fast-track projects and procurement. He also proposed a parallel approach during development and certification. His emphasis on increasing capability and production capacity indicates the growing demand for aircraft in the future.