Business EconomyPosted at: Nov 15 2026 8:19PM


India must become global leader in advanced technologies: Rajnath Singh

Hyderabad, Nov 15 (UNI) India must move beyond being a user of advanced technologies and emerge as a developer, innovator and global leader, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday, stressing the need to strengthen indigenous capabilities in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to enhance defence preparedness and self-reliance.
Virtually inaugurating Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) 2026, the 36th Annual Conference and Enabling Technologies, and AeroNDT 2026, the 15th International Symposium on NDT in Aerospace, Singh said India must develop its own advanced inspection technologies, specialised sensors, testing equipment and software to reduce dependence on foreign technologies and secure critical defence supply chains.
The three-day international conference, organised by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) at HITEX Exhibition Centre from November 15 to 17, has brought together over 2,000 professionals and researchers and more than 100 exhibitors from India and abroad.
Singh said reliable testing and quality assurance were crucial in defence systems such as missiles, aircraft, naval platforms and spacecraft, as hidden defects could affect operational readiness and even jeopardise mission success.
He called for greater use of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, robotics, advanced sensors and digital twins to improve inspection and structural health monitoring.
Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu, who attended as Guest of Honour, described NDT professionals as the "Doctors of the Manufacturing World" and the "Invisible Heroes of Industry", highlighting their role in ensuring the safety and reliability of critical products and infrastructure.
He said Hyderabad was emerging as a major aerospace and defence manufacturing hub, with more than 1,500 aerospace, defence and space MSMEs in Telangana. Aircraft, spacecraft and their components accounted for 29.4 per cent of the State's merchandise exports in 2024-25, valued at nearly Rs 63,000 crore, he said.
Responding to ISNT's request to establish a Centre of Excellence in NDT in Telangana, Sridhar Babu assured the organisation of the State Government's full support.
He said the Telangana Rising 2047 vision aimed to position the State as a global hub for aerospace and defence, covering design, manufacturing, testing, certification and research.
The inaugural session also featured the presentation of the ISNT National NDT Awards 2026, recognising contributions to research, industrial applications, scientific publications and professional excellence.
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