States » NorthPosted at: Oct 14 2026 12:16PM


NIT Hamirpur hosts Defence and Security Conclave at Shiksha Mahakumbh 6.0

Hamirpur (HP), Oct 14 (UNI) The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur successfully concluded the Defence and Security Conclave, International Research Conference and Defence Innovation Challenge organised under Shiksha Mahakumbh 6.0, held from October 9 to 11, 2026.
The three-day event brought together eminent DRDO scientists, policymakers, academicians, researchers and young innovators to deliberate on indigenous defence technologies, national security, emerging technological challenges and India's vision of achieving strategic autonomy.
Organised around the theme “Atmanirbhar Defence se Viksit Bharat – Bridging the Gap between Academia, Industry and R&D,” the conclave highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration among educational institutions, defence research establishments and industry to accelerate indigenous technological development.
The defence conference commenced was addresses by Dr. O. R. Nandagopan, Outstanding Scientist and Former Director, Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), DRDO, and Dr. J. K. Singh, Scientist 'G', Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), DRDO.
Dr. Nandagopan highlighted the significance of advanced engineering research, naval architecture, structural mechanics and indigenous technological capabilities in strengthening India's defence preparedness. He emphasised the need to translate fundamental scientific research into reliable and deployable defence technologies through closer collaboration between academic institutions and defence laboratories.
Dr. J. K. Singh presented insights into the human and psychological dimensions of national security, focusing on military psychology, human performance, psychological resilience and decision-making under challenging operational conditions. His address underscored the importance of integrating behavioural sciences with emerging technologies to strengthen overall defence preparedness.
A major highlight of the event was the high-level panel discussion on “Atmanirbhar Defence se Viksit Bharat,” featuring five distinguished experts representing public administration, higher education, defence research and strategic studies.
Dr. Amitabh Ranjan, Registrar, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), discussed the importance of governance, public policy and institutional coordination in achieving defence self-reliance. He emphasised that strategic autonomy requires sustained cooperation among government agencies, academic institutions, research laboratories and industry.
Prof. Sandeep Sancheti, Vice President, Elsevier, stressed the need to transform India's academic research ecosystem by moving beyond conventional publication-based evaluation. He highlighted the importance of recognising patents, working prototypes, technology transfer and deployable products as significant outcomes of academic research, particularly in strategically important sectors.
Dr. Hem Kapil, Scientist 'G', Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), DRDO, deliberated on indigenous defence engineering, advanced technological development and the importance of building domestic capabilities in critical technologies. He emphasised that genuine defence self-reliance requires indigenous expertise across design, development, testing, manufacturing and long-term maintenance.
Dr. Akansha Pandey, Assistant Professor, Rashtriya Raksha University, highlighted the crucial role of the Indian Armed Forces in disaster management, humanitarian assistance and emergency response. She discussed the importance of coordination between defence organisations, civil administration and scientific institutions, particularly in disaster-prone Himalayan regions.
Alongside the conclave, an International Defence Research Conference featured 46 research papers with participation representing three countries. The research presentations covered a wide range of emerging areas, including artificial intelligence, autonomous aerial systems, radar technologies, advanced materials, cybersecurity, defence electronics, semiconductor technologies, disaster management, border security and strategic affairs.
The Defence Innovation Challenge by GDG NIT Hamirpur, held on October 10, witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 400 students, showcasing approximately 100 hardware and software projects.
The scientists shared insights into the practical challenges associated with converting laboratory prototypes into operational defence systems. They highlighted the importance of engineering reliability, system testing, long-term life-cycle maintenance costs and indigenous technological development.
The discussion also addressed advanced radar technologies, radar absorption techniques and the strategic risks associated with dependence on foreign-controlled software development kits, firmware and other critical technological components.
The experts emphasised that indigenous manufacturing alone does not guarantee technological independence. Sovereign control over essential hardware, software, design capabilities and long-term maintenance infrastructure is equally important, particularly during situations of national security concern.
The three-day programme reinforced the need for closer cooperation between academia, defence research institutions, industry and government organisations. It also highlighted the growing potential of Indian educational institutions to contribute to indigenous defence manufacturing, advanced technological research and national security.
The successful organisation of the Defence and Security Conclave, international research conference and student innovation challenge under Shiksha Mahakumbh 6.0 reflected NIT Hamirpur's commitment to promoting scientific research, interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation in areas of national importance.
The event concluded with a strong emphasis on transforming research into practical technologies and empowering young engineers and innovators to contribute towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Defence and Viksit Bharat.
UNI/PB ARN
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