Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged India to transition from being a mere user of advanced technologies to becoming a developer, innovator, and global leader in critical domains. Speaking at the 36th Annual Conference on Non-Destructive Evaluation & Enabling Technologies and the 15th International Symposium on Non-Destructive Testing in Aerospace, Singh emphasized the imperative of strengthening the nation’s non-destructive testing (NDT) ecosystem to enhance preparedness and achieve self-reliance.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Defence Minister stressed the importance of cultivating indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, fostering consistent quality assurance practices, and ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of testing results, particularly within strategic applications. He asserted that there can be no compromise on the integrity of testing results in such crucial areas.
“We must strengthen our indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, specialised sensors, evaluation equipment and associated software,” Singh stated, highlighting the necessity of developing domestic capabilities to reduce technological dependencies and secure critical defence supply chains. He called for the promotion of consistent quality assurance practices across the entire defence industrial ecosystem, noting the significant role public sector undertakings, private manufacturers, start-ups, and MSMEs are expected to play in this national endeavour.
The minister further underscored the need for inspection results to be accurate, reliable, and traceable, based on robust procedures and appropriate standards, followed by assessment by qualified professionals. The three-day conference, organized by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing in Hyderabad, Telangana, brought together over 2,000 professionals, researchers, industry experts, and students to discuss the latest advancements, emerging technologies, and applications in NDT.
Rajnath Singh elaborated on the function of NDT technologies, explaining that they enable the examination of the integrity of materials, components, and structures without causing any damage. He drew an analogy, comparing NDT techniques to ultrasound and X-rays used in medical diagnostics, stating that NDT allows for the detection of internal defects in critical components without the need for dismantling or damaging them.
As Indian defence systems grow increasingly sophisticated, Singh emphasized that every critical material, component, assembly, and manufacturing process must adhere to the highest standards of quality and reliability. He warned that hidden defects can impact operational availability, escalate maintenance needs, shorten equipment service life, and in critical situations, jeopardize mission success. The minister advocated for a proactive shift from merely identifying defects to actively preventing them by embedding quality at every stage of the manufacturing process.
Singh posited that a nation’s progress is not solely determined by the technologies it develops but also by the quality, reliability, and security of the systems it constructs. In defence applications, encompassing missiles, aircraft, naval platforms, and spacecraft, quality is presented not merely as a manufacturing requirement but as an indispensable element of operational reliability and national security. He underscored the strategic significance of the NDT sector, stating that its importance is paramount for a country aspiring to achieve technological leadership. India’s pursuit of “Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in defence, he asserted, is both an economic objective and a strategic imperative.
Acknowledging the rapidly evolving global security environment, Singh noted that indigenous weapons, platforms, and supporting systems must consistently deliver the highest levels of reliability and performance. He encouraged professionals in the NDT sector to continually upgrade their skills and maintain a spirit of innovation, aligning with emerging technologies and changing security requirements.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the technological transformation occurring in non-destructive evaluation, pointing to the significant role of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, advanced sensors, digital twins, and predictive analytics in expanding inspection and structural health monitoring capabilities. These technologies, he noted, can enhance the speed and consistency of inspections, facilitate the analysis of complex data, and identify patterns often missed by conventional methods. Singh concluded by calling for the intelligent integration of established inspection techniques with advanced digital technologies to create more accurate, efficient, and responsive inspection processes. He urged India to move beyond technology adoption and develop indigenous solutions tailored to its specific strategic and industrial needs, advocating for investment in research, advanced equipment, software, and skilled manpower to bolster domestic capabilities and promote Indian technologies in international markets.
The Chenab Times News Desk
