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- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually launched the Sagarmala Parikrama, marking the beginning of a 1,500-km journey by an autonomous surface vessel built by Sagar Defence Engineering, from Mumbai to Thoothukudi.
- This venture, presented at Swavlamban, the annual Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) event, serves as a significant technology demonstration, with the Indian Navy planning to incorporate large numbers of autonomous surface and underwater vessels.
- Further, the Defence Minister also introduced the third edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI 3.0) challenge and the 13th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC 13). Both initiatives aim to enhance indigenous defence technologies and operational efficiencies.
- ADITI 3.0 includes a challenge by the Navy to develop a high-power microwave weapon system, while DISC 13 introduces seven challenges across AI, military communication, and autonomous bots—three from the Army and two each from the Navy and Air Force.
| Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) Scheme · ADITI is a government initiative to drive innovation in critical and strategic defence technologies. · It aims to foster around 30 advanced, deep-tech solutions within a set timeline under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework, led by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence. · The scheme provides start-ups with grant-in-aid support of up to ₹25 crore for research, development, and innovation in defence technology. · With a total outlay of ₹750 crore, it spans from 2023-24 to 2025-26, encouraging critical advancements in technology to meet the demands of modern armed forces. · ADITI includes the creation of a ‘Technology Watch Tool’ to align the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem with the needs of the Armed Forces. · To inspire young innovators, iDEX has been expanded to iDEX Prime, increasing support from ₹1.5 crore to ₹10 crore. · Initiatives like ADITI, iDEX, and iDEX Prime are designed to transform India into a knowledge-based society by nurturing youth-led innovation and advancing the nation’s technology landscape.
iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)
· Launched in April 2018, this flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to promote self-reliance and drive innovation in Defence and Aerospace. · It encourages technology development by actively engaging industries, including MSMEs and start-ups.
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