New Delhi:
Over the past decade,Indiahas undergone a transformation that has reshaped itsglobalstanding from a developing nation with potential to a powerhouse pushing boundaries acrossdefence,space, andtechnology.
The NarendraModigovernment's relentless focus on self-reliance,innovation, andtechnological advancement, throughinitiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and MakeinIndia, has propelled the nationintothe elite echelons of cutting-edgetechnology and capabilities.
India'sdefencesector has witnessed a paradigm shift, with the nation joining elite clubs through cutting-edgetechnologies. These milestones, driven by theDefenceResearch and Development Organisation (DRDO) and supported by theModigovernment's focus on self-reliance, underscoreIndia's readiness for modern warfare.
Ina historic breakthrough,Indiarecently successfully conducted trials of a laser-based directed energy weapon system capable of disabling fixed-wing and swarm drones. With this, it has entered an elite group of only four nations, alongside the United States, Russia, and China, that possess such advanced capability.
Alsoin2025,Indiajoined the elite club of nations testing an Active Cooled Scramjet for hypersonic missiles. Theindigenous development of endothermic scramjet fuel, the first timeinIndia, jointly by the DRDL andindustry is central to this breakthrough.
Similarly,ina very significant development, the DRDO,inNovember 2024, test-fired the country's first long-range hypersonic missile that can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. The missile is manoeuvrable and flies over five times the speed of sound. This achievement has putIndiainthe group of select nations having capabilities of such critical and advanced militarytechnologies.
In2024,Indiajoined the elite club of nations with MultipleIndependently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)technology. The successful Agni-V test with MIRVtechnology enhancesIndia's ability and power to deploy multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile, striking different targets.
Earlier,in2023,Indiaconducted a maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmosphericinterceptor missile. The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat, thereby elevating the countryintothe elite club of nations having a naval ballistic missiledefence(BMD) capability.
Alsoin2023,Indiajoined the elite club of nations with successful flight test ofindigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The successful flying demonstration of this autonomous stealth UAV is a testimony to maturityinthetechnology readiness levelsinthe country.
Prior to this,in2019, through Mission Shakti,Indiasuccessfully tested an anti-satellite missile, destroying a live satelliteinlow Earth orbit. This feat placedIndiaalongside the United States, Russia, and China as one of the few nations with demonstrated ASAT capabilities. This strategic achievement underscoredIndia's ability to safeguard itsspaceassetsinanincreasingly contested domain.
Likewise,India'sspaceprogram, led by theIndianSpaceResearch Organisation (ISRO), has captivated the world with record-breaking missions and pioneeringtechnologies. TheModigovernment'sincreased funding and reforms have propelledIndiaintothe elite ranks ofspacefaring nations.
Recently,Indiasuccessfully joined the elite group of four nations demonstrating satellite docking and undockingtechnology, thanks to ISRO's SpaDEx mission. The undocking process succeeded on the first attempt after over 120 simulations, showcasingIndia's advancedtechnological capabilitiesinspaceexploration.
In2023, ISRO created history by being the first country to land on the Moon's South Pole.Indiahas reached the South Pole of the Moon, where no countryinthe world has reached to date. This madeIndiathe fourth countryinhistory to soft-land on the moon after the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
In2022,Indiabecame the sixth countryinthe world to have cryogenic engine manufacturing capabilities.Indiainaugurated its highly ambitiousIntegrated Cryogenic Engine Manufacturing Facility (ICMF), which will cater to the entire rocket manufacturing and assembly under one roof for the ISRO.
In2017,Indiabecame the first nationinthe world to have launched over a hundred satellitesinone mission. The ISRO continued to surprise the developed world with its out-of-the-boxspacemissions that earned itself a distinct position among thespace-faring nations. The country's workhorse PSLVinits 39th flight (PSLV-C37), elegantly blazed through the blue skies and successfully deployed 104 satellitesintothe designated orbit, setting anewworld record.
India's ambitions also extend to emerging domains, positioning it as a competitor amongglobaltechleaders.
With the announcement of SemiconIndia, the nation has entered the race to become a semiconductor hub, withinvestments fromglobaltechgiants and partnerships that placeIndiaamong few nations seriously competinginchip manufacturing.
Similarly, by creating the National Mission for QuantumTechnology and Applications (NMQTA)in2020,Indiaformally entered the race for quantum computing to keep up with China and the United States. With over Rs 6,000 crore allocated to theinitiative, theModigovernment is aggressively backing next-gentechto build future-ready capabilities.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
