New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) The Department of Defence Production (DDP) is organising the National Defence Industries Conclave (NDIC) 2026, on the theme ‘Advanced Manufacturing Technologies’, on March 19-20, in the national capital. The two-day event will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The conclave aims to strengthen the integration of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem while promoting the adoption of advanced technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, digital twins and smart materials.
In a statement issued here, the Ministry of Defence said that the initiative aligns with the Government’s vision of Aatmanirbharta in defence, and seeks to enhance India’s technological capability and global competitiveness in defence production.
The conclave will bring together MSMEs, start-ups, DPSUs, private defence companies, innovators, policymakers, academia and technology providers to facilitate policy dialogue, promote innovation, and expand participation in the defence supply chain. The event is also expected to encourage industries from non-defence sectors to explore opportunities in defence manufacturing while fostering industry-academia partnerships and collaborative research and development.
As part of the event, the defence minister will inaugurate an exhibition showcasing advanced manufacturing technologies and defence innovations. He will also launch a new set of challenges for the start-ups/MSMEs given by the Defence Forces and the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). Several important publications related to defence manufacturing and policy reforms will also be released.
The exhibition will feature stalls from private and public sector large defence companies which will present their initiatives and programmes for engaging MSMEs as partners and suppliers in defence manufacturing.
Twenty-four (24) Indian and foreign firms will also showcase advanced manufacturing technologies.
The exhibition is expected to encourage meaningful partnerships among large private defence manufacturers, DPSUs, technology providers and MSMEs, contributing to the national goal of building a self-reliant and globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.
