In an exclusive interview, Rajinder Bhatia, President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), discusses India’s defence industry, its journey toward self-reliance, and SIDM’s role in building a globally competitive ecosystem. He shares insights on challenges, innovation, collaboration, and opportunities for the next generation of defence entrepreneurs.
As SIDM president, what is your vision for India’s defence industry, and how will SIDM help make India a global defence manufacturing hub?
The primary aim of SIDM has been to unite India’s emerging defence industry on a common platform. We wanted all stakeholders—the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces, industry, academia, and DRDO—to engage meaningfully on policy, research, and development.