Rajinder Singh Bhatia, head of Kalyani Group’s defence business, has issued a clarion call for India to cultivate a robust ecosystem capable of nurturing over one lakh startups in defence, aerospace, and technology. Speaking at the launch of defence magazine *The Blueprint Discourse*, Bhatia underscored the urgent need for structural reforms and accelerated defence acquisition cycles to harness India’s vast engineering talent and position the nation as a global defence innovation hub.
“India has 1.57 lakh registered startups, but only around 9,000 work in defence, and successful ones can be counted on fingers,” Bhatia said. “Why stop at a few thousand when we can aim for 100,000? India has the talent; we need structures to unleash it.”
Bhatia’s remarks come at a critical juncture for India’s defence sector, as the country seeks to reduce reliance on imports and foster indigenous innovation. He stressed that the current defence acquisition process is ill-suited to the rapid pace of technological advancement, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing.
“If a product is ready in two to five years, acquisition cannot take longer,” he said. “For fast-evolving tech, 18–24 months is ideal.” He cited South Korea and Israel as models for streamlined procurement processes, where agility and speed are prioritised to maintain a competitive edge.
Bhatia also predicted that future warfare will be increasingly driven by civilian technology, with breakthroughs in commercial sectors rapidly transitioning into military applications. “Technology will change faster than you can imagine, and much of it will flow from civilian domains into military applications,” he said.
To realise this vision, Bhatia called for greater funding, mentorship, and policy support to help startups scale up. He emphasised the need for a long-term strategy, stating, “Building defence capability is a marathon, not a sprint. India has the capacity; now we need to accelerate innovation and manufacturing.”
The call for a more dynamic defence ecosystem aligns with broader geopolitical shifts, as nations increasingly recognise the strategic importance of technological self-sufficiency. By fostering a thriving startup culture in defence and aerospace, India could not only enhance its military capabilities but also emerge as a key player in the global defence technology market.
Bhatia’s vision challenges policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to rethink traditional approaches to defence innovation. If realised, his proposal could transform India’s defence sector, creating a self-sustaining innovation engine that drives both national security and economic growth.