In a landmark move to bolster India’s defence innovation ecosystem, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17 November 2025 in New Delhi. The agreement, formalised in the presence of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of DRDO and Secretary of Defence R&D, underscores a strategic collaboration aimed at developing smart, indigenous technological solutions for national security. The MoU unites India’s premier defence research organisation with the country’s only university dedicated to transportation and logistics, promising new synergies in operational logistics, military sciences, advanced chip design, cybersecurity, and secure communications.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Samir V. Kamat highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership, stating that the collaboration would “facilitate the development of technological solutions for deployment aspects of indigenous defence systems.” He emphasised that integrating industry-leading research with defence technology development is crucial for ensuring long-term self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The MoU envisions the creation of next-generation defence technologies, leveraging GSV’s expertise in transportation sciences and DRDO’s cutting-edge defence research capabilities.
The joint research programmes will target core national security domains, including:
1. **Defence Logistics Management**: Operational logistics at tactical, operational, and strategic levels, modelling, simulation, and validation of logistics plans, and improving supply chain resilience for defence operations.
2. **Chip Design & Hardware Security**: Indigenous chip design for defence applications, secure hardware solutions for critical systems, and enhancing cybersecurity of embedded defence platforms.
3. **Advanced Cryptographic Technologies**: Homomorphic encryption for secure computation, blockchain-based encryption for tamper-proof defence communication systems, and secure data handling across distributed defence networks.
This collaborative effort aims to strengthen India’s ability to design, deploy, and secure advanced defence systems in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
A key component of the MoU is the development of human capital. GSV and DRDO will jointly work to train young researchers, scientists, and military logisticians, organise roundtable workshops, seminars, and national/international conferences, facilitate research exchanges and interdisciplinary academic programmes, and support innovation-led learning in military operations, logistics, and security technologies. The partnership will help cultivate a new generation of experts specialising in operational science, battlefield logistics, advanced materials, and defence technology development.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Vice Chancellor of GSV, and Dr. Lal Chand Mangal (DS & DG, Technical Management), representing DRDO. This collaboration elevates GSV’s role from an academic collaborator to an active contributor to India’s national defence innovation architecture. It enhances GSV’s ability to conduct mission-driven defence research, support the development of next-generation logistics models, provide sector-specific academic inputs for complex defence challenges, and strengthen indigenous capabilities in defence technology production.
Established in 2022 through an Act of Parliament, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is India’s first university dedicated exclusively to the transportation and logistics sector. Working under the Ministry of Railways, GSV covers all major transport domains, including railways, highways, ports, aviation, maritime & shipping, inland waterways, urban transport, logistics, and supply chain. The university operates with a vision to support India’s expanding infrastructure needs and is headed by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT, who serves as the University Chancellor.
The signing of the GSV–DRDO MoU marks a pivotal moment in India’s push toward technological sovereignty and defence innovation. By integrating academic research with defence R&D, the partnership will strengthen indigenous defence capabilities, modernise military logistics, enhance secure communication frameworks, and support the development of future technologies essential for national security. This collaborative initiative aligns seamlessly with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, where world-class innovation, resilient supply chains, and strong defence preparedness form the backbone of national progress.