The Munjal Institute for Global Manufacturing (MIGM) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) today hosted the “Empowering Atmanirbhar Bharat: India’s Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing Summit” at its Hyderabad campus. The summit convened senior officials from the Indian Armed Forces, government, defence sector, R&D institutions, academia, startups, and policymakers to deliberate on India’s journey towards becoming a globally competitive defence manufacturing hub.

Sharing his thoughts with the delegates, Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, highlighted that as India advances from being the world’s third-largest economy towards global leadership, aerospace and defence manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat has become a national imperative. He outlined Telangana’s ambition to be India’s aerospace capital by 2030, anchored in a strong ecosystem of MSMEs, leading firms, and collaborations with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Safran, and Tata Advanced Systems. Recognising that global defence strategies are increasingly technology-driven, he emphasised the importance of advanced capabilities, while highlighting Telangana’s commitment to talent and infrastructure through initiatives such as modernising technical institutes into Advanced Technology Centres and establishing the Young India Skills University.

Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Founder, Munjal Institute of Global Manufacturing (MIGM), ISB, and Chairman, Hero Enterprise, said that India’s drive for self‑reliance in defence and aerospace must integrate into the global value chain rather than adopt an isolationist approach. Recalling the private sector’s journey that began in 2004–05 with initial engagements with the Defence Ministry and armed forces, he shared early hurdles such as rigid procurement norms demanding prior experience, extended testing cycles, and uneven business patterns. According to him, these hurdles are now largely behind us, as technology is reshaping how conflicts are conceived and addressed, making it vital for multiple engines' defence forces, policymakers, public sector manufacturers, and an increasingly active private sector to operate in collaboration. Drawing on decades of manufacturing expertise, he pointed to India’s achievements in aerospace, including launching satellites for multiple nations at a fraction of global costs, while underscoring that every system is only as resilient as its weakest link.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, stated that ISB’s role in advancing research-driven innovation and collaboration, emphasising that defence and aerospace exemplify India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, where national security, technological leadership, and advanced manufacturing converge. He emphasised that public, private, and academic institutions to align with precision and shared purpose, positioning ISB as a neutral platform convening critical stakeholders to shape the trajectory of India’s defence manufacturing in the years ahead.

Dr Chandan Chowdhury, Executive Director, Munjal Institute of Global Manufacturing (MIGM), ISB, noted in his remarks that the Summit has received registrations from over 630 delegates representing more than 370 organisations. He also acknowledged the valuable contributions of all speakers, sponsors, and the College of Defence Management in making the event a success.

The Summit focused on the themes that included innovation and R&D ecosystem, policy and self-reliance, private sector and exports, talent and technology integration, global partnerships and strategic outlook.