Rajnath Singh Lauds DRDO on 67th Foundation Day for Boosting India's Strategic Autonomy

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended heartfelt greetings to DRDO scientists and personnel on the organisation's 67th Foundation Day, praising their role in strengthening India's defence preparedness and strategic autonomy. He emphasized that developing indigenous, future-ready technologies is key to advancing the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence. The occasion also saw acknowledgments from Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and highlighted DRDO's recent achievement of a successful salvo launch of two 'Pralay' missiles. From a modest beginning with 10 laboratories in 1958, DRDO has grown into a multi-disciplinary organisation pivotal to India's defence innovation.

Key Points: DRDO Day 2026: Rajnath Singh Hails Indigenous Defence Tech

  • Strategic autonomy through indigenous tech
  • Advancements in defence preparedness
  • Recent Pralay missile success
  • Growth from 10 to 50+ labs
2 min read

"Reinforcing our strategic autonomy": Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extends greetings on DRDO Day

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extends DRDO Day greetings, praising scientists for reinforcing India's strategic autonomy and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat.

"By developing indigenous, future-ready technologies, DRDO is reinforcing our strategic autonomy... - Rajnath Singh"

New Delhi, January 1

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday extended greetings for the DRDO Day to scientists, personnel, and their families, lauding their "commitment and scientific excellence."

In an X post, the Defence Minister hailed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), noting that developing indigenous technologies reinforces India's "strategic autonomy."

He wrote, "On DRDO Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all @DRDO_India scientists, personnel and their families. Their unwavering commitment, scientific excellence and sense of national duty are vital to strengthening India's defence preparedness and advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence."

"By developing indigenous, future-ready technologies, DRDO is reinforcing our strategic autonomy and the confidence of our armed forces. I wish the entire DRDO family a year of meaningful breakthroughs and continued service to the nation," the Union Minister added.

January 1, 2026, marks the 67th Foundation Day of DRDO. According to the Defence Ministry, the DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).

Back then, DRDO was a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi also extended wishes to all DRDO personnel and their families on the occasion.

"General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS and All Ranks of the Indian Army extend warm wishes and greetings to all DRDO personnel and their families on the occasion of DRDO Day," ADG PI wrote on X.

DRDO has marked several achievements in 2025, including the recent successful conduct of a salvo launch of two 'Pralay' missiles in quick succession from the same launcher off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday morning.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the flight test at about 10:30 hrs was conducted as part of user evaluation trials. Both missiles followed the intended trajectory and met all flight objectives, as confirmed by tracking sensors deployed by the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. The terminal events were confirmed by telemetry systems installed on board the ship, deployed near the impact points.

'Pralay' is an indigenously developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision. The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
It's impressive to see India's focus on indigenous defence tech. As an observer, the growth from 10 labs to a multi-disciplinary giant is remarkable. Wishing the DRDO team continued success.
P
Priya S
Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence is the way forward. Every rupee spent on indigenous R&D strengthens our economy and security. Kudos to the scientists and their families for their sacrifices.
R
Rohit P
Good wishes are fine, but we need to see faster delivery of projects to our armed forces. Sometimes there are huge delays. Hope the 'meaningful breakthroughs' promise is kept this year.
K
Kavya N
My cousin works at a DRDO lab. The dedication is real—long hours, often away from family. This recognition from the Defence Minister is well-deserved. More power to our scientists!
M
Michael C
The Pralay missile details are technically fascinating. Developing a quasi-ballistic missile with indigenous guidance systems is a complex feat. India's defence R&D is clearly on an upward trajectory.

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