Lucknow: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region, in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence India, successfully organised the CII Indian Defence Manufacturing Conclave 2026 in Lucknow. The two-day event, held from April 30 to May 1, focused on the theme “Empowering Indigenisation: Vendor Development, Exhibition and B2B Meetings.”
The conclave served as a key platform to promote indigenous manufacturing, strengthen the vendor ecosystem, and enhance industry participation in the defence sector. It brought together policymakers, defence experts, industry leaders, and startups to deliberate on strategies for boosting domestic capabilities.
Highlighting India’s progress toward becoming a global defence manufacturing and export hub, Puneet Kaura, Chairperson of CII Northern Region and Managing Director & CEO of Samtel Avionics, noted that the country is steadily transitioning from being one of the largest defence importers to a strong manufacturing powerhouse. He attributed this shift to initiatives such as positive indigenisation lists, increased domestic procurement, and growing private sector participation.
Kaura emphasised that sustaining this momentum would require continuous investment in innovation, research and development (R&D), and advanced technologies, enabling Indian firms to move up the value chain and compete globally.
Underscoring the importance of collaboration, Alok Dixit, Associate Director at the Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur, stressed that partnerships between DRDO, industry, and organisations like CII are critical for building next-generation defence capabilities. He highlighted the role of the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme in supporting startups and industries in defence R&D.
The conclave featured structured discussions, technical exhibitions, and business-to-business (B2B) meetings, enabling suppliers to align with evolving procurement requirements and explore collaboration opportunities. The event played a significant role in fostering supply chain integration and accelerating the push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Overall, the conclave reinforced the importance of innovation-driven partnerships and strategic collaboration in advancing India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector.
