Shri Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, was the Chief Guest at the launch. Also present were Senior Officers of GRSE, in addition to a large number of startups participating in the launch physically/ in hybrid mode.

Launched in 2023, GAINS is a National open innovation challenge conceptualised by GRSE to leverage the growing capabilities of India’s start-up, MSME and academic ecosystem to address present and emerging challenges in ship design and construction. Over the last three editions, the initiative has evolved into a sustained platform for collaboration between established shipbuilding expertise and emerging technology capabilities from across the country, with participation growing from 66 proposals in 2024 to over 100 proposals from Indian innovators in 2025, reflecting the increasing engagement of the country’s start-up, MSME and innovation ecosystem.

The initiative has also resulted in the identification and recognition of promising innovators across its three editions. The winners of GAINS 2023, the inaugural edition, were M/s Bodkin Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Smart Machine & Structures. The second edition, GAINS 2024, recognised IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation & Development Foundation (MSME) and M/s Cloudmetica Technologies (Start-up) as winners. In the third edition, GAINS 2025, M/s Widedrop Technologies and M/s Cloudmetica Technologies emerged as winners.

Over the successive editions, GAINS has explored emerging technologies and solutions across areas such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, renewable and green energy, energy efficiency and technology-enabled enhancement of shipbuilding processes, enabling GRSE to engage with innovators and explore new approaches and technologies aimed at enhancing shipbuilding capabilities.

The fourth edition of GAINS aims to further strengthen GRSE’s engagement with the innovation ecosystem by encouraging start-ups, MSMEs, academia and innovators to develop fast-track, innovative solutions for emerging shipbuilding requirements and contribute towards building a future-ready shipyard. GAINS 2026 will focus on key areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable and green energy, energy efficiency, automation and overall efficiency enhancement. The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s emphasis on indigenous defence technologies and greater participation of start-ups and MSMEs, contributing to a technologically advanced, self-reliant and globally competitive Indian shipbuilding industry. Details of the challenge and participation are available on the GRSE website at www.grse.in/gains/.

Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence Production was happy to note that GRSE has taken a lead to accelerate its pace across functions, using the advantage of AI & latest technologies through the unique scheme of GAINS. He appreciated that the GAINS model is not restrictive in its approach and uniquely engages with young vibrant startups of the country as well as the stalwarts in technology including the IITs of the nation.

Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, during the welcome address said, “Deeply proud that this initiative of the shipyard to leverage on potent capabilities of our startup ecosystem is a grand success and this 4th Edition of GAINS will be equally rewarding”.

The launch of GAINS 2026 comes at a significant juncture in GRSE’s journey. The shipyard was accorded Navratna status on 19 June 2026, marking an important milestone in its growth and reflecting its sustained performance, capabilities and contribution to India’s defence sector. The enhanced status further provides GRSE greater opportunities to pursue strategic investments, develop advanced capabilities and strengthen its engagement with the wider industrial and innovation ecosystem.

Delivering the inaugural address, the Chief Guest  Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force, underscored the transformative role of unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies in modern warfare and emphasised that sustained collaboration among the armed forces, industry, startups and research institutions will be key to strengthening India’s indigenous drone capabilities. Highlighting the Indian Air Force’s commitment to innovation, he said the Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD) has been established to facilitate industry engagement and announced Dronathon 2026 as a platform to evaluate indigenous technologies through live demonstrations. Calling for accelerated development of critical technologies, AI-enabled systems, cybersecurity and localisation of key drone components, he urged industry to scale up innovation and manufacturing, remarking, “Technology delayed is technology denied.”

While addressing the august gathering, Dr. N. Ranjana, Outstanding Scientist & Director, Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management, DRDO Headquarters, highlighted the growing strategic importance of drones, robotics and autonomous systems, noting that recent global conflicts have reinforced their critical role in defence and national security. She said DRDO’s Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence are fostering indigenous innovation by bringing together academia, industry and government laboratories to accelerate technology development and commercialisation. She highlighted DRDO’s research initiatives in swarm technologies, advanced propulsion systems, autonomous platforms, additive manufacturing and next-generation aerial systems, while encouraging startups and industry to leverage DRDO’s testing infrastructure, research facilities and technology transfer programmes to accelerate indigenous innovation.

Dr. Panneerselavam Madangopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, highlighted India’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem and the government’s strong policy support for innovation through initiatives such as MeitY Startup Hub and iDEX. Emphasising the strategic importance of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing for drones, defence and emerging technologies, he said strengthening indigenous design and component manufacturing is critical to achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat. He encouraged startups to build globally competitive solutions around real-world problem statements and leverage government programmes to accelerate innovation, product development and commercialisation.

Underscoring the importance of industry-government collaboration in advancing emerging technologies, Mr. Sanjiv Edward, Chair, PHDCCI Civil Aviation Committee, said Bharat Drone Manthan 3.0 serves as a strategic platform for shaping the future of India’s drone, robotics and deep-tech ecosystem by fostering collaboration between government, defence, industry, startups and academia. He observed that the convergence of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and next-generation aerial technologies is redefining national security, industrial competitiveness and economic growth, and stressed that sustained innovation and cross-sector partnerships will be instrumental in positioning India as a global leader in emerging technologies. Reaffirming PHDCCI’s commitment to fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem, he said the Chamber will continue to catalyse meaningful partnerships to accelerate indigenous technology development and advance the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Mr. Michael Jain, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Civil Aviation Committee, appreciated the inspiring deliberations during the inaugural session and observed that the interaction between the Chief of the Air Staff and young innovators, students and startups served as a strong source of encouragement for India’s emerging technology ecosystem. He expressed confidence that the deliberations at Bharat Drone Manthan 3.0 would further strengthen collaboration among government, industry, defence and academia, paving the way for accelerated innovation and indigenous technology development.

Highlighting the transformative potential of drone technologies, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, said that every era of progress has been driven by breakthrough innovations from the steam engine and the internet to artificial intelligence and expressed confidence that drones would define India’s next wave of technological advancement. He said the sector presents immense opportunities for employment generation, indigenous manufacturing and innovation, supported by India’s vibrant ecosystem of over 1.5 lakh startups and 150 unicorns. Reaffirming PHDCCI’s commitment, as it marks 121 years of service to Indian industry, he said the Chamber will continue to strengthen collaboration among government, industry, academia and startups to help realise the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The inaugural session was moderated by Dr. Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, who highlighted the remarkable evolution of Bharat Drone Manthan into PHDCCI’s flagship platform for India’s drone and robotics ecosystem. He recalled that while the inaugural edition in 2024 laid the foundation by focusing on unmanned traffic management, urban air mobility and advanced air mobility systems, the second edition strengthened industry-government collaboration in support of the vision of Viksit Bharat. He said the third edition marks a decisive transition from vision to action by promoting AI-led innovation, skilling and indigenous manufacturing as India works towards becoming a leading global drone hub by 2030.

The conclave featured a series of high-level technical sessions on “Why Bharat Becoming a Global Drone Hub by 2030 is a Strategic Imperative”; “Building a Secure and Self-Reliant Airspace”; “Surveillance to Strategic Superiority: Drone Innovation in Defence & Homeland Security”; “Own in Bharat: Strengthening Indigenous Manufacturing & Supply Chain Ecosystems”; “Next Generation Drones: Creating an Indian Ecosystem”; “Innovation to Enterprise: Business Transformation through Commercial Applications & Robotics Technologies”; “Future of Drones, Robotics & Deep Tech: Transforming Air Power and India’s Defence Ecosystem,” and “Wings of Innovation: Trailblazers Shaping the Future of Autonomous Technologies.” The discussions focused on advancing indigenous manufacturing, strengthening research and development, integrating artificial intelligence with autonomous systems, promoting commercial drone applications, enhancing defence preparedness, fostering startup-led innovation and positioning India as a global hub for drone and deep-tech technologies. On the occasion, PHDCCI also released a Knowledge Report highlighting the evolving policy landscape, emerging technology trends and strategic recommendations to strengthen India’s drone, robotics and autonomous systems ecosystem.

Bharat Drone Manthan 3.0 reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration among government, defence, industry, academia and startups to build a robust, innovation-driven and self-reliant drone ecosystem. The deliberations underscored the critical role of indigenous technologies, policy support, research partnerships and entrepreneurship in positioning India as a global leader in drones, robotics and advanced autonomous systems while contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

A major highlight of the event is the participation of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which showcased a wide array of advanced military hardware such as high-tech radars, AI-driven surveillance systems, and specialized communication tools. During the visit, the Defense Minister witnessed a live demonstration of BEL’s “BE-Vahan,” a high-altitude logistics drone designed for difficult terrains. By bringing together military leaders, technology innovators, and private industry, the symposium reinforces the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” mission, aiming to make India self-reliant in defense production.