Under the MoU, Garuda Aerospace and Micron Instruments will focus on product distribution, joint technology development, and defence-focused projects. By integrating Micron Instruments’ expertise in custom-designed fuzes with Garuda Aerospace’s advanced drone technologies, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of next-generation indigenous defence solutions, including loitering munitions, payload-enabled UAVs, and advanced unmanned systems.

Speaking on the collaboration, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said, “We are proud to partner with Micron Instruments, a company that has consistently set benchmarks in precision engineering and defence manufacturing. This collaboration brings together the strengths of two advanced manufacturing organizations. It opens new opportunities in defence drones, loitering munitions, and next-generation unmanned systems, supporting India’s journey towards technological self-reliance.”

“Micron Instruments has spent over six decades developing critical engineering solutions for Defence, Aerospace, and Healthcare Industries. The future of defence will be driven by innovation, strong indigenous capabilities, and strategic partnerships. Our association with Garuda Aerospace reflects a shared commitment to developing advanced, homegrown solutions that strengthen India’s defence ecosystem and support the country’s vision of self-reliance,” said, Vikram Sahgal, Chairman & Managing Director CMD, Micron Instruments Pvt Ltd. 

As India’s drone ecosystem continues to expand, with the market projected to exceed ₹20,000 crore, Garuda Aerospace and Micron Instruments will leverage their combined expertise in advanced manufacturing, defence engineering, and innovation to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing indigenous technologies and strengthening India’s self-reliance in defence and aerospace. With strategic collaborations spanning industry leaders such as Thales, Tata Elxsi, and now Garuda Aerospace continues to strengthen its role in India’s evolving defence and aerospace ecosystem.

The recognition highlights GRSE’s sustained efforts in integrating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into its shipbuilding ecosystem, thereby enhancing localisation and strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. Through close collaboration with industry partners across the country, the Shipyard has expanded MSME participation in the construction of advanced warships and vessels for the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, Central & State government Organisations and friendly foreign nations.

This prestigious honour also reflects GRSE’s alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of transforming India from “Local to Global” by fostering innovation, self-reliance and competitiveness within the domestic industrial ecosystem.

As one of India’s leading warship builders, GRSE has developed a robust vendor ecosystem that supports the design and construction of complex maritime platforms. The honour underscores the Shipyard’s continued commitment to building a resilient domestic supply chain and promoting wider participation of Indian industry in the nation’s defence production ecosystem.

Welcoming the august gathering, Mr. R.K. Vij, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Textile Committee, Secretary General, PTAIA and National President, Textile Association of India, described the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) as a transformative initiative that has provided the industry with the momentum to accelerate innovation and manufacturing. While appreciating the Ministry of Textiles for its industry-friendly policies and collaborative approach, he urged the Government to address the GST inverted duty structure on man-made fibres and rationalize duties on key raw materials such as PTA and MEG to improve liquidity, enhance competitiveness and unlock the sector’s growth potential. He called for closer industry-government collaboration to position India not only as a global manufacturing hub but also as a global innovation leader in technical textiles.

Delivering the address the Chief Guest, Shri Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles, Government of India, said that the growing focus on fitness, healthcare and sports through initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India Movement and TOPS is creating unprecedented demand for high-performance sportech products. He highlighted that India’s technical textile exports have grown from ₹8,827 crore in FY 2013–14 to ₹28,392 crore in FY 2024–25, reflecting the sector’s strong global competitiveness. He further noted that under the National Technical Textiles Mission, more than 180 research projects have been approved to strengthen innovation and manufacturing, while the PLI Scheme for Textiles has attracted investments exceeding ₹5,500 crore. Reaffirming the Government’s vision of achieving USD 100 billion in textile exports and a USD 350 billion textile market by 2030, he called upon industry, academia and research institutions to work collectively towards making India a global leader in technical textiles under Viksit Bharat 2047.

The guest of honor Ms. Manisha Chatterjee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, emphasized that the National Technical Textiles Mission has now entered a phase of large-scale implementation, shifting the focus from research to commercialization. She highlighted initiatives such as the PRAMAN guidelines, strengthening of testing infrastructure, international standardization and targeted support for MSMEs to bridge the gap between laboratory innovations and market-ready products. She informed that six research projects and one start-up have already been approved under the Sportech segment of NTTM, while stressing that reducing import dependence in high-performance sports textiles presents a significant opportunity for Indian manufacturers.

Speaking as the conference, Dr. Harish K. Chatterjee, Director General, Wool Research Association, highlighted the convergence of technical textiles, electronics, smart sensors and data analytics in shaping the future of sportech. He said India possesses the right ecosystem to emerge as a global hub for high-performance sports textiles through its strong manufacturing base, expanding synthetic fibre ecosystem, growing start-up landscape and government support. He also highlighted the Association’s work in developing indigenous smart textile solutions, internationally accredited testing facilities, technology transfer, start-up incubation and sustainable innovations to strengthen India’s global competitiveness.

Mr. Debabrata Ghosh, Vice President & Sales Director, Barmag India Pvt. Ltd., highlighted India’s immense growth potential in the activewear and sportech segment, stating that the country’s activewear yarn market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 10% between 2026 and 2035, significantly outpacing China. He observed that the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, supportive government policies and expanding textile infrastructure offer a significant opportunity for Indian manufacturers to become global suppliers of high-value technical textiles. Stressing the importance of advanced bi-component fibre technologies, he called for strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities to reduce import dependence and establish India as a preferred sourcing destination in the global sportech value chain.

Concluding the inaugural session, Mr. Shantanu Agarwal, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Textile Committee & Joint Managing Director, Maral Overseas Ltd., expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Textiles, the National Technical Textiles Mission, the Wool Research Association, industry partners and stakeholders for their support in making the conference a success. He said the conference had evolved into a meaningful platform for policy dialogue, technology exchange and industry collaboration, urging participants to convert discussions into actionable partnerships that would accelerate the growth of India’s technical textiles sector.

The conference also featured engaging technical sessions on “Sportech Deep Dive,” “Sportech Value Chain: Sourcing, Standardization and Scaling,” “Scaling the Technical Textiles Ecosystem: Investment, Start-ups and Market Expansion,” and “From Import Dependence to Atmanirbhar Sports Manufacturing.” Alongside the conference, an exclusive Technology & Innovation Exhibition showcased breakthrough products, smart textiles, advanced manufacturing technologies, research-led innovations and promising start-ups, highlighting India’s rapidly evolving capabilities across the technical textiles value chain. The deliberations and exhibition together fostered meaningful collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, investors, academia and entrepreneurs, reinforcing India’s commitment to innovation, self-reliance and global leadership in technical textiles under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The policy introduces fiscal incentives for electric vehicles, exemptions from road tax and registration charges for eligible vehicles, scrappage incentives for older vehicles, a significant expansion of charging infrastructure, and a phased transition towards electric mobility across various vehicle categories. The government has also announced a proposed investment of around ₹15,000 crore to support the development of the EV ecosystem during the policy period.

“The Policy reinforces the role of clean mobility as a key driver of Delhi’s future economic growth and sustainable urban development. By providing greater policy certainty, it is expected to improve the investment climate, accelerate innovation in electric mobility technologies, expand domestic manufacturing, and create employment across the EV ecosystem. At the national level, the Policy aligns with India’s broader objective of strengthening globally competitive manufacturing through the Make in India initiative”, said Rajeev Juneja, President, PHDCCI.

The policy extends well beyond promoting electric vehicle adoption and has the potential to stimulate investments across multiple sectors, including battery manufacturing, charging infrastructure, renewable energy integration, power distribution, electronics, automotive components, software solutions, fleet management, financing, recycling and circular economy services.

Key Highlights & Provisions

The Delhi EV Policy 2.0 (running through 2030) introduces ambitious subsidies, scrappage benefits, and stricter mandates to promote greener transport.

1.      Tax Exemptions: 100% waiver on road tax and registration fees for EVs priced up to ₹30 lakh (ex-showroom).

2.      Purchase Subsidies: Incentives of up to ₹30,000 for electric two-wheelers and up to ₹50,000 for three-wheelers.

3.      Scrappage Incentives: Up to ₹1 lakh incentive for scrapping old BS-IV or older cars.

4.      Deadlines for ICE Vehicles: No petrol motorcycles/scooters can be registered after March 31, 2028, and new CNG auto-rickshaw registrations are set to stop at the end of 2026.

5.      Charging Network: Expanded infrastructure mandates that require every EV dealership to host public charging stations.

“The planned expansion of public charging facilities and battery-swapping infrastructure is expected to stimulate investment across multiple segments of the electric mobility ecosystem. Opportunities are likely to emerge for infrastructure developers, private investors, technology firms, and start-ups engaged in EV-related services. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates, demand is also expected to rise for advanced battery technologies, power electronics, semiconductors, charging hardware, digital payment platforms, predictive maintenance applications, and intelligent energy management solutions”, said Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI.

The policy will deliver important macroeconomic benefits through reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, lower urban emissions, improved public health outcomes and increased private investment in future-ready industries. The policy is also expected to encourage innovation in electric mobility technologies while supporting India’s commitments towards sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Further, the policy aligns with several national initiatives, including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes for the automobile and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) battery sectors, the National Electric Mobility Mission and India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Together, these initiatives can strengthen domestic value addition, enhance supply chain resilience and improve India’s competitiveness in the global EV market.

PHDCCI works closely with policymakers, and industry stakeholders to support effective implementation of the policy and facilitate the development of a robust, competitive and sustainable electric mobility ecosystem that contributes to economic growth, industrial transformation and environmental sustainability.

The steel supplied by SAIL includes special quality DMR 249A grade hot-rolled sheets and plates. This specialized, defense-grade steel was meticulously manufactured and supplied from SAIL’s flagship facilities at Bokaro, Bhilai, and Rourkela Steel Plants, underscoring the Maharatna’s robust technological capability in supporting India’s maritime defense infrastructure.

SAIL continues to propel the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. By producing specialized steel for critical naval platforms, SAIL has become integral part to India’s defense indigenisation. To meet the emerging requirements of the defense sector, SAIL has taken extra measures well in advance to enhance the production of DMR Grade plates for defense requirements at its Plate-production facilities, specifically at the Special Plate Plant in the Rourkela Steel Plant. This strategic move is clearly reflected in India’s growing import substitution in the field of defense-grade steel. Its stellar track record includes provisioning the landmark indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, alongside the elite Project 17A stealth frigates-INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, and INS Udaygiri. Furthermore, SAIL’s specialized steel forms the backbone of formidable vessels like INS Ajay, INS Nistar, and INS Anjadeep among others. The successful induction of these advanced warships marks a defining milestone in India’s maritime capabilities and sovereignty.

SAIL CMD Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda said, “As a key partner in India’s defense sector, SAIL remains deeply committed to national self-reliance. To stay ahead in the defense sector’s growing needs, the company boosted its manufacturing capacity for DMR Grade plates -focusing heavily on the Special Plate Plant at the Rourkela Steel Plant. Delivering these high-strength DMR 249A steel plates protects India’s strategic independence while highlighting SAIL’s cutting-edge technical expertise.”

This was in recognition of the shipyard’s consistent financial and physical performance over the years.

GRSE’s financial performance over the last five years reflects its remarkable growth trajectory and operational excellence. The Company’s Revenue from Operations has grown from ₹1,754 crore in FY 2021-22 to ₹7,002 crore in FY 2025-26, registering an increase of nearly 300%. During the same period, Profit After Tax (PAT) has risen from ₹190 crore to ₹748 crore, reflecting a growth of nearly 294%.

A firm proponent of the Government ‘s Atmanirbharta and “Make in India” visions, the shipyard also delivered eight warships during the year, including three on the same day on March 30, 2026. These include P17A advanced guided-missile frigate Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, a Survey Vessel (Large) and Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft Agray.

Navratna status allows Public Sector Enterprises to make larger investments, enhancing their ability and expand operations.

The elevation to a Navratna status for GRSE comes at a time when the shipyard is in an expansion mode. It has embarked on a mission to increase capacity through both brownfield and greenfield projects.

Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, expressed his gratitude to the Government for being accorded this status and said, “The conferment of Navratna status is a defining moment in GRSE’s journey and a matter of immense pride for every member of the GRSE family. This recognition reflects the confidence reposed in us and acknowledges the dedication, commitment and professionalism of our employees, past and present. This elevation will further empower us to pursue strategic opportunities, enhance self-reliance in defence manufacturing, strengthen our global competitiveness and contribute meaningfully towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and India’s emergence as a leading maritime power by 2047.”

GRSE has several firsts to its name. In 1961, barely a year after being declared a Defence Public Sector Undertaking, the shipyard delivered the country’s first indigenous warship, INS Ajay, to the Navy. GRSE is also the proud builder of first ever Indian Export Warship, CGS Barracuda for Govt of Mauritius and also the first DPSU shipyard to be listed in the stock exchanges.

While GRSE has delivered over 800 marine platforms, the shipyard has also delivered the largest number of warships to the Navy, Coast Guard & friendly foreign nations. The figure stands at 118. Of these, 80 have been inducted into the Navy.

GRSE has also made strides in the field of commercial shipbuilding and has bagged export orders. It is now building 12 multi-purpose vessels for a German client, in keeping with India’s ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision, also foraying into green and autonomous vessels. GRSE is the only shipyard with specialisation in research ships, thereby contributing significantly to maritime sovereignty.

This ship is part of a larger government plan to build 11 advanced patrol vessels at shipyards in Goa and Kolkata to protect India’s waters. Once ready, Sanghmitra will be used for important missions like stopping sea pirates, monitoring coastlines, protecting offshore oil rigs, and helping with search and rescue operations during natural disasters. Defense officials highlighted that building this ship locally is a major success for India’s “Make in India” goals, proving that the nation is becoming completely self-reliant in manufacturing its own powerful military hardware.

The conference commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Sunil Mangla, Chair, Manufacturing Committee, PHDCCI, who highlighted that manufacturing remains one of the most important pillars of India’s economic transformation and contributes nearly 25 percent to the country’s GDP aspirations under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He stated that India today possesses strong capital availability, world-class infrastructure, and a young skilled workforce, placing the country in an ideal position to emerge as a leading global manufacturing destination. Emphasizing the importance of quality manufacturing, he noted that the world today is not only seeking low-cost products but low-cost quality products, making globally accepted testing and certification systems increasingly critical for Indian industries. He further highlighted the need for manufacturing hubs, integrated supply chains, and collaborative industrial ecosystems to improve productivity, quality control, and competitiveness.

The Chief Guest, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, while addressing the gathering said that India is entering a defining phase in its manufacturing journey and that building globally trusted manufacturing capabilities rooted in quality, innovation, safety, and sustainability will be crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. She emphasized that the future of Indian manufacturing lies not only in increasing production but also in integrating advanced technologies, smart manufacturing systems, and product lifecycle management to enhance global competitiveness. Stressing the importance of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and robust standards, she noted that regulations should act as catalysts for manufacturing excellence, consumer trust, and fair trade practices. She also urged industry stakeholders to actively participate in standards formulation to ensure they align with India’s unique industrial and climatic conditions. Highlighting ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s quality ecosystem, she shared that India is modernizing its testing infrastructure through faster methodologies, expanded laboratory networks, adoption of AI and robotics, and development of testing corridors to improve efficiency, scalability, and ease of access for industries. Citing sectors such as toys and footwear, she stated that quality-driven regulations have significantly boosted domestic manufacturing, exports, and the global acceptance of Indian products.

Mr. Anshuman Singhania, Co-Chair, Manufacturing Committee, PHDCCI, stated that quality and innovation will play a defining role in positioning India as a globally competitive manufacturing hub. He highlighted that customer-centricity, technological innovation, and sustainability have become essential pillars of modern manufacturing. Referring to advancements such as smart manufacturing systems and sensor-enabled technologies, he emphasized that Indian industry must adopt digital transformation, sustainability practices, and collaborative innovation to remain globally competitive. He further stressed that stronger partnerships between government, industry, academia, and technology institutions would be critical for accelerating manufacturing productivity and efficiency.

Speaking on the role of emerging technologies in reshaping industrial growth, Mr. Kunal Singhal, Co-Chair, Manufacturing Committee, PHDCCI, emphasized that AI is no longer a future concept but a present-day necessity capable of fundamentally transforming manufacturing efficiency, supply chains, and business competitiveness. Referring to ongoing global uncertainties and disruptions in supply chains, he highlighted the urgent need for India to technologically strengthen its manufacturing ecosystem and transition from serving domestic demand to becoming a major global supplier. He further stressed that India’s economic growth would accelerate through exports, innovation-led manufacturing, and the creation of entirely new industrial markets.

The conference also witnessed the launch of the knowledge report titled “India Manufacturing Imperative 2026-2035: Manufacturing Excellence – Building World-Class Manufacturing Capabilities for Tomorrow.” The report, prepared under the leadership of Ms. Satish Dev Jain, Chair of the Haryana Chapter, PHDCCI highlights India’s manufacturing aspirations, sustainability goals, industrial transformation priorities, policy recommendations, and strategic roadmap for strengthening global manufacturing competitiveness.

The inaugural session was further followed by technical sessions on Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Value Engineering and Digital Transformation in Manufacturing, which focused on discussions around evolving manufacturing practices, technology adoption, efficiency enhancement, and innovation in the sector.

The conference concluded with a strong call for deeper collaboration between government, industry, academia, and technology leaders to create a globally competitive, sustainable, innovation-driven, and quality-focused manufacturing ecosystem aligned with India’s vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047.

The conference was graced by Shri Bharat Khera, Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, as the Chief Guest, and Shri H.J.S. Pasricha, Scientist-G & Deputy Director General (Certification), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as Guest of Honour. Senior industry leaders including Shri Sunil Mangla (Chair), Shri Anshuman Singhania (Co-Chair) and Shri Prem Singhania (Co-Chair), PHDCCI Manufacturing Committee, along with policymakers, regulators, MSMEs, exporters, testing bodies and technical experts participated in the deliberations.

In his address, Shri Bharat Khera emphasised that the aspiration of Viksit Bharat 2047 cannot be realised through scale of production alone, but must be anchored in credibility, consistency and global trust in Indian products. He emphasized that quality is not a regulatory burden, but a strategic enabler facilitating market access, enhancing brand differentiation and embedding India firmly within global value chains. Highlighting the strategic importance of standardisation, Shri Khera noted that nearly 95 per cent of Indian Standards are harmonised with ISO and IEC benchmarks, with calibrated India-specific adaptations reflecting climatic, safety and contextual requirements. He also pointed out India’s growing leadership in sectors such as AYUSH, where the country is increasingly shaping international standards. Addressing industry concerns on regulatory implementation, Shri Khera stressed that Quality Control Orders (QCOs) must be phased, consultative and predictable, supported by adequate testing infrastructure and stakeholder preparedness. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting quality-compliant enterprises particularly MSMEs by ensuring a level playing field for both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Recognising MSMEs as the backbone of India’s manufacturing ecosystem, Shri Khera highlighted that over 80 per cent of BIS licensees out of more than 55,000 certifications belong to the MSME sector, reflecting voluntary industry alignment with quality norms. He detailed BIS-led facilitation measures including simplified certification procedures, cluster-based testing options, extensive hand-holding through branch offices, and significant fee concessions 80% for micro, 50% for small and 20% for medium enterprises, with proposals underway to extend these concessions beyond 2026.

Shri H.J.S. Pasricha elaborated on BIS’s role as India’s National Standards Body, with over 23,000 published standards across 17 sectors, developed through a robust ecosystem. He emphasized that standards are meaningful only when industry leads their conception, revision and adoption.

Shri Pasricha urged industry associations to institutionalise standardisation cells, enabling proactive identification of emerging standard needs and faster harmonisation with global benchmarks. He highlighted key reforms including free access to Indian Standards, digitised certification platforms, recognition of nearly 700 testing laboratories, flexibility in testing infrastructure (including shared and cluster labs), and simplified surveillance-based quality assurance models.

Shri Sunil Mangla, Chair, PHDCCI Manufacturing Committee, stated that India stands at a defining juncture where quality must evolve from a compliance obligation to an organisational culture. He stressed that government, regulators, BIS, testing bodies, industry and chambers are collective custodians of the national quality ecosystem, and called for expanded testing infrastructure, faster certification timelines and rationalised testing costs.

Shri Anshuman Singhania, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Manufacturing Committee highlighted that global manufacturing competitiveness today is driven by reliability, safety, sustainability and traceability, necessitating adoption of Industry 4.0 tools, digital quality management systems, AI and IoT. He emphasised that MSMEs must be enabled through capacity building and infrastructure access—to participate meaningfully in this transition.

Shri Prem Singhania Co-Chair, PHDCCI Manufacturing Committee observed that the conference decisively aligned policy intent with industry readiness, and set the foundation for sector-specific, outcome-oriented engagements going forward.

Dr. Nasir Jamal, Director, PHDCCI, while moderating the session, underscored that quality-led manufacturing is critical to India’s global competitiveness, export growth and value-chain upgradation. He noted that a sustained focus on quality enables India’s transition from low-cost production to high-value, innovation-driven manufacturing, strengthening Brand India. Dr. Jamal also highlighted PHDCCI’s continued engagement with multiple ministries to promote quality frameworks, including initiatives on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), reaffirming the Chamber’s commitment to supporting industry particularly MSMEs and startups in aligning with global standards.

The conference concluded with a shared consensus that quality is a national strategic asset, integral to exports, consumer trust, sustainability and India’s global reputation. PHDCCI reaffirmed its commitment to act as a knowledge bridge, consensus builder and industry enabler, working closely with the Government of India, BIS and industry stakeholders to translate the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision into a resilient, quality-driven manufacturing reality.