Idex and defence india start up challenge
What is the news :
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched ‘Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Prime’ and the 6th Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC 6) during the DefConnect 2.0 in New The iDEX-Prime, aims to support defence projects that require support beyond Rs.1.5 crore and up to Rs.10 crore.
- Rajnath Singh also launched the ‘DISC 6 with 38 Problem Statements’, with the problem statements relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Advanced Imaging, Sensor Systems, Big Data Analytics and Autonomous Unmanned Systems and Secured Communication, among others.
- While previous editions of the DISC witnessed the participation of only the Army, Navy, Air Force and some defence public sector undertakings, DISC 6 saw for the first time the involvement of the seven newly formed defence companies, the Coast Guard and organisations under the Home Ministry.
ABOUT IDEX
- The iDEX, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, essentially provides a unified platform for various stakeholders in the defence and aerospace sectors.
- It acts like an umbrella organisation to oversee technology development and potential collaborations in this specific field.
- One of the first aims of India as a nation since Independence has been to achieve self – reliance in the field of defence and defence production.
- India is the world’s largest defence equipment importer and is expected to spend around USD 220 Billion in the coming decade to modernize its armed forces.
- In the recent years, the government of India has initiated various schemes like Make In India, Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), etc. to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the Indian commercial ecosystem.
- This has also made increasingly evident that achieving the goal of self – sufficiency for the Indian military will require a means to incorporate innovation rapidly in the weapons procurement process.
- Ministry of Defence aims to create an ecosystem which fosters innovation and encourages technology development in Defence by engaging R&D institutes, academia, industries, start- ups and even individual innovators.
Core objectives of IDEX
- To create ‘corporate Venture Capital’ models for Indian Defence needs, which would identify emerging technologies, connect innovators to military units, facilitate co-creation of new and appropriate technologies, and create pathways for incorporation of cutting edge technologies into weapon systems used by Armed Services.
- To transform defence innovation in India with the ultimate goal of delivering military-grade products that solve the critical needs of the Indian defence set-up by developing or applying advanced technologies.
- To create a culture of innovation in Indian defence & Aerospace by engaging startups and innovators through encouraging co-creation & co innovation.
Focus of IDEX:
The program focuses on facilitation for creating of prototypes and bringing of products/technologies to market (Defence or otherwise), applicants will be encouraged to spend on:
- Research & Development
- Prototyping
- Pilot Implementation
- Market Assessment
How IDEX works :
- iDEX-DIO has launches of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) with problem statements from Armed Forces, DPSUs & OFB.
- After rigorous evaluation of the applications winners are identified. Winner start-ups/ individuals receive innovation grants in technological areas through the Prototype funding guidelines called “Support for Prototype and Research Kickstart” (SPARK), which entail provisioning of grants upto Rs 1.5 crore to the Startups on the basis of milestones through multiple tranches, for prototype development.
About DefConnect 2.0
- It is a one-day event to bring together start-ups, big companies and armed forces personnel to boost indigenous innovation in the defence sector.
- The event will attract a large number of innovators and investors from the country’s leading industries in the defence sector.
- It will provide a unique opportunity for innovators associated with iDEX-DIO to showcase their capabilities, products and state-of-the-art-technologies to the target audience of the industry leaders.
Recent news related to defence ministry :
Launch of sixth scorpene submarine ‘vagsheer’ at mazagon dock limited (mdl), Mumbai
- The sixth Scorpene class submarine,INS Vagsheer, constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched in Mumbai. INS Vagsheer will now undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before it is commissioned into the Navy.
- These submarines are being constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with Naval Group, France.
Government appoints Lt Gen Manoj C Pande as next Chief of Army Staff
- Government has appointed Lt Gen Manoj C Pande, presently Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff with effect from the afternoon of April 30, 2022. Born on May 06, 1962, Lt Gen Manoj C Pande was commissioned on December 24, 1982 in the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) of the Indian Army.
Second successful high-altitude flight-test of Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’
- As part of the ongoing user validation trials, indigenously-developed Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was again successfully flight-tested from Advanced Light Helicopter on April 12, 2022. Teams of Indian Air Force and Indian Army, along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted the trial at the high altitude range. This is the second successful flight-test in successive days.
About Indian army :
- The Indian Armyis the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces.
- The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army,and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general.
- Founded – 26 January 1950
- Chief of the army staff – General Manoj Mukund Naravane
- Vice chief of the army staff – Lieutenant General Manoj Pande
About Indian armed forces :
- The Indian Armed Forcesare the military forces of the Republic of India.
- It consists of three professional uniformed services:
- The Indian Army.
- Indian Navy.
- Indian Air Force.
- Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces are supported by the Central Armed Police Forces,,Indian Coast Guard and Special Frontier Force and various inter-service commands and institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command, the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Integrated Defence Staff.
- The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces but the executive authority and responsibility for national security is vested in the Prime Minister of India and their chosen Cabinet Ministers.
| Supreme Commander | President Ram Nath Kovind |
| Minister of Defence | Rajnath Singh |
| Defence Secretary | Ajay Kumar, IAS |
| Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | General Manoj Mukund Naravane |
| Chief of Defence Staff | Vacant |
Indian navy :
Founded – 26 January 1950
| Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) | Admiral R. Hari Kumar. |
| Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) | Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade. |
| Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) | Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh. |
Indian air force :
Founded – 26 January 1950
| Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) | Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. |
| Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) | Air Marshal Sandeep Singh. |
| Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) | Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari |