India has started building indigenous computing systems in defence sector: Dr Vijay Saraswat

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat is a Member of NITI Aayog and Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University said that the defence sector where India has started building indigenous computing systems and microprocessors and ventured towards more advanced technologies like Super Computers and AI-based Computing.

On the occasion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s 90th Birth Anniversary the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis of IIM Shillong hosted Dr Saraswat as Guest Speaker for an interactive talk session with the students of IIM Shillong.

He shared the dream that Dr Kalam saw for India – Vision 2020 and prodded the thought of students to the question, “Have we achieved this dream?”. He highlighted Dr Kalam’s concerns about India’s deteriorating value system and reminded them of his oath “I will succeed with integrity and honesty in my life.”


In light of the upcoming ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav,’ he shared his decade-old conversation with Dr Kalam about making India self-reliant and how he sees that dream unfolding in present India. He pointed out the five crucial pillars for the emergence of self-reliant India: economy, infrastructure, system, demography, and demand. He pointed out how the increase in FDI limit for the defence sector, to 74% from 49%, will benefit India.

Dr Saraswat cited examples from the defence sector where India has started building indigenous computing systems and microprocessors and ventured towards more advanced technologies like Super Computers and AI-based Computing.

Dr Saraswat also talked about the perils of the pandemic and the government’s structured approach in achieving a V shape recovery with timely lockdowns. He spoke on the robustness and reliability of the system that maintained minimum losses and provided support for daily wage workers, farmers, and other highly affected sections of society. He praised the collaboration between the Ministry, Educational Institutes, and corporates to conduct successful vaccination programs across India.

He summarized his thoughts by saying, “India at 75 has a 360-degree growth where it possesses all the ingredients and potential required to become a leader in the world.”