The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on January 7, 2026, marking decades of scientific excellence in India's defence sector. On this occasion, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved 22 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) proposals worth approximately ₹1.30 lakh crore, reinforcing India's commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The DAC's sweeping approvals spanned multiple domains including land systems, naval platforms, aerospace equipment, and electronic warfare systems. The 22 AoN proposals represent a significant leap in India's Atmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative, with the majority of items to be procured under the "Buy Indian" or "Buy and Make Indian" categories, ensuring maximum indigenous value addition.
In addition to the AoN approvals, 11 defence contracts worth ₹26,000 crore were signed during the Foundation Day celebrations. These contracts cover critical defence equipment such as advanced armoured vehicles, naval ammunition, and surveillance systems to be developed by Indian public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private industry partners.
DRDO, established on January 1, 1958, has grown into a network of more than 50 laboratories spread across India, employing over 5,000 scientists. Over 68 years, DRDO has delivered landmark systems including the Agni missile series, the LCA Tejas fighter aircraft, the Arjun main battle tank, and the Aakash air defence system. The 68th Foundation Day underscores DRDO's evolving role from a research organisation to a key enabler of defence industrialisation in India.