On its 75th Foundation Day, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur inaugurated the Manekshaw Centre of Excellence for National Security Studies and Research on August 18, a landmark initiative to strengthen indigenous defence innovation and national security. The centre was inaugurated jointly by Lt Gen (Dr.) Subrata Saha, Executive Chairman of the Centre, and IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty.
The Manekshaw Centre will function as a single window of communication between academia and the Armed Forces, and will work with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), startups, and industry partners to accelerate research into deployable defence technologies.
“The partnership between academia, industry, and the armed forces will ensure that we can win Indian wars with Indian solutions,” said Lt General Saha who conceived the project along with IIT Kharagpur alumnus Prof Sukumar Nandi.
The Manekshaw Centre brings together premier institutions, including IITs, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and National Institute of Technology (NITs), on a common platform to advance academic and research collaborations in defence technology.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Lt Gen Saha said, “Emerging technologies like AI, cyber, autonomous systems, and space technologies are altering the character of warfare. Developing future technologies at the pace of this change requires collaborative national effort – bringing energy and expertise in imagination, innovation, technology, and manufacturing.”
The centre will also design specialised courses in next-generation warfare and emerging technologies, and host “Dialogue Series” to bridge the gap between futuristic technologies and the changing nature of warfare.
The initiative has received the backing from IIT and IISc leadership and has been taken forward under the patronage of the Union Education Ministry. It aligns closely with the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the field of defence and security.
Prof Chakraborty noted that IIT Kharagpur will play a leadership role in spearheading research on healthcare technologies, hardware security, advanced batteries, Artificial Intelligence in defence, and entrepreneurship development.
He said the inauguration of the Manekshaw Centre marks a transformative step toward building a self-reliant ecosystem for defence and national security research in India. “Through this centre, we reaffirm our commitment to realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by empowering Indian solutions for Indian challenges.”
According to Lt Gen Saha, IIT Kharagpur, with the support of Manekshaw Centre is poised to become a critical node in India’s defence preparedness.