Punjab Governor calls for indigenous defence production and tech self-reliance
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria highlighted security challenges including drug and arms trafficking at the 10th Military Literature Festival.
Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday emphasised the need for domestic defence manufacturing and technological independence. Speaking at the opening of the 10th Military Literature Festival (MLF) in Chandigarh, the Governor, who is also the Union Territory Chandigarh administrator, noted that warfare is changing due to drones and artificial intelligence (AI).
According to ThePrint, Kataria also identified drug and arms trafficking as major security threats. He described these issues as having wider implications for asymmetric warfare and noted the need to confront international networks sustaining the drug menace in Punjab.
Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari addressed the gathering, noting four dimensions of the changing global security environment. These include the rise of drone warfare, lessons from the Russia-Ukraine and US-Iran conflicts, the importance of dual-use frontier technologies, and the growing defence expenditure gap between global powers.
The festival included sessions on the Iran-Israel conflict and the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief A S Dulat spoke on the importance of political engagement and rebuilding trust in Kashmir.
The three-day event also featured a book and magazine release. The festival includes weapons displays, exhibitions, and deliberations on global geopolitics and India's defence preparedness.
