Indian Navy to host Swavlamban 2026 innovation seminar

The Indian Navy will host the fifth edition of its Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, Swavlamban 2026, in New Delhi on October 26–27. Held at the Manekshaw Centre under the theme ‘Strength & Power through Innovation and Indigenisation’, the event aims to bridge the gap between technological concepts and operational deployment for the armed forces.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to attend the plenary session as the chief guest. The seminar is organized by the Navy in collaboration with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). It will bring together military personnel, the defence industry, start-ups, MSMEs, academia, and investors to focus on advancing ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence.

Key areas of discussion and exhibition include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, autonomous systems, hypersonic technologies, and counter-unmanned aerial systems (Counter-UAS). The event will also feature an exhibition with over 100 stalls showcasing indigenous solutions in maritime surveillance, nuclear, biological, and chemical defence (NBCD), and operational safety. Three strategic documents are expected to be released: the Swavlamban 5.0 document, the Compendium on Technology Imperatives, and the Naval Unified Systems, Ethernet and Tactical Utilization (Nausetu) Interface Standards.