New Delhi: In a move that quietly but firmly reinforces India’s self-reliance push, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Directorate General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers formalised a strategic partnership on 23 January 2026. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Dr Rajneesh from the Ministry of MSME and Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni, Director General EME.
At its core, the agreement connects two vast technical ecosystems. On one side are eight Army Base Workshops and fourteen Corps Zone Workshops functioning under DG EME’s technical control. On the other are thirty-three Technology Centres operating under the Ministry of MSME. The intent is clear: pool infrastructure, expertise and institutional strength to address real-world manufacturing and maintenance challenges.
The cooperation will extend into advanced and emerging domains — Advanced Multi-Axis Machining, Additive Manufacturing or 3D Printing, Drone Technology, Industrial Internet of Things, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Digital Twins for training and simulation, as well as Cloud Computing and 5G-enabled analytics. These are not abstract ideas on paper; they are technologies increasingly central to modern defence preparedness and industrial competitiveness.
Beyond technology exchange, the MoU provides for joint research, education, training programmes, capacity building initiatives and equipment development in areas of national importance. The emphasis is on sustainable, adaptable technical solutions — whether in frontier technologies or in strengthening core maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities.
By bringing Army workshops and MSME Technology Centres into structured collaboration, the partnership aims to accelerate indigenisation, enhance skill depth and foster innovation within the defence manufacturing ecosystem. It reflects a broader national direction: reduce import dependence, empower domestic industry — particularly MSMEs — and build a resilient, future-ready defence base anchored in Indian design and production.
