Kolkata: At the 75th Foundation Day of IIT Kharagpur, speakers stressed the need for India to reduce dependence on imports in critical sectors such as energy, semiconductors and defence to stay competitive in a technology-driven world.

They highlighted that modern warfare is shifting from conventional battles to digital domains, where algorithms and data dominate. Heavy reliance on imported semiconductors, oil and defence systems could pose strategic vulnerabilities, they said.

Educational institutions were urged to move at the speed of technological change and foster research in advanced fields such as robotics, AI and biotechnology. Industry was called upon to share responsibility for innovation, complementing public institutions like ISRO, DRDO and ICMR that have laid the foundation of India's progress.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the chief guest, lauded IIT Kharagpur's role in innovation and start-up promotion. He noted that India's rank in the Global Innovation Index has improved from 81 in 2015 to 40, citing initiatives like Swayam and Deekshak for expanding digital learning access.