Mech Tech Seminar 2.0, the second edition of the Indian Army's technology seminar for its mechanised forces, will focus on making combat platforms already in service more effective, more lethal and more survivable. Western Command and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) unveiled the plan at a curtain raiser at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The theme for this edition is Transforming Existing Platforms for Future Combat. The main seminar will be held at Chandimandir Military Station on December 14 and 15.

Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command, said the battlefield was changing fast with better drones, Artificial Intelligence and precision weapons. "To stay ahead, we must not only develop new capabilities but also find smarter ways to make our existing military platforms more effective, more lethal and more survivable," he said.

"This is precisely the thinking behind MECH TECH Seminar 2.0," the Army Commander added.

Mech Tech Seminar 2.0 starts from problems soldiers face on the ground

The Army Commander described the method as a bottom-up approach. Instead of first scanning what technology is available in the market, Western Command began with the difficulties troops actually face in the field. "What are the actual challenges our soldiers face on the ground, and how can technology help overcome them?" he said, setting out the question the Command started with.

These were turned into Problem Definition Statements and shared with industry, startups and academia, the Army Commander said.

"We are looking for practical, affordable and innovative solutions for the problem statements. Today's Curtain Raiser marks the beginning of this engagement," Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh said.

Main seminar set for Chandimandir on December 14 and 15

The armed forces, industry and academia will meet again at Chandimandir to exchange ideas and show technologies.

The Army Commander said the initiative was about meeting real battlefield needs with niche technological solutions. He added that it would raise combat effectiveness, build a stronger defence innovation ecosystem and give greater momentum to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

First Mech Tech seminar was held at Chandimandir in March 2025

The first edition was held at Chandimandir Military Station on March 3 and 4, 2025, also in partnership with SIDM. Its theme was the Future Landscape of Mechanised Warfare and Infusion of Niche Technology. It was inaugurated by General NS Raja Subramani, now the Chief of Defence Staff, who was then a Lieutenant General serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff. A compendium titled Niche Technology in Mechanised Platforms Worldwide was released at the event.

Discussions there covered ways to make existing mechanised platforms more battle worthy in mobility, firepower and survivability.

An exhibition ran alongside. Defence firms, research organisations and startups showed solutions for combat vehicles, sensor-based warfare and digitised command and control systems. Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, then GOC-in-C Western Command, said at the time that a large number of new weapons were being inducted, and that there was also wide scope to add technology to systems already in service.

"Building on that initiative, we are now taking a more focused and practical approach," Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh said on Monday. "Our objective is to harness the best of Indian technology and innovation to give our existing combat platforms a decisive edge on the future battlefield."

Western Command has pushed drones and niche technology since April

Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh took over Western Command on April 1, 2026, after serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar. An officer of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), he was commissioned into its 4th Battalion in December 1987. He took part in Operation Pawan and has served several counter-insurgency tenures along the Line of Control and the International Boundary.

On taking over, he set out a focus on multi-domain operations and the induction of niche technologies, including drones and counter-drone systems.

That focus has shown up at formation level. In August, the Western Command innovations competition hosted by Vajra Corps put 54 indigenous entries on display, covering unmanned aircraft, counter-drone systems, AI-enabled analytics and autonomous systems. Drones were also laid out among the equipment honoured when the Army Commander led the Dussehra Shastra Pujan with troops in the Jammu Sector last week.

SIDM brings public and private defence manufacturers to the table

Monday was a busy day for industry outreach at the Manekshaw Centre, which is also hosting the Indian Navy's Swavlamban 2026 seminar on October 26 and 27.

SIDM, the industry partner for both editions of Mech Tech, is the not-for-profit apex body of the Indian defence industry and works under the Confederation of Indian Industry. SIDM represents manufacturers from both the public and private sectors, and the Problem Definition Statements for Mech Tech Seminar 2.0 have gone to industry leaders, startups and academic institutions.