VCOS Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh (M)at Inno Yoddha 2025.
Indian Army Inno-Yoddha 2025: New Delhi, India – December 5, 2025: In a landmark event that underscored the Indian Army’s commitment to innovation and self-reliance, the Army held its annual Idea & Innovation Competition and Seminar, Inno-Yoddha 2025, at the prestigious Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The competition, a key part of the Army’s strategy to empower its personnel and boost operational effectiveness, was attended by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), and a host of senior officials.
Now in its fifth year, Inno-Yoddha has emerged as the Indian Army’s flagship platform for identifying, nurturing, and scaling in-house innovations aimed at addressing critical capability gaps across its operational, logistics, and training domains. The competition offers a unique opportunity for soldiers—those who experience the challenges of the battlefield firsthand—to conceptualise and develop practical solutions tailored to real-world needs. These soldier-driven innovations play a vital role in enhancing the Army’s adaptability and operational efficiency, particularly in challenging environments characterised by extreme weather, rugged terrains, and evolving threats.
Soldier-Driven Solutions: Harnessing Ingenuity at the Grassroots
The Inno-Yoddha platform celebrates the Indian Army‘s culture of innovation, where the most effective solutions often come from the troops directly engaged in operations. Over the years, the competition has become a driving force behind the Army’s modernisation, creating a continuous feedback loop between soldiers in the field and the forces that shape the Army’s capabilities.
Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh, VCOAS, expressed his admiration for the soldiers’ ingenuity, saying, “The soldiers on the ground understand the battlefield better than anyone else. The innovations we are witnessing today reflect their unparalleled experience, technical proficiency, and ability to find imaginative solutions to complex problems. These ideas are born from real-world challenges, and they address specific needs that only someone with operational experience can truly understand.”
In Inno-Yoddha 2025, a record 89 innovations were submitted from across various arms and services of the Indian Army. After an exhaustive evaluation process, 32 projects were selected for further development. These innovations, ranging from cutting-edge equipment to tactical solutions, were celebrated and showcased by the VCOAS, who personally interacted with the innovators and commended their contributions.
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VCOS Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh (M)at Inno Yoddha 2025.
Key Innovations and Technological Advancements
Among the standout innovations presented at the event were products that aim to revolutionise several key operational areas within the Army, such as defence technologies, logistical support, and soldier training. Here are some notable examples:
Exploder (FC Tech) – A groundbreaking solution in explosive device detection, enhancing operational safety for soldiers during conflict zones.
Agniastra (Red Kite Digital Tech) – A smart system designed to improve precision in artillery fire, ensuring more accurate and effective strikes in hostile environments.
Vidyut Rakshak (IS Trading Co) – A portable power management system that ensures critical communication and weapon systems remain operational in extreme conditions.
Baaz Attack Drone – A high-tech, autonomous drone designed for rapid reconnaissance and attack missions, providing an edge in both offensive and defensive operations.
Multi-Purpose Octacopter – A versatile aerial platform capable of performing multiple roles, including surveillance, logistics, and support in disaster-stricken areas.
These innovative solutions are poised to significantly enhance the Indian Army’s operational capabilities, with many of them set for future field deployment. The Army’s focus on harnessing cutting-edge technologies like drones, portable power systems, and precision targeting tools reflects its commitment to staying ahead of emerging threats while embracing the potential of indigenous solutions.
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From Concept to Deployment: The Journey of Innovation
The process of transforming these ideas into field-ready products is a rigorous and systematic one. Following the competition, the 32 selected innovations will undergo further refinement and upscaling, with the Indian Army and DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) playing key roles in testing and optimising the technologies for deployment. Additionally, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) will be filed to protect the innovations, and upon successful ruggedisation, the technologies may be transferred to the industry for mass production. This transition from concept to mass production is crucial for ensuring the widespread adoption of these innovations within the Army.
“Empowering our soldiers to be the architects of their solutions is central to the future of the Indian Army,” said Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh. “These innovations are not just about introducing new technologies—they represent the essence of a culture of problem-solving, agility, and adaptability. By transitioning these ideas into scalable solutions, we are ensuring that our troops have the best tools available to them in the field, designed by those who understand the demands of combat better than anyone else.”
The innovations presented during Inno-Yoddha 2025 are a testament to the Indian Army’s growing emphasis on indigenisation and self-reliance. As part of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, the Army has been working to reduce its dependency on foreign imports, and this competition exemplifies that commitment.
A Legacy of Success: Inno-Yoddha’s Impact
Since its inception, Inno-Yoddha has played an instrumental role in transforming the Indian Army’s innovation landscape. Over the past five years, the competition has seen:
117 ideas and innovations selected for further development.
47 products successfully commercialised, with nine more currently undergoing prototype evaluation.
30 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) filed.
Transfer of Technology (ToT) to the industry for five key innovations.
This track record underscores the success of the initiative and its pivotal role in strengthening the Indian Army’s technological capabilities.
Looking Ahead: Empowering the Future of Defence Innovation
As the Indian Army moves forward in its journey of modernisation, Inno-Yoddha serves as a critical tool in ensuring that soldier-driven solutions remain at the core of its transformation. The competition has also proven instrumental in identifying and nurturing talent within the Army, providing a platform for soldiers to demonstrate their ingenuity and contribute to the nation’s defence needs.
The 2025 edition of Inno-Yoddha has set a new benchmark in terms of the volume and quality of innovations submitted, as well as the speed with which they are being moved towards deployment. As India continues to accelerate its efforts towards becoming a global leader in defence innovation, Inno-Yoddha is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Indian Army—one that is technologically empowered, future-ready, and operationally decisive.
By fostering an ecosystem of creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge solutions, the Indian Army is ensuring that it remains a formidable force in an increasingly complex and fast-evolving global security environment. With initiatives like Inno-Yoddha, the Indian Army is not just responding to today’s challenges; it is proactively shaping the future of defence, one innovation at a time.
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