DRDO laser system scans sky for drones as PM harps on `Make in India’

The anti-drone system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) can detect and jam micro drones up to 3 km range and bring down a target up to 1-2.5 km using laser beams depending on the wattage of laser weapon, officials said.

It can be an effective counter to increased drone-based activity in the western and northern sectors of the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He said that it was an occasion to remember freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country.

"The sacrifice and the resolve to free the country of lakhs of sons and daughters of Maa Bharati is the reason for us being able to breathe in independent India today. This is a day to remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. This is also a day to show gratitude to security personnel including that of Army, paramilitary and police ensuring our safety," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also remembered freedom fighter and spiritual guru Sri Aurbindo (Arvind Ghosh), on his birth anniversary.

He referred to the restrictions due to COVID-19 and said that children, the future of the country, were not at present at the celebrations and also recalled the tireless contributions of corona warriors.

PM Modi highlighted the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “Make in India” and “Make for World” should be the mantra he said. 

The prime minister also talked about various issues ranging from management of the Covid-19 pandemic, measures to boost domestic manufacturing as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and steps to revive the economy with a focus on middle class people.

PM Modi reiterated the importance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and assured full support to fellow Indians during the need of the hour. “Becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant)’ is mandatory. I am confident that India will realise this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest until we achieve that goal,” he said.

He said the government is prioritising on improving the overall infrastructure for faster development with the help of National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) project and announced that over Rs110 lakh crore would be invested in the NIP. For this, the prime minister said that more than 7,000 projects have been identified across various sectors. National Infrastructure Pipeline Project will play a crucial role in pulling the country out of impact of Covid 19. NIP is a project that will revolutionise India’s infra creation efforts. Many new jobs will be created, our farmers, youngsters, entrepreneurs will benefit, he said.

The prime minister emphasised  that along with Make in India, “we have to move forward with the mantra of `Make for World’ as well.

He said the whole world has been noticing the reforms being pursued in India. As a result, FDI inflow has broken all records. India witnessed 18 per cent jump in FDI even during the Covid pandemic.

Who could have imagined that lakhs of crores of rupees would be directly transferred in the Jan Dhan accounts of the poor in the country? Who could have thought that such a big change would happen in the APMC Act for the benefit of farmers? One Nation-One Ration Card, One Nation - One Tax, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and merger of banks form the reality of the country today, the prime minister stated.

Recounting his government’s achievements, the prime minister said 70 million poor families were given free gas cylinders, while more than 800million people were provided free food with or without ration cards and about 90,000 crore has been directly transferred to bank accounts. The Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan has also been started to provide employment to poor in their villages, he added.

This is also the first time when the EMI of a home loan for your home is getting a rebate of up to Rs6 lakh during the payment period. Just last year, a fund of Rs25,000 crore has been established to complete thousands of incomplete houses, the prime minister said in his address to the nation.

He said that of the 400 million Jan Dhan accounts opened in the country, about 220 million accounts are of women only. At the time of Corona, in April-May-June, about Rs30,000 crore have been directly transferred to the accounts of women in these three months. In Corona times, we have seen what the role of Digital India campaign has been. Just last month, almost Rs3 lakh crore have been transacted from BHIM UPI alone, he said.