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President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday called for constant defence technology upgrades for India to maintain an edge in military capability over its adversaries.
Mukherjee made the call to young military technocrats while telling them to harness the latest defence technologies and ensure that the Indian Army benefits from these.
"The nation will look upon you to define and modify the way the defence forces operate, by using technological advances to provide a comparative edge over our adversaries," he said, adding that technology has a decisive role on the outcome of armed conflicts.
The President was delivering the address at the convocation ceremony of 96th Degree Engineering and 24th Technical Entry Scheme courses, at Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) at Secunderabad.
The history of warfare bears testimony to the decisive role of technology on the outcome of military conflicts, Mukherjee said, adding that to maintain an edge in military capability over potential opponents, constant efforts are required to upgrade technology.
Armed forces and technology have been strategic partners, in developing and enhancing defence capability of the nation, he said.
The President said as young technocrats, it is the responsibility of the graduating officers to adapt to the latest technological developments for use by the defence forces.
Observing that the Indian Army has been a torch-bearer of many non-military innovations, he said military technology has benefited civil society immensely.
Stressing that knowledge is the ultimate power, he said the knowledge and enthusiasm of the young officers would lead to creative ideas and innovations.
"Your passion to accept and overcome challenges would empower you to achieve both national and organisational goals," he said.
"The MPEME is a unique institution which empowers the human resource of the institution with highest levels of skills in technology management," he said.
The President said that knowledge is emerging as the currency of the world in the present century, and termed the change being driven by path-breaking research as both exhilarating and mesmerising.
Technology is undergoing a constant change with new concepts being introduced, he said.
"You live in an era where the pace of technological transition is so fast, that even as I speak, new concepts are being introduced, established paradigms are being redefined and research is always opening new vistas.
"The change being driven by path-breaking research is both exhilarating and mesmerising. Your challenge would be to harness the latest defence technologies and ensure that the Indian Army benefits from these.
"Knowledge, which is the ultimate power, is emerging as the currency of the world in the present century. Your knowledge and enthusiasm will lead you to creative ideas and innovations, which will impact and improve the existing methods and systems," the President told his young audience.