DRDO marks 68th Foundation Day; record ₹1.30 lakh crore of AoNs for DRDO systems in 2025
On its 68th Foundation Day on 1 January 2026, DRDO said 22 Acceptances of Necessity worth about ₹1.30 lakh crore were accorded in 2025 for DRDO-developed systems to be made by Indian industry, the highest in any single year.
Summary
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 68th Foundation Day on 1 January 2026, when Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth visited DRDO Headquarters to review its achievements. DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V. Kamat said 22 Acceptances of Necessity (AoN) worth about ₹1.30 lakh crore were accorded in 2025 by the Defence Acquisition Council and Services Procurement Board for DRDO systems to be manufactured by Indian industry, the highest in any single year. Kamat added that 11 contracts worth ₹26,000 crore were signed with DRDO production partners, and that AoNs covered systems such as the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System and the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System 'Anant Shastra'.
Key facts
- Occasion
- 68th Foundation Day, 1 January 2026
- Visit
- Rajnath Singh and Sanjay Seth at DRDO HQ
- Chairman
- Dr Samir V. Kamat
- AoNs in 2025
- 22, worth ~₹1.30 lakh crore — highest in a single year
- Contracts
- 11 worth ₹26,000 crore with production partners
- Systems
- IADWS; QRSAM 'Anant Shastra'; LRASSCM; IDDIS Mk II
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to DRDO on its 68th Foundation Day, what was the approximate value of Acceptances of Necessity accorded in 2025 for DRDO-developed systems?
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Correct answer: D — ₹1.30 lakh crore
PIB (MoD): 22 AoNs worth approximately ₹1.30 lakh crore were accorded in 2025, the highest in any single year; ₹26,000 crore was the value of 11 contracts signed.
'Anant Shastra', mentioned by DRDO in January 2026 among systems accorded AoN, is the name of which system?
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Correct answer: A — Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System
PIB (MoD): the AoNs include the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System 'Anant Shastra'.
Who is the Chairman of DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, who addressed DRDO staff on its 68th Foundation Day?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Dr Samir V. Kamat
PIB (MoD): Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V. Kamat addressed DRDO staff.