The current geopolitical scenario in India dictates that security is no longer confined to soldiers on borders or satellites circling overhead.

It now involves predictive algorithms, 3D printers shaping rocket engines, drones navigating treacherous landscapes during disasters, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Through the Viksit Bharat mission, India has placed Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) at the heart of its developmental journey, and frontier technologies are proving to be the bedrock of that vision.

Frontier technologies are quietly shaping a new ecosystem of security and preparedness. Improving policing with AI, using 3D printing for rockets, and leveraging drones for disaster relief may sound unrelated, but they converge towards a common goal — making India stronger, safer, and more self-reliant. 

For decades, India’s space programme was synonymous with ISRO — marked by pathbreaking achievements, yet constrained by high costs, long development cycles, and reliance on imported technologies. Today, private players are complementing ISRO’s legacy by introducing speed, flexibility, and new design philosophies.

One of the most striking examples is Agnikul Cosmos, a startup that has pioneered 3D-printed rocket engines in India.

Their launch vehicle, Agnibaan, is a modular rocket designed to deploy payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg into low Earth orbit, enabling small satellites for remote sensing, communications, and experimental in-orbit research.

At the core........

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