HEC revival and defence self-reliance dominate East Tech Symposium in Ranchi

The spotlight at the East Tech Symposium-2025 in Ranchi fell on the Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC), with Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressing concern over its decline and urging its revival as part of India’s push for defence self-reliance.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day defence expo at Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, he recalled HEC’s past contributions in satellites and nuclear components and said it was painful to see the institution struggling today.

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The Chief Minister stressed that stronger coordination between the state and the Centre was essential to revive industrial institutions like HEC and to expand defence-linked manufacturing. “If both governments work in tandem, new dimensions can be added to defence industries. Jharkhand will extend full cooperation to the Centre in making India self-reliant in this sector,” he said.

Highlighting the state’s potential as a defence manufacturing hub, Hemant Soren said Jharkhand has supplied much to the nation, from minerals like uranium to industrial capacity. “This state is rich in raw material used in the defence sector and has a legacy of major industries. With better policy direction, we can once again strengthen our industrial base,” he added.

The event saw the presence of Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Eastern Command chief Lt. Gen. Ramchandra Tiwari, and senior officials of the defence establishment, underlining the significance of the symposium.

Much of the discussion centred on the role of MSMEs in defence manufacturing and the scope for local enterprises to link with national supply chains. The Chief Minister said MSMEs in Jharkhand could benefit from the defence sector’s expansion and pledged government support for their growth.

For Ranchi, hosting the East Tech Symposium was itself a landmark moment. The Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, a venue more often associated with sports, became the stage for one of the most high-profile defence events in eastern India.

The symposium also showcased indigenous defence technologies, with experts, industrial bodies, technical institutions, and MSME representatives from across the country participating. The Indian Army’s Eastern Command emphasised that the event was not only a platform to display capabilities but also to explore partnerships with industries in the eastern region.