IIT Delhi Open House 2026: DRDO chief says technology, not tanks, will decide future wars
By TUF News Desk · Published 31 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi opened its gates to outsiders on October 31, and the message from the stage was blunt. A country’s strength will soon be counted in its technology and ideas, not in its tanks and missiles.
That was the argument from Dr Binay Kumar Das, Director General of Electronics and Communication Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who was chief guest at the institute’s 19th Open House at its Hauz Khas campus. IIT Delhi had announced his visit in a circular on October 26.
“The nation that secures an edge in these domains will lead the world,” Das said at the inauguration, adding that India has the potential to become the world’s innovation capital. He put a number on why he thinks so: about 65 percent of India’s population is under 35, which he called the country’s greatest strength.
His advice to the students in the audience was direct. Young people should look beyond landing a job and instead use new ideas, technology and research to solve the country’s problems. He also said no single institution can do this alone, and called for joint work among educational institutions, industries, DRDO, ISRO, startups and innovation centres. He said he was confident India could reach the top position in the Global Innovation Index.
A day inside the labs
The Open House is IIT Delhi’s annual chance for students, teachers, academics and industry professionals to walk through its laboratories and see research up close. Registration ran from 8 am to 9 am at Dogra Hall, followed by the inauguration by the institute director at 9:30 am.
Das spoke first, in a session titled “Young Minds, Strong Nation”, from 9:35 am to 10:05 am. Two faculty talks followed in Dogra Hall: Professor Chetan Arora on strategies for impactful AI research with modest computing resources, and Professor Kedar Khare on a computational camera that can see wider and deeper.
The main part of the day ran from 11 am to 3:30 pm, when exhibits, demonstrations and laboratory sessions were spread across thematic locations, the Lecture Hall Complex and academic units. Three-minute research talks were scheduled from 1:30 pm to 3 pm in the Lecture Hall Complex, and the closing ceremony and awards ran from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm back at Dogra Hall.
Ten sectors on display
The 2026 edition covered ten sectors. Robotics, artificial intelligence, defence technology, space and healthcare were among them, along with quantum technologies, climate research, rural development and advanced materials. The programme also included demonstrations of glass blowing, glass moulding and robotics.
Professor Ashwini Agrawal, Dean of Research and Development at IIT Delhi, said the event exists to put the institute’s research and technological work before a wider audience. He said IIT Delhi carries a responsibility to develop technologies that serve both society and the country.
Agrawal also pointed visitors to a new website called Research Ambit, which IIT Delhi has launched to make its research work accessible to the public and to carry information about faculty members.
Our guide to choosing a university in India sets out what to compare before picking an institute. The full programme and visitor details remain on the official Open House website.
Frequently asked questions
When was IIT Delhi’s 19th Open House held?
It was held on October 31, 2026, at the institute’s Hauz Khas campus in New Delhi, with exhibits and laboratory demonstrations running from 11 am to 3:30 pm.
Who was the chief guest at IIT Delhi Open House 2026?
Dr Binay Kumar Das, Director General of Electronics and Communication Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
What research areas were on display at the Open House?
Ten sectors, including robotics, artificial intelligence, defence technology, space, healthcare, quantum technologies, climate research, rural development and advanced materials.
What is IIT Delhi’s Research Ambit website?
A new platform launched by the institute to make its research work and faculty profiles accessible to the general public.
Frequently asked questions
When was IIT Delhi's 19th Open House held?
It was held on October 31, 2026, at the institute's Hauz Khas campus in New Delhi, with exhibits and laboratory demonstrations running from 11 am to 3:30 pm.
Who was the chief guest at IIT Delhi Open House 2026?
Dr Binay Kumar Das, Director General of Electronics and Communication Systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
What research areas were on display at the Open House?
Ten sectors, including robotics, artificial intelligence, defence technology, space, healthcare, quantum technologies, climate research, rural development and advanced materials.
What is IIT Delhi's Research Ambit website?
A new platform launched by the institute to make its research work and faculty profiles accessible to the general public.
Sources: EduAdvice, ETV Bharat