 Early Times Report
NOIDA, May 2: The Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Wish Town Campus, Sector 128, Noida, witnessed an inspiring and grand commencement of DRON-O-WAR 1.0, scheduled from May 2-3, 2026, a two-day national-level event dedicated to innovation and excellence in drone technology. In an era where unmanned aerial systems are transforming defense, logistics, surveillance, and disaster management, platforms like DRON-O-WAR 1.0 serve as catalysts for innovation and skill development.
The inaugural ceremony was held on May 2, 2026 radiating an atmosphere of enthusiasm, intellect, and technological curiosity. The ceremony was graced by a distinguished assembly of eminent personalities, led by the Chief Guest, Lt. Gen. Anil Chandra Chait (Retd.), whose illustrious presence added prestige to the occasion. In his address, he eloquently highlighted the transformative potential of drone technology in defense, strategic operations, and nation-building, inspiring students to innovate and contribute actively to India's technological advancement.
The event was further honored by the esteemed presence of Dr. Sarat K. Dash (ISRO), Dr. Nishank K. Srivastava (ISRO), Dr. Bhupendra Singh (DRDO), along with senior scientists from BARC, representing the pinnacle of India's scientific and technological expertise.
The prestigious event was conducted under the esteemed leadership and visionary guidance of Hon'ble Pro-Chancellor Prof. S. C. Saxena, Prof. Vikas Saxena, Prof. Shikha Mehta and Dr. Vinay Tikkiwal from JIIT Noida, elevating the academic and institutional stature of the event.
DRON-O-WAR 1.0, featuring prizes worth ?20 lakhs, has attracted enthusiastic participation from over 100 teams representing institutes, universities, and schools across the country. The event features an exciting lineup of events, including FPV racing championships, autonomous drone missions, payload delivery challenges, panel discussions, design and innovation contests, and simulation-based competitions. The event provided a dynamic platform for students, researchers, and industry experts to exchange ideas and explore the evolving landscape of drone technology. With the presence of leading experts from premier organizations, the event marks a significant step toward fostering innovation, enhancing technical competencies, and advancing the vision of a technologically empowered and self-reliant India. The event is supported by esteemed industry partners including PDRL, RevUp, hoverRobotix, MentorX and FORE FIDTR, whose valuable collaboration underscores the growing synergy between academia and industry in advancing drone technology.
The event is further enriched by a series of technically driven panel discussions addressing key dimensions of drone technology and its ecosystem. The first session, "Empowering Viksit Bharat: The Role of Higher Education Institutions in Advancing Drone Technology and Skilled Workforce Development," emphasized on curriculum modernization, interdisciplinary research integration, and the development of industry-aligned skill frameworks to support emerging UAV technologies. Another powerful ignited panel session "DRON-O-WAR 1.0: Innovations, Challenges, and the Future of Drone Technology," focused on advancements in autonomous systems, AI-enabled navigation, real-time data processing, regulatory compliance, and scalability challenges in drone deployment. The third session, "Drone Revolution 1.0: From Autonomous Warfare to Nation Building in Viksit Bharat," aimed to examine the strategic and civilian applications of drone technologies, highlighting their role in defense operations, infrastructure monitoring, disaster management, and national development initiatives. |
