5 February 2026·PIB

24th India-US Joint Technical Group Plenary held at DRDO HQs in New Delhi to advance cooperation in Defence Science & Technologies

In this note

1. At a Glance

The Joint Technical Group (JTG) is the apex bilateral mechanism under the India-US Major Defence Partnership for cooperation in Defence Science & Technology, operating under DRDO on the Indian side. [1][2]
Its 24th Plenary (3-4 February 2026, DRDO HQs, New Delhi) advanced critical & emerging defence-tech R&D and concluded a DRDO–Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) project agreement under the INDUS-X Innovation Bridge. [1]
Relevant for GS-II (India-US bilateral) and GS-III (defence indigenisation, S&T, internal security).

DRDO hosted the 24th Indo-US JTG Plenary on 03-04 Feb 2026 in New Delhi to operationalise the 10-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership signed in October 2025. [1][2]

The JTG is a long-standing DRDO-led S&T dialogue with the US Department of War (formerly Department of Defense); the 24th edition indicates over two decades of recurring engagement. [1]
Parallel/related mechanisms: Defence Technology & Trade Initiative (DTTI) – 11th DTTI Group meeting held virtually in 2021. [3]
October 2025: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed the 10-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership on the sidelines of the 12th ADMM-Plus, Kuala Lumpur, 31 Oct 2025. [2]
The 24th Plenary is the first JTG conducted under this 2025 Framework. [1]

Event: 24th India-US Joint Technical Group Plenary. [1]
Dates / Venue: 3-4 February 2026, DRDO Headquarters, New Delhi. [1]
Indian Co-chair: Dr Chandrika Kaushik, DG (Production Coordination & Services Interaction), DRDO. [1]
US Co-chair: Mr Michael Francis Dodd, Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering. [1]
Parent ministry (India): Ministry of Defence → DRDO. [1]
Parent body (US): Department of War (US DoD renamed). [1]
Overarching framework: 10-year Framework for India-US Major Defence Partnership, signed October 2025. [2]
Key deliverable at 24th JTG: Signing of a project agreement for collaboration between DRDO and the US Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) under the Innovation Bridge (INDUS-X) framework. [1]

Geopolitical / Strategic
Institutionalises Indo-Pacific tech alignment vis-à-vis China; defence S&T becomes a pillar alongside iCET. [1][2]
Reinforces India's status as Major Defence Partner (a designation unique to India in US law). [2]
Scientific / Technological
Focus on critical & emerging defence technologies — AI, autonomous systems, undersea, hypersonics implied via "evolving requirements." [1]
Brings university-affiliated research centres, defence labs, and industries into joint R&D. [1]
Economic / Industrial
DRDO-DIU agreement under INDUS-X boosts defence start-up ecosystem and co-production. [1]
Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by anchoring tech transfer to indigenous R&D. [1]
Administrative / Governance
DRDO acts as nodal coordinator; JTG complements DTTI and the Defence Policy Group (DPG). [1][3]

31 Oct 2025: 10-year India-US Major Defence Partnership Framework signed at ADMM-Plus, Kuala Lumpur. [2]
3-4 Feb 2026: 24th India-US JTG Plenary at DRDO HQs; DRDO-DIU project agreement signed under Innovation Bridge. [1]

The 24th Indo-US JTG Plenary was held on 3-4 February 2026 at DRDO HQs, New Delhi. [1]
Indian co-chair was DG (PC&SI), DRDO Dr Chandrika Kaushik. [1]
US co-chair held the title Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies (note: "Department of War", not "Department of Defense"). [1]
The plenary operated under the 10-year Framework for India-US Major Defence Partnership signed in October 2025. [2]
The 2025 Framework was signed by Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth at the 12th ADMM-Plus, Kuala Lumpur. [2]
Outcome: project agreement between DRDO and the US Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) under the Innovation Bridge framework (i.e., INDUS-X). [1]
The 11th Defence Technology & Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group meeting was held virtually in 2021 — distinct from JTG. [3]
DRDO functions under the Ministry of Defence, not under DST or MeitY. [1]

GS-II: India and its neighbourhood / Bilateral, regional and global groupings — India-US relations.
GS-III: Science & Technology — indigenisation of technology, developing new technology; Defence — Security challenges.
Probable stems: 1. "Indo-US defence cooperation has shifted from buyer-seller to co-developer. Discuss in light of the 2025 Major Defence Partnership Framework." 2. "Examine the role of DRDO-led mechanisms such as the Joint Technical Group in advancing India's strategic autonomy in critical and emerging technologies." 3. "How does INDUS-X complement Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector?"

INDUS-X — Indo-US start-up defence innovation bridge; direct enabling framework.
iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) — broader civil-military tech umbrella.
DTTI (Defence Technology & Trade Initiative) — parallel co-development track.
Major Defence Partner status (2016) — legal underpinning of US export treatment.
Foundational agreements: LEMOA, COMCASA, BECA — interoperability stack.
DRDO structure & DG verticals — institutional Prelims fodder.
Atmanirbhar Bharat — Defence Indigenisation Lists — domestic complement.
QUAD Critical & Emerging Tech Working Group — minilateral tech layer.

Confusing JTG (DRDO-led S&T) with DTTI (co-production) or DPG (policy) — three distinct tracks. [1][3]
Misnaming US side as "Department of Defense" — it is now Department of War in the 2025-26 context. [1]
Attributing the 2025 Framework signing to Washington/Delhi — it was on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus, Kuala Lumpur. [2]
Treating INDUS-X / Innovation Bridge as a government-to-government arms deal — it is a start-up / DIU-DRDO innovation channel. [1]
Placing DRDO under DST/MeitY — it is under MoD. [1]