JOYEE N01 Rolls Off Global Production Line as First Batch Delivery Ceremony for 2,000 Overseas Orders Takes Place

JOYEE N01 Rolls Off Global Production Line as First Batch Delivery Ceremony for 2,000 Overseas Orders Takes Place

YANCHENG, China, Nov. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On October 28, the ceremony for the global mass production launch of the JOYEE N01 and the first batch delivery of 2,000 overseas orders was grandly held at the Yancheng Branch of FAW. At the event, FAWCAR delivered the first batch of 500 vehicles to African customers, marking the official entry of the JOYEE N01 into the global market.

As a flagship product, the JOYEE N01 has earned recognition from nearly 300,000 users since its launch in 2024. Built upon this blockbuster model and refined with a user-centric philosophy, the JOYEE N01 is an upgraded masterpiece — a solid step forward in elevating the user experience with a global vision.

The JOYEE N01 carries forward the adorable design language: rounded body lines paired with a rich array of exterior color options, winning over young families at first glance. All trims come standard with CATL batteries, delivering a maximum range of over 300KM. The four-door design ensures convenient access to the rear seats. In terms of safety, drawing on FAW’s 70-plus years of automotive manufacturing heritage, the vehicle is fully equipped with a high-strength steel body, dual front airbags, and an electronic stability control system. The product is scheduled to roll out in overseas markets one after another in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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vVardis Raises $175 Million Ahead of NYSE IPO: NYSE Content Update

NYSE issues a pre-market daily advisory direct from the trading floor.

NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on November 13th

• vVARDIS will list on the NYSE under the ticker symbol VVVV
  • The dental health firm priced 9.72 million shares at $18 apiece.
  • vVARDIS (NYSE: VVVV) says that it provides the first commercially available peptide-containing formulation to treat early cavities without drilling.
  • Co-founders, Co-Chairs and Co-CEOs Dr. Haley Abivardi and Dr. Goly Abivardi will join NYSE Live to discuss their decision to take the company public.
• VAST Data announces it has received more than $10 billion in commitments
  • The AI operating system says the funds came from 14 of the more than 1,000 companies it serves.
  • The $10 billion will be deployed toward its software and supporting platform.
  • VAST Founder + CEO Renan Hallak will join NYSE Live to discuss how the company’s AI OS has become the platform of choice for AI cloud operators.
• Kraft Heinz looks to build off Thursday’s momentum at the NYSE
  • The food and beverage giant was on hand to celebrate its recent NYSE listing.
  • Senior leaders outlined the firm’s plan for sustainable, profitable growth at its investor day.
  • Shares of Kraft Heinz (NYSE: KHC) rose by 0.9% during Thursday’s session.

Opening Bell

vVardis (NYSE: VVVV) celebrate their IPO on the New York Stock Exchange

Closing Bell

Revvity (NYSE: RVTY) celebrates its 2026 Investor Day

For market insights, IPO activity, and today’s opening bell, download the NYSE TV App and check out the NYSE YouTube: TV.NYSE.com and YouTube.com/@NYSEofficial

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Beko Calls for Climate, Trade, and Finance Policies to Align as Carbon Rules Reshape Manufacturing

Fatih Özkadı and Barış Alparslan set out the company’s case for competitive, lower-carbon value

chains and the capital needed to build them.

ANTALYA, Türkiye, Nov. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Beko used its COP31 panels to make the case that climate, trade and industrial policies need to work together, and that finance has to follow, if climate action is to strengthen industrial competitiveness rather than erode it. Fatih Özkadı, Chief Sustainability, Quality, and Customer Care Officer, and Barış Alparslan, Chief Financial Officer, took that message to their panels during the summit’s first week.

Climate measures are being introduced alongside industrial policies, trade defence instruments and strategic autonomy goals. These priorities do not always align, and the result can be added costs and barriers across integrated supply chains. Carbon pricing and the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which entered its definitive phase at the start of 2026, are changing investment decisions, sourcing strategies and competitive conditions.

The European Commission has proposed extending CBAM to around 180 downstream products with high steel or aluminium content, including domestic appliances, from 1 January 2028, a proposal still to be adopted. That gives home appliance makers a direct stake in the debate.

“Climate, trade and industrial policies need to be designed together,” said Fatih Özkadı. “Manufacturers like us buy steel and aluminium, make finished products in several countries and compete in global markets. When carbon pricing, CBAM and industrial measures are not aligned, the costs add up and reduce what we can invest in decarbonisation. For manufacturers working across Türkiye and the EU, recognising carbon prices effectively paid in Türkiye, and keeping reporting practical would make a real difference. Any potential extension of CBAM to downstream products should be assessed product by product, taking account of the combined effects of climate, trade and industrial policies on competitiveness and the transition to cleaner production across integrated value chains.”

Beko makes appliances in both Türkiye and the EU, so it sees these rules from both sides. As Fatih Özkadı told the panel, Turkish and European industry have developed together over decades, and Turkish manufacturers invest, produce and create jobs within the EU. Beko’s own plants reflect that integration: three of them, its refrigerator and dishwasher plants in Türkiye and its washing machine plant in Romania, are part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, and the site in Romania also holds the Sustainability Lighthouse designation.

The transition needs investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, lower-carbon manufacturing, supply-chain transformation and new technologies. Climate finance has to reach projects that deliver measurable, scalable impact. COP31 is the first COP since the publication of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T, which sets out how climate finance for developing countries can be scaled up to USD 1.3 trillion a year by 2035.

In December 2025, Beko signed its first sustainability-linked loan, a €200 million five-year facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Its KPIs are linked to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing women’s representation in the workforce.

“Industrial decarbonisation is a capital question as much as a technical one,” said Barış Alparslan. “The challenge is not simply to mobilise more capital, but to turn credible transition plans into bankable projects. Manufacturers need long-term finance, appropriate risk-sharing structures and a cost of capital that reflects the time it takes to transform factories and supply chains. When the financing structure matches the economics of the transition, technically viable projects become financially investable. Our sustainability-linked loan with IFC demonstrates one way of connecting financing directly to measurable emissions and workforce outcomes.”

On the ground at COP31

On 10 November, Fatih Özkadı spoke on the panel “Building Competitive Green Value Chains: Industry, Trade and the Climate Transition” in the Green Zone, alongside Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of Türkiye, Peter Spiller, Partner of McKinsey & Company, Frankfurt am Main and Gamze Gökçen Pilevne of Mercedes-Benz Türk, Board Member of AHK Türkiye, with Dr Pınar Artıran, WTO Chair Holder at İstanbul Bilgi University, moderating. On 11 November, he moderated “Competitive Green Value Chains: Aligning Climate, Trade and Industrial Policies” at the Türkiye Pavilion in the Blue Zone, with Aik Hoe Lim, Director of the Trade and Environment Division at the World Trade Organization, Fatma Canan Nilüfer Dora, Deputy Director General for International Agreements and EU Affairs, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, Peter Spiller, and Dr Pınar Artıran.

On 13 November, Barış Alparslan spoke on two panels at the Koç Holding Pavilion. “Financing Real-Economy Decarbonisation: From Green to Transition Finance” brought together Jean Marie Dumas, Head of Euro Credit and Investment Solutions at Amundi, Anjuli Pandit, Global Head of Sustainable Capital Markets at HSBC, and Orith Azoulay, Managing Director at Natixis, with Nicholas Pfaff, Deputy Chief Executive of ICMA, moderating. He also joined “Financing the Green Transition: Capital, Carbon & Competitiveness”, alongside Wagner Almeida, IFC Regional Director of Industry for the Middle East and Central Asia; Mürsel Akbulut, Head of the Climate Finance and Incentives Department at the Presidency of Climate Change; and Jacqui Powell, Managing Director, Corporate Sector, EBRD, with Perihan İnci, Vice President of TÜSİAD, moderating.

Beko is at COP31 alongside Koç Holding, COP31 Global Business Partner.

ABOUT BEKO 

Beko is an international home appliance company with a strong global presence, operating through subsidiaries in more than 55 countries with a workforce of around 45,000 employees and production facilities spanning multiple regions—including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Beko has 22 brands owned or used with a limited license (Arçelik, Beko, Whirlpool*, Grundig, Hotpoint, Arctic, Ariston*, Leisure, Indesit, Blomberg, Defy, Dawlance, Hitachi*, Voltas Beko, Singer*, ElektraBregenz, Flavel, Bauknecht, Privileg, Altus, Ignis, Polar). Beko is the largest white goods company in Europe with its market share (based on volumes) and reached a consolidated turnover of 10.7 billion Euros in 2025. Beko’s 28 R&D and Design Centers & Offices across the globe are home to over 2,000 R&D employees and hold more than 4,500 international registered patent applications to date. The company has achieved the highest score in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) in the DHP Household Durables industry for the seventh consecutive year (based on the results dated 16 October 2025).** The company has been recognized as the 89th most sustainable company on TIME Magazine and Statista’s 2026 list of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies and has been the sector leader for three consecutive years. Beko’s vision is ‘Respecting the World, Respected Worldwide.’  

www.bekocorporate.com  

*Licensee limited to certain jurisdictions. 

 **The data presented belongs to Arçelik A.Ş., a parent company of Beko. 

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Vasavi Club Buddhapurnima launches ‘I Love Hussain Sagar Lake’ campaign; 100-plus members take pledge to protect Hyderabad’s iconic water body

Creative campaign collaterals carrying messages on lake conservation, civic responsibility and tourism promotion unveiled by Ms. N. Manvi Jagan, DGM, TGTDC, aboard Khair-un-Nissa boat

Hyderabad, Nov 15: In a unique initiative combining civic responsibility, heritage awareness and tourism promotion, Vasavi Club Buddhapurnima, affiliated with Vasavi Clubs International, launched its community outreach campaign ‘I Love Hussain Sagar Lake’ on Saturday evening.

A set of creative campaign collaterals carrying compelling messages on protecting and promoting Hussain Sagar Lake were unveiled by Ms. N. Manvi Jagan, Deputy General Manager, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TGTDC), at a special programme held aboard the Khair-un-Nissa boat on Hussain Sagar Lake.

The campaign posters carried a range of thought-provoking messages, including “Hyderabad Is Incomplete Without Hussain Sagar”, “More Than a Lake. It’s Hyderabad’s Identity”, “Hussain Sagar Lake Is Not a Dustbin”, “A Clean Hussain Sagar Is Everyone’s Responsibility”, “Be a Lake Ambassador” and “Make Hussain Sagar a Tourist’s Delight”. Other messages encouraged citizens to keep plastic away from the lake, protect its heritage and take pride in its recreational and tourism potential.

The campaign also highlighted Hussain Sagar’s rich historical legacy, its association with Hyderabad’s identity and the iconic Buddha statue that stands majestically on Gibraltar Rock.

Following the unveiling, Ms. Manvi Jagan administered the ‘I Love Hussain Sagar Lake’ pledge to more than 100 members, who committed themselves to spreading awareness about lake conservation, discouraging littering and plastic pollution, and encouraging responsible public behaviour towards the lake.

The programme was held in the presence of the leadership of Vasavi Clubs International and members of Vasavi Club Buddhapurnima.

Speaking on the occasion, V.N. Telukuntla Venkat Raghuram, President, Vasavi Club Buddhapurnima, said, “Hussain Sagar is not a dustbin. It is an invaluable part of Hyderabad’s heritage and identity. We have inherited this historic lake from previous generations, and it is our responsibility to preserve and protect it for generations to come. Protecting Hussain Sagar cannot be left to the Government alone; every citizen has a role to play.”

D. Ramchandram, Project Coordinator of the initiative, said, “We wanted to take a club meeting beyond its usual agenda and give it a larger public purpose. Hussain Sagar is much more than a water body. It is a 450-year-old historical landmark, an engineering achievement, a recreational space, a tourism attraction and an integral part of Hyderabad’s identity. Through this campaign, we want to transform affection for the lake into a sense of responsibility. Our creative placards are intended to generate conversations, encourage citizens to become Lake Ambassadors and remind everyone that loving Hussain Sagar also means protecting it.”

The initiative seeks to take the message beyond the club’s membership and reach the larger community through creative communication, citizen participation and sustained awareness efforts.

The message is simple: We Love Hussain Sagar Lake. Our Lake. Our Pride. Our Responsibility.

Beko Calls for Climate, Trade, and Finance Policies to Align as Carbon Rules Reshape Manufacturing

Fatih Özkadı and Barış Alparslan set out the company’s case for competitive, lower-carbon value

chains and the capital needed to build them.

ANTALYA, Türkiye, Nov. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Beko used its COP31 panels to make the case that climate, trade and industrial policies need to work together, and that finance has to follow, if climate action is to strengthen industrial competitiveness rather than erode it. Fatih Özkadı, Chief Sustainability, Quality, and Customer Care Officer, and Barış Alparslan, Chief Financial Officer, took that message to their panels during the summit’s first week.

Climate measures are being introduced alongside industrial policies, trade defence instruments and strategic autonomy goals. These priorities do not always align, and the result can be added costs and barriers across integrated supply chains. Carbon pricing and the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which entered its definitive phase at the start of 2026, are changing investment decisions, sourcing strategies and competitive conditions.

The European Commission has proposed extending CBAM to around 180 downstream products with high steel or aluminium content, including domestic appliances, from 1 January 2028, a proposal still to be adopted. That gives home appliance makers a direct stake in the debate.

“Climate, trade and industrial policies need to be designed together,” said Fatih Özkadı. “Manufacturers like us buy steel and aluminium, make finished products in several countries and compete in global markets. When carbon pricing, CBAM and industrial measures are not aligned, the costs add up and reduce what we can invest in decarbonisation. For manufacturers working across Türkiye and the EU, recognising carbon prices effectively paid in Türkiye, and keeping reporting practical would make a real difference. Any potential extension of CBAM to downstream products should be assessed product by product, taking account of the combined effects of climate, trade and industrial policies on competitiveness and the transition to cleaner production across integrated value chains.”

Beko makes appliances in both Türkiye and the EU, so it sees these rules from both sides. As Fatih Özkadı told the panel, Turkish and European industry have developed together over decades, and Turkish manufacturers invest, produce and create jobs within the EU. Beko’s own plants reflect that integration: three of them, its refrigerator and dishwasher plants in Türkiye and its washing machine plant in Romania, are part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, and the site in Romania also holds the Sustainability Lighthouse designation.

The transition needs investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, lower-carbon manufacturing, supply-chain transformation and new technologies. Climate finance has to reach projects that deliver measurable, scalable impact. COP31 is the first COP since the publication of the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T, which sets out how climate finance for developing countries can be scaled up to USD 1.3 trillion a year by 2035.

In December 2025, Beko signed its first sustainability-linked loan, a €200 million five-year facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Its KPIs are linked to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing women’s representation in the workforce.

“Industrial decarbonisation is a capital question as much as a technical one,” said Barış Alparslan. “The challenge is not simply to mobilise more capital, but to turn credible transition plans into bankable projects. Manufacturers need long-term finance, appropriate risk-sharing structures and a cost of capital that reflects the time it takes to transform factories and supply chains. When the financing structure matches the economics of the transition, technically viable projects become financially investable. Our sustainability-linked loan with IFC demonstrates one way of connecting financing directly to measurable emissions and workforce outcomes.”

On the ground at COP31

On 10 November, Fatih Özkadı spoke on the panel “Building Competitive Green Value Chains: Industry, Trade and the Climate Transition” in the Green Zone, alongside Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of Türkiye, Peter Spiller, Partner of McKinsey & Company, Frankfurt am Main and Gamze Gökçen Pilevne of Mercedes-Benz Türk, Board Member of AHK Türkiye, with Dr Pınar Artıran, WTO Chair Holder at İstanbul Bilgi University, moderating. On 11 November, he moderated “Competitive Green Value Chains: Aligning Climate, Trade and Industrial Policies” at the Türkiye Pavilion in the Blue Zone, with Aik Hoe Lim, Director of the Trade and Environment Division at the World Trade Organization, Fatma Canan Nilüfer Dora, Deputy Director General for International Agreements and EU Affairs, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, Peter Spiller, and Dr Pınar Artıran.

On 13 November, Barış Alparslan spoke on two panels at the Koç Holding Pavilion. “Financing Real-Economy Decarbonisation: From Green to Transition Finance” brought together Jean Marie Dumas, Head of Euro Credit and Investment Solutions at Amundi, Anjuli Pandit, Global Head of Sustainable Capital Markets at HSBC, and Orith Azoulay, Managing Director at Natixis, with Nicholas Pfaff, Deputy Chief Executive of ICMA, moderating. He also joined “Financing the Green Transition: Capital, Carbon & Competitiveness”, alongside Wagner Almeida, IFC Regional Director of Industry for the Middle East and Central Asia; Mürsel Akbulut, Head of the Climate Finance and Incentives Department at the Presidency of Climate Change; and Jacqui Powell, Managing Director, Corporate Sector, EBRD, with Perihan İnci, Vice President of TÜSİAD, moderating.

Beko is at COP31 alongside Koç Holding, COP31 Global Business Partner.

ABOUT BEKO 

Beko is an international home appliance company with a strong global presence, operating through subsidiaries in more than 55 countries with a workforce of around 45,000 employees and production facilities spanning multiple regions—including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Beko has 22 brands owned or used with a limited license (Arçelik, Beko, Whirlpool*, Grundig, Hotpoint, Arctic, Ariston*, Leisure, Indesit, Blomberg, Defy, Dawlance, Hitachi*, Voltas Beko, Singer*, ElektraBregenz, Flavel, Bauknecht, Privileg, Altus, Ignis, Polar). Beko is the largest white goods company in Europe with its market share (based on volumes) and reached a consolidated turnover of 10.7 billion Euros in 2025. Beko’s 28 R&D and Design Centers & Offices across the globe are home to over 2,000 R&D employees and hold more than 4,500 international registered patent applications to date. The company has achieved the highest score in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) in the DHP Household Durables industry for the seventh consecutive year (based on the results dated 16 October 2025).** The company has been recognized as the 89th most sustainable company on TIME Magazine and Statista’s 2026 list of the World’s Most Sustainable Companies and has been the sector leader for three consecutive years. Beko’s vision is ‘Respecting the World, Respected Worldwide.’  

www.bekocorporate.com  

*Licensee limited to certain jurisdictions. 

 **The data presented belongs to Arçelik A.Ş., a parent company of Beko. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/beko-calls-for-climate-trade-and-finance-policies-to-align-as-carbon-rules-reshape-manufacturing-302939517.html

Rajnath Singh Emphasises Technology Self-Reliance for a Stronger Defence Sector

Hyderabad, November 15, 2026: India must move beyond being merely a user of advanced technologies and emerge as a developer, innovator and global leader in critical technological domains, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said on Sunday, emphasising the need to strengthen the country’s indigenous capabilities in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to enhance defence preparedness and self-reliance. 

Virtually addressing the inaugural session of NDE 2026 – the 36th Annual Conference on Non-Destructive Evaluation and Enabling Technologies, and AeroNDT 2026 – the 15th International Symposium on NDT in Aerospace, he stressed that indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, consistent quality assurance practices and reliable testing results are essential to strengthening India’s NDT ecosystem. 

The three-day international conference, being organised by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) from November 15 to 17 at HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, have brought together over 2,000 professionals, researchers, industry experts and students, along with more than 100 exhibitors from India and abroad. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, joined the inaugural ceremony virtually from New Delhi and released the conference souvenir. Telangana Minister for IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and unveiled the digital version of NDE 2026. 

Dr Jaiteerth R. Joshi, President, ISNT; Director General, DRDO; and CEO & Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace; Dr S.V.S. Narayana Murty, CMD, MIDHANI and Co-Chairman, NDE 2026; Shri G. Surya Prakash, Chairman, NDE 2026 and Chairman, Archimedes Engineering; and Shri Mohan P. Nair, Convenor, NDE 2026, were among those present. 

Addressing the gathering virtually, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said India’s pursuit of Aatmanirbharta in defence was not merely an economic objective but a strategic necessity. 

“We must strengthen our indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, specialised sensors, evaluation equipment and associated software. Developing domestic capabilities in these areas is essential for reducing technological dependencies and securing critical defence supply chains,” he said. 

He emphasised the need to promote consistent quality assurance practices across the entire defence industrial ecosystem, including Public Sector Undertakings, private manufacturers, start-ups and MSMEs. 

“We must ensure that inspection results are accurate, reliable and traceable, and are based on robust procedures and appropriate standards, followed by assessment by qualified professionals,” he said, asserting that there could be no compromise on the integrity of testing results in strategic applications. 

Explaining the significance of NDT, Shri Rajnath Singh said these technologies enable the examination of materials, components and structures without causing any damage to them. Just as ultrasound and X-rays help doctors examine the human body without surgical intervention, NDT techniques help identify internal defects in critical components without dismantling or damaging them. 

He pointed out that as India’s defence systems become increasingly sophisticated, every critical material, component, assembly and manufacturing process must meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. 

“Hidden defects can affect operational availability, increase maintenance requirements, reduce the service life of equipment and, in critical situations, jeopardise mission success. We need to move beyond a culture of merely identifying defects towards actively preventing them by embedding quality at every stage of the manufacturing process,” he said. 

Highlighting the importance of quality in strategic applications, he observed that in defence systems such as missiles, aircraft, naval platforms and spacecraft, quality was not merely a manufacturing requirement but an essential element of operational reliability and national security. 

Referring to the rapid transformation taking place in NDT, the Defence Minister said Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Advanced Sensors, Digital Twins and Predictive Analytics were significantly expanding the possibilities of inspection and structural health monitoring. 

These technologies could improve inspection speed and consistency, facilitate the analysis of complex data and identify patterns that might not be easily detectable through conventional methods, he said. 

“The future lies in the intelligent integration of established inspection techniques with advanced digital technologies to make inspection processes more accurate, efficient and responsive to emerging industrial requirements,” he observed. 

He called upon India to move beyond merely adopting these technologies and develop indigenous solutions suited to its strategic and industrial requirements. Investment in research, advanced equipment, software and skilled manpower would strengthen domestic capabilities and enable Indian technologies to find markets internationally. 

Citing India’s achievements in missile development, naval platforms, aerospace engineering, radar systems and space applications, he said the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was an important milestone in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey. 

He also highlighted initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the Technology Development Fund (TDF), which have encouraged innovation, technological development and experimentation in the defence sector. 

Calling for greater collaboration, Shri Rajnath Singh said innovation flourished when Government, Industry, Academia and Research Laboratories worked together. He urged all stakeholders to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-ecosystem approach to technological advancement and strategic self-reliance. 

Describing NDT professionals as the “Doctors of the Manufacturing World” and the “Invisible Heroes of the Manufacturing Industry”, Telangana Minister for IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu highlighted their critical role in ensuring the safety and reliability of products and infrastructure. 

“Just as doctors diagnose illnesses that may not be visible externally, you identify hidden defects in materials and components and ensure that aircraft, defence equipment and other critical products are safe and reliable. Your contribution may not always be visible, but it is indispensable,” he said. 

Addressing the gathering as Guest of Honour, said Hyderabad was rapidly emerging as a major aerospace and defence manufacturing hub. 

Referring to the city’s growing aerospace ecosystem, he cited Tata Boeing Aerospace’s manufacturing of Apache helicopter fuselages and Boeing 737 vertical fin structures, Safran’s aero-engine MRO facility and the work being undertaken by space technology companies such as Skyroot Aerospace. 

Telangana has more than 1,500 aerospace, defence and space MSMEs, while aircraft, spacecraft and their components accounted for 29.4% of the state’s merchandise exports in 2024–25, valued at nearly ₹63,000 crore, he said. 

As aerospace and defence technologies become more sophisticated, the importance of testing, evaluation and certification will only increase. Artificial Intelligence, digital twins and advanced inspection technologies will transform the industry, he observed. 

Stressing the need to develop skilled professionals, strengthen testing infrastructure and encourage closer collaboration between industry, academia and research institutions, he said Telangana had significant opportunities to expand its capabilities in these areas. 

Responding to ISNT’s request for Government support in establishing a Centre of Excellence in Non-Destructive Testing in Telangana, Sridhar Babu assured the NDT fraternity of the State Government’s full support for the proposed initiative. 

Under the Telangana Rising 2047 vision, the Government aims to make Telangana a global hub for aerospace and defence, with capabilities across design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, certification and research. 

He invited the NDT fraternity to partner with the State Government in this journey and help strengthen India’s aerospace and defence capabilities. 

Dr Jaiteerth R. Joshi, President, ISNT, Director General, DRDO and CEO & Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, described NDT professionals as the unsung guardians of safety and reliability. 

“NDT professionals are not just experts; they are the pillars behind the structural safety of critical equipment. They protect lives and safeguard infrastructure. They are the experts working behind the seamless functioning of jet engines, nuclear reactors, missiles, bridges and several other critical systems,” he said. 

He highlighted ISNT’s contribution to developing professional capabilities in the country, stating that the Society had trained around three lakh people over the last 40 years and played a significant role in building India’s NDT professional ecosystem. 

Pointing to the participation of students in the conference, he said today’s students were tomorrow’s guardians of safety and reliability. NDT had applications across virtually every critical industrial and strategic sector, making the development of young talent particularly important. 

The inaugural ceremony also witnessed the presentation of the ISNT National NDT Awards 2026, recognising excellence in research and development, industrial applications, scientific publications, young scientist achievements and lifetime contributions to the field. 

Shri Balaji Srinivasan of IIT Madras received the ISNT-EEC Award for Excellence in R&D, while Shri Dilip Kumar Singh of BHEL, Trichy, was honoured with the ISNT-P-MET Award for Excellence in Industrial Applications. 

The ISNT-CHOKSI ASIA Young Scientist Award was presented to Shri Subhash N. of the Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum. 

The ISNT-IXAR Award for Best Paper in the R&D category went to Mr. Rohan Soman of the Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland, along with co-authors Mr. Shishir Kumar Singh and Mr. Pawel Malinowski. 

The ISNT-Eastwest Award for Best Paper in the Industrial Applications category was presented to Mr. Boddapati Ganesh Kumar of L&T Construction Research and Testing Center, Chennai, along with co-authors Mr. M.S. Senthilkumaran and Mr. V. Govindaraj. 

The Society also conferred Honorary Fellow Membership on Mr. Alexander Mullin, Dr. Steve Mahaut, Mr. Rajul R. Parikh and Mr. Uday Kale. 

Shri P. Vijayaraghavan received the ISNT Lifetime Achievement Award 2026.

 Adding special significance to the occasion, the ISNT Hyderabad Chapter received the ISNT-CHOKSI ASIA Best Chapter Award for 2026, recognising its contribution to the Society. 

The joint conference brings together two specialised technical platforms. While NDE 2026 addresses the wider applications of non-destructive evaluation across industries, AeroNDT 2026 focuses on the specific challenges and emerging technologies associated with aerospace inspection, certification, structural integrity and maintenance. 

The three-day programme features scientific presentations, plenary sessions, technical discussions, poster presentations, industry interactions and an exhibition showcasing the latest products, technologies and solutions in NDT. 

Reliance Industries Limited, BrahMos, DRDO, MIDHANI, MR Chime, Larsen & Toubro, Godrej, the Indian Air Force, CECI Technologies, Ooga Technologies, TPAC, Modsonic, The Welding Institute (TWI) and McGean, among others, are supporting the event. 

Established in 1972, the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing is a non-profit professional organisation dedicated to promoting the science and technology of NDT through education, research and the exchange of technical information. With more than 5,000 members across 19 chapters in India, ISNT works towards advancing inspection technologies that enhance industrial safety, quality assurance, reliability and asset integrity. 

The conference and exhibition are being organised by ISNT, with the ISNT Hyderabad Chapter hosting the event, in collaboration with BINDT, DGZfP and COFREND. 

India must become a Developer, Innovator and Global Leader in Advanced Technologies: Rajnath Singh

Hyderabad, November 15, 2026: India must move beyond being merely a user of advanced technologies and emerge as a developer, innovator and global leader in critical technological domains, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh said on Sunday, emphasising the need to strengthen the country’s indigenous capabilities in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to enhance defence preparedness and self-reliance. 

Virtually addressing the inaugural session of NDE 2026 – the 36th Annual Conference on Non-Destructive Evaluation and Enabling Technologies, and AeroNDT 2026 – the 15th International Symposium on NDT in Aerospace, he stressed that indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, consistent quality assurance practices and reliable testing results are essential to strengthening India’s NDT ecosystem. 

The three-day international conference, being organised by the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) from November 15 to 17 at HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, have brought together over 2,000 professionals, researchers, industry experts and students, along with more than 100 exhibitors from India and abroad. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, joined the inaugural ceremony virtually from New Delhi and released the conference souvenir. Telangana Minister for IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and unveiled the digital version of NDE 2026. 

Dr Jaiteerth R. Joshi, President, ISNT; Director General, DRDO; and CEO & Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace; Dr S.V.S. Narayana Murty, CMD, MIDHANI and Co-Chairman, NDE 2026; Shri G. Surya Prakash, Chairman, NDE 2026 and Chairman, Archimedes Engineering; and Shri Mohan P. Nair, Convenor, NDE 2026, were among those present. 

Addressing the gathering virtually, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh said India’s pursuit of Aatmanirbharta in defence was not merely an economic objective but a strategic necessity. 

“We must strengthen our indigenous capabilities in advanced inspection technologies, specialised sensors, evaluation equipment and associated software. Developing domestic capabilities in these areas is essential for reducing technological dependencies and securing critical defence supply chains,” he said. 

He emphasised the need to promote consistent quality assurance practices across the entire defence industrial ecosystem, including Public Sector Undertakings, private manufacturers, start-ups and MSMEs. 

“We must ensure that inspection results are accurate, reliable and traceable, and are based on robust procedures and appropriate standards, followed by assessment by qualified professionals,” he said, asserting that there could be no compromise on the integrity of testing results in strategic applications.

Explaining the significance of NDT, Shri Rajnath Singh said these technologies enable the examination of materials, components and structures without causing any damage to them. Just as ultrasound and X-rays help doctors examine the human body without surgical intervention, NDT techniques help identify internal defects in critical components without dismantling or damaging them. 

He pointed out that as India’s defence systems become increasingly sophisticated, every critical material, component, assembly and manufacturing process must meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. 

“Hidden defects can affect operational availability, increase maintenance requirements, reduce the service life of equipment and, in critical situations, jeopardise mission success. We need to move beyond a culture of merely identifying defects towards actively preventing them by embedding quality at every stage of the manufacturing process,” he said. 

Highlighting the importance of quality in strategic applications, he observed that in defence systems such as missiles, aircraft, naval platforms and spacecraft, quality was not merely a manufacturing requirement but an essential element of operational reliability and national security. 

Referring to the rapid transformation taking place in NDT, the Defence Minister said Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Advanced Sensors, Digital Twins and Predictive Analytics were significantly expanding the possibilities of inspection and structural health monitoring. 

These technologies could improve inspection speed and consistency, facilitate the analysis of complex data and identify patterns that might not be easily detectable through conventional methods, he said. 

“The future lies in the intelligent integration of established inspection techniques with advanced digital technologies to make inspection processes more accurate, efficient and responsive to emerging industrial requirements,” he observed. 

He called upon India to move beyond merely adopting these technologies and develop indigenous solutions suited to its strategic and industrial requirements. Investment in research, advanced equipment, software and skilled manpower would strengthen domestic capabilities and enable Indian technologies to find markets internationally. 

Citing India’s achievements in missile development, naval platforms, aerospace engineering, radar systems and space applications, he said the commissioning of INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, was an important milestone in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey. 

He also highlighted initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the Technology Development Fund (TDF), which have encouraged innovation, technological development and experimentation in the defence sector. 

Calling for greater collaboration, Shri Rajnath Singh said innovation flourished when Government, Industry, Academia and Research Laboratories worked together. He urged all stakeholders to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-ecosystem approach to technological advancement and strategic self-reliance. 

Describing NDT professionals as the “Doctors of the Manufacturing World” and the “Invisible Heroes of the Manufacturing Industry”, Telangana Minister for IT and Industries D. Sridhar Babu highlighted their critical role in ensuring the safety and reliability of products and infrastructure. 

“Just as doctors diagnose illnesses that may not be visible externally, you identify hidden defects in materials and components and ensure that aircraft, defence equipment and other critical products are safe and reliable. Your contribution may not always be visible, but it is indispensable,” he said. 

Addressing the gathering as Guest of Honour, said Hyderabad was rapidly emerging as a major aerospace and defence manufacturing hub. 

Referring to the city’s growing aerospace ecosystem, he cited Tata Boeing Aerospace’s manufacturing of Apache helicopter fuselages and Boeing 737 vertical fin structures, Safran’s aero-engine MRO facility and the work being undertaken by space technology companies such as Skyroot Aerospace. 

Telangana has more than 1,500 aerospace, defence and space MSMEs, while aircraft, spacecraft and their components accounted for 29.4% of the state’s merchandise exports in 2024–25, valued at nearly ₹63,000 crore, he said. 

As aerospace and defence technologies become more sophisticated, the importance of testing, evaluation and certification will only increase. Artificial Intelligence, digital twins and advanced inspection technologies will transform the industry, he observed. 

Stressing the need to develop skilled professionals, strengthen testing infrastructure and encourage closer collaboration between industry, academia and research institutions, he said Telangana had significant opportunities to expand its capabilities in these areas. 

Responding to ISNT’s request for Government support in establishing a Centre of Excellence in Non-Destructive Testing in Telangana, Sridhar Babu assured the NDT fraternity of the State Government’s full support for the proposed initiative. 

Under the Telangana Rising 2047 vision, the Government aims to make Telangana a global hub for aerospace and defence, with capabilities across design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, certification and research. 

He invited the NDT fraternity to partner with the State Government in this journey and help strengthen India’s aerospace and defence capabilities. 

Dr Jaiteerth R. Joshi, President, ISNT, Director General, DRDO and CEO & Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace, described NDT professionals as the unsung guardians of safety and reliability. 

“NDT professionals are not just experts; they are the pillars behind the structural safety of critical equipment. They protect lives and safeguard infrastructure. They are the experts working behind the seamless functioning of jet engines, nuclear reactors, missiles, bridges and several other critical systems,” he said. 

He highlighted ISNT’s contribution to developing professional capabilities in the country, stating that the Society had trained around three lakh people over the last 40 years and played a significant role in building India’s NDT professional ecosystem. 

Pointing to the participation of students in the conference, he said today’s students were tomorrow’s guardians of safety and reliability. NDT had applications across virtually every critical industrial and strategic sector, making the development of young talent particularly important. 

The inaugural ceremony also witnessed the presentation of the ISNT National NDT Awards 2026, recognising excellence in research and development, industrial applications, scientific publications, young scientist achievements and lifetime contributions to the field. 

Shri Balaji Srinivasan of IIT Madras received the ISNT-EEC Award for Excellence in R&D, while Shri Dilip Kumar Singh of BHEL, Trichy, was honoured with the ISNT-P-MET Award for Excellence in Industrial Applications. 

The ISNT-CHOKSI ASIA Young Scientist Award was presented to Shri Subhash N. of the Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum. 

The ISNT-IXAR Award for Best Paper in the R&D category went to Mr. Rohan Soman of the Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland, along with co-authors Mr. Shishir Kumar Singh and Mr. Pawel Malinowski. 

The ISNT-Eastwest Award for Best Paper in the Industrial Applications category was presented to Mr. Boddapati Ganesh Kumar of L&T Construction Research and Testing Center, Chennai, along with co-authors Mr. M.S. Senthilkumaran and Mr. V. Govindaraj. 

The Society also conferred Honorary Fellow Membership on Mr. Alexander Mullin, Dr. Steve Mahaut, Mr. Rajul R. Parikh and Mr. Uday Kale. 

Shri P. Vijayaraghavan received the ISNT Lifetime Achievement Award 2026.

 Adding special significance to the occasion, the ISNT Hyderabad Chapter received the ISNT-CHOKSI ASIA Best Chapter Award for 2026, recognising its contribution to the Society. 

The joint conference brings together two specialised technical platforms. While NDE 2026 addresses the wider applications of non-destructive evaluation across industries, AeroNDT 2026 focuses on the specific challenges and emerging technologies associated with aerospace inspection, certification, structural integrity and maintenance. 

The three-day programme features scientific presentations, plenary sessions, technical discussions, poster presentations, industry interactions and an exhibition showcasing the latest products, technologies and solutions in NDT. 

Reliance Industries Limited, BrahMos, DRDO, MIDHANI, MR Chime, Larsen & Toubro, Godrej, the Indian Air Force, CECI Technologies, Ooga Technologies, TPAC, Modsonic, The Welding Institute (TWI) and McGean, among others, are supporting the event. 

Established in 1972, the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing is a non-profit professional organisation dedicated to promoting the science and technology of NDT through education, research and the exchange of technical information. With more than 5,000 members across 19 chapters in India, ISNT works towards advancing inspection technologies that enhance industrial safety, quality assurance, reliability and asset integrity. 

The conference and exhibition are being organised by ISNT, with the ISNT Hyderabad Chapter hosting the event, in collaboration with BINDT, DGZfP and COFREND.