# Hamirpur student gets Rs 3.5 crore grant for defence drone

2026-09-23T04:38:29+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Sarvesh Sharma, a student at Government Polytechnic College in Hamirpur, has secured a Rs 3.5-crore Ministry of Defence grant to develop the Rudra Edge T-1 (Spectra) drone. The project aims to support Army border surveillance, with capabilities to evade enemy radar detection and resist electronic jamming, officials said. Sharma developed an initial prototype for about Rs 87,000 after his team won the fourth prize, worth Rs 10 lakh, at a national drone competition organised by IIT Jodhpur and the Konark Corps. The project has been approved under the Defence Innovation Organisation and Innovations for Defence Excellence initiatives. Development will take place at an IIT Roorkee incubation centre. The ministry has allowed 20 days to complete formalities, and Sharma has 20 months to finish the project.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both Economic Times and Rediff present the project as a straightforward government-backed innovation story, centred on the grant, the low-cost prototype and its intended defence use. Rediff uses more promotional language by describing the drone as poised to revolutionise border surveillance, while Economic Times stays closer to the stated capabilities. Neither account provides technical test results, details of the grant’s instalments or confirmation of Army deployment. The project’s progress at IIT Roorkee and its 20-month deadline will indicate whether the prototype reaches a tested field-ready stage.

## Coverage

- economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/student-gets-rs-3-5-cr-from-govt-meet-hamirpurs-sarvesh-sharma-who-built-army-drone-designed-to-evade-enemy-radar-resist-jamming-attempts/articleshow/134416464.cms>
  Reports grant, development plan and deadlines without overt editorial framing
- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/mod-approves-grant-for-hamirpur-students-advanced-army-drone/20260922.htm>
  Straight PTI-based report with mildly promotional headline language

Tags: Hamirpur, IIT Jodhpur, IIT Roorkee, Ministry of Defence, Sarvesh Sharma
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