According to a parliamentary panel, India’s defence R&D arm DRDO has managed to save ₹2.64 lakh crore over five years for the Indian exchequer. By perfecting indigenous R&D, owning intellectual property and localising supply chains, it has provided an example to India Inc. to work towards long-term profitability through self-reliance. Here’s how it achieved this feat and some lessons companies can learn from it.