Bengaluru: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Esri India Technologies Private Limited to strengthen geospatial intelligence and GIS capabilities for India’s defence services.
Signed on August 3, 2026, the agreement focuses on cooperation in surge deployment for BEL and Defence Services. The collaboration will combine BEL’s expertise in defence electronics and systems integration with Esri India’s advanced capabilities in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), location intelligence and GeoAI to develop next-generation defence solutions.
The partnership is aligned with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, promoting indigenous technology development and strengthening India’s defence ecosystem.
BEL and Esri India to Collaborate on Advanced Defence Technologies
Under the MoU, BEL and Esri India will jointly pursue opportunities in the defence sector by leveraging their respective strengths.
BEL will contribute its extensive experience in:
- Defence electronics
- Systems integration
- Indigenous defence technologies
Esri India will provide expertise in:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Location intelligence
- GeoAI technologies
- Geospatial analytics
The collaboration aims to deliver advanced geospatial solutions that improve operational planning, decision-making and situational awareness for India’s defence services.
Focus on Rapid GIS Deployment for Defence Operations
A key objective of the partnership is to ensure the timely availability and rapid deployment of GIS solutions to support urgent operational requirements across India’s defence initiatives.
The organisations will work together to provide location-based intelligence that enhances mission planning and operational coordination while enabling defence forces to respond more effectively during critical situations.
Esri India to Build BEL’s GIS and GeoAI Capabilities
As part of the agreement, Esri India will provide training support to BEL to help build in-house expertise in GIS and GeoAI technologies.The training will be delivered through Esri India’s ‘Indo ArcGIS’ platform and is expected to strengthen BEL’s capability to develop, deploy and manage advanced geospatial solutions for defence applications.
This capability-building initiative will support long-term technological self-reliance and enhance BEL’s expertise in emerging digital defence technologies.
MoU Exchange Ceremony
The Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged between:
- Rajnish Sharma, Director (BC) & Additional Charge Director (Marketing), BEL
- Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India
The exchange took place in the presence of:
- Ruchi Pant, General Manager (TP), BEL
- Anil Kumar Singh, General Manager (SP), BEL
The ceremony marked the beginning of a strategic partnership focused on strengthening India’s defence technology capabilities.
Leaders Highlight Strategic Importance of Geospatial Intelligence
Speaking on the occasion, Agendra Kumar, Managing Director of Esri India, said geospatial intelligence has evolved from a support capability into a strategic decision-making advantage for modern defence forces. He noted that the convergence of GIS and GeoAI will play a vital role in building resilient and mission-ready defence capabilities by enabling commanders to analyse situations and respond with greater speed and precision.
He added that the collaboration with BEL will strengthen indigenous geospatial innovation, enhance national capability and equip India’s defence services with trusted, future-ready location intelligence in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. BEL’s Director (BC) & Additional Charge Director (Marketing), Rajnish Sharma, said the company remains committed to delivering advanced indigenous technologies for national security.
He stated that the partnership combines BEL’s expertise in defence systems with Esri India’s leadership in GIS to develop next-generation geospatial solutions that provide actionable intelligence, improve operational coordination and strengthen situational awareness for India’s defence forces.
Partnership Supports Make in India Vision
The collaboration is aligned with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, with both organisations committed to leveraging indigenous capabilities, technology sharing and innovation to serve the evolving requirements of India’s defence establishment. The partnership is expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced geospatial technologies while supporting the development of self-reliant and future-ready defence solutions.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Headquartered in Bengaluru, BEL is one of India’s leading defence electronics companies, manufacturing advanced systems and solutions for the Indian Armed Forces. The company plays a key role in strengthening the country’s defence capabilities through indigenous technologies in areas such as radar systems, communication equipment, electronic warfare, naval systems, aerospace, homeland security and strategic electronics.
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