The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has signed a  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Army Training Command, Shimla, represented by  the Simulator Development Division (SDD), Secunderabad, to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE)  titled VIGRAHA (Virtual, Intelligent, Ground-breaking Research in AR/VR & High-tech  Applications for Indian Army). This collaboration aims to spearhead cutting-edge research and  development in Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics,  unmanned systems, and other emerging technologies for the Indian Armed Forces. 

The MoU was formalized in the presence of Prof B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. SDD was  represented by Brigadier A.K. Chaturvedi, SDD Secunderabad, along with Col Hari Om Ahlawat,  Head of Department, and Lt Col Anupam Porwal, Project Officer. From IIT Hyderabad, the  collaboration was led by Prof. G. Narahari Sastry, Dean (Sponsored Research & Consultancy), with  Dr. Shiva Ji, Associate Professor, serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Centre. 

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B.S. Murty said, “This partnership exemplifies the synergy  between academia and the armed forces in fostering innovation and advancing the nation's  technological capabilities. The CoE VIGRAHA will be a significant step towards realizing India’s  vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense technologies.” 

The prime objective of this MoU is to create a robust framework for joint academic programs,  research and development projects, innovation initiatives, and capacity-building exercises. The CoE  will also facilitate: 

• Training and certification programs in emerging technologies, 

• Internship opportunities for IITH students at SDD, 

• Reciprocal access to academic and technical facilities, 

• Joint innovation and incubation programs in line with the Indian Army’s technological  priorities, especially in AR/VR, robotics, AI, drones, and related domains. 

This collaboration marks a strategic milestone in bolstering India’s defense research ecosystem and  fostering self-reliance in advanced military technologies. 

Simulator Development Division (SDD), established in 1991, is the Indian Army’s nodal organisation  for the design and development of simulators to enhance training effectiveness. Over time, it has  emerged as the nominated Centre of Expertise for AR/VR technologies, while also developing  capabilities in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Drones. SDD continues to advance indigenous,  state-of-the-art solutions that strengthen the Army’s training ecosystem and operational preparedness.