The Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC) and the state’s wider manufacturing infrastructure received high-level attention at the first day of UPITS-2026 in Greater Noida, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah visited the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) stall.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was also present during the visit, according to a report by Navbharat Times. Colonel Sanjay Singh (Retired), Chief General Manager of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, and Monika Kumar, Additional General Manager of the Uttar Pradesh Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Clusters, briefed the visitors on the state’s defence and industrial ecosystem, investment opportunities and upcoming plans.
The UPEIDA stall highlighted the progress of the UPDIC, which is being developed across six nodes in Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Jhansi and Chitrakoot. The corridor is intended to strengthen domestic capabilities in defence and aerospace manufacturing, attract investment, support research and development, and create industrial supply chains for advanced defence products.
The areas being promoted across the nodes include small arms and ammunition, missiles and aerospace, drones and electronic warfare, defence electronics, explosives and ammunition. The report said the state government is focusing on industrial-scale electricity supply, water supply, roads and last-mile connectivity for projects linked to the corridor. These infrastructure requirements are central to whether defence manufacturing can move beyond individual facilities into functioning industrial clusters with reliable access to suppliers, workers and logistics networks.
The state is also promoting institutional and skills infrastructure for the sector. IIT Kanpur and IIT (BHU) Varanasi are being developed as Centres of Excellence, according to the report, while Common Facility Centres and Skill Development Centres are intended to provide testing, prototyping, design, skilling and technical support to companies.
UPEIDA records cited in the report show that UPDIC participated in the India–Spain Defence Industry Workshop, the Regional Defence MSME Conclave and the 15th Defence & Aerospace Strategic Electronics Summit 2026. These platforms were used to present investment opportunities and what the state describes as an investor-centric ecosystem in defence and aerospace.
The Chitrakoot node was also presented as a site of potential expansion, with Bharat Electronics Limited reported to have proposed an investment in an advanced defence manufacturing unit. The report additionally referred to participation by various private and public-sector companies, although it did not provide a consolidated investment figure or an implementation timeline for the proposed projects.
The UPEIDA presentation also covered Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Clusters being developed along expressways. These clusters are intended to support manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, engineering, packaging, pharmaceuticals, food processing and other industries. Their planned location along expressway networks links industrial development with freight movement and regional connectivity, while also making the availability of utilities and last-mile infrastructure an important implementation issue.
UPITS-2026 is showcasing defence and aerospace alongside electronics, automobiles and electric vehicles, information technology, pharmaceuticals, logistics and manufacturing. The report said international buyers from 72 countries are participating in this year’s trade show. The event will continue to serve as a platform for presenting Uttar Pradesh’s industrial projects and investment opportunities to global buyers and investors.
