Manesar, 25 September 2026: The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar, marked two decades of dedicated service to India’s automotive sector with a landmark event bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, technology stakeholders and media representatives.

The event was graced by Union Cabinet Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy, Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, and Prem Chandra Maurya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries. Senior officials from MHI, MoRTH, MoA&FW, MEITY, MoP, MNRE, CAQM, BEE and BIS, along with past Presidents of SIAM and ACMA, senior industry representatives and also participated in the occasion.

A key feature of the programme was an industry dialogue on the PM e-Drive scheme, a flagship initiative aimed at accelerating India’s transition towards clean, sustainable and self-reliant mobility. The dialogue provided an important platform for government and industry stakeholders to exchange perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping the country’s evolving electric mobility ecosystem.

Another significant milestone was the inauguration of ICAT’s indigenous Agri Machinery Test Facility. The facility is designed to strengthen the testing and certification ecosystem for agricultural machinery and support the availability of reliable and certified equipment for farmers. With this initiative, ICAT is expanding its capabilities beyond the automotive sector and moving towards becoming a multi-sectoral testing and certification centre, bringing together expertise across automotive and agricultural technologies.

In his opening remarks, Director ICAT Shri Saurabh Dalela highlighted ICAT’s two-decade journey and its contribution to the development of India’s automotive ecosystem. He noted that ICAT has played an important role in advancing innovation, vehicle safety and sustainability while supporting the evolving requirements of the industry.

The occasion also recognised the contributions of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, nodal ministries, CMVR test agencies, ICAT’s suppliers, collaborators, partners and consultants, as well as former CEOs of NATRiP/NAB, former Directors of ICAT and the dedicated teams at ICAT. Their collective efforts and continued support have contributed significantly to the institution’s growth and achievements over the past two decades.

Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries underlined that ICAT’s 20-year journey represents not only an important milestone but also a foundation for the opportunities ahead. The discussions reflected the broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, with India seeking to strengthen its capabilities and expand its global footprint in automotive and agricultural technologies.

The milestone event thus marked both a celebration of ICAT’s achievements over the past 20 years and a renewed commitment to innovation, collaboration and technology-led development in the years ahead.