Belagavi’s Own Tech Hero: Parag Naik Honored for Telecom Breakthroughs

Parag Naik, the brilliant co-founder and CEO of Saankhya Labs, recently received a prestigious national award, bringing immense pride to Belagavi and India’s advanced technology community. He was honored with the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Telecom Excellence Award 2025 at the 9th India Mobile Congress (IMC), which took place in New Delhi. The award was personally presented by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Minister of Communications.

This recognition celebrated Parag’s tireless efforts in pushing forward telecom innovation, especially his pioneering work in developing semiconductors right here in India. He was applauded for embodying the “Make in India” spirit long before it became a popular national goal. Parag, a proud native of Belagavi, Karnataka, always chose a more challenging path as a tech entrepreneur. While many others focused on internet companies, he dedicated himself to creating complex silicon and wireless communication technologies in India, a goal many considered nearly impossible at the time.

An industry expert noted, “While others were building dot-com companies, he was chasing chipsets,” highlighting his unique vision. Under Parag’s leadership, Saankhya Labs became India’s first and only company to design and sell advanced software-defined radio (SDR) chipsets.

The company’s very name, “Saankhya,” was inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, meaning knowledge and clarity, perfectly reflecting Parag’s journey. In 2022, Saankhya Labs was acquired by Tejas Networks, a Tata Group company, a significant moment for Indian innovation. Today, Parag continues to inspire, helping national efforts to build more deep-tech manufacturing. He also helped start Vayavya Labs, another pioneering electronics company in Belagavi. With over 50 international patents and another award from the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, Parag Naik is ensuring India leads, not just follows, in global technology.