According to an official release, 164 items with an import substitution value of Rs 814 crore were to be indigenized by December 2022 to achieve 'self-reliance' in the defense sector. This target has been achieved within the time limit. It has been notified by the Department of Defense Production under the Ministry of Defense (MoD). Earlier also successful indigenization of 2,572 items with an import substitution value of Rs 1,756 crore was notified. Now with the notification of these 164 additional items, the total number of indigenous items till December 2022 has gone up to 2,736. Whose import substitution value is Rs 2,570 crore.
"These indigenous items will now be procured only from Indian industry," the release said. Indigenization of such defense-related items would be done on behalf of Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) either through industry partners including MSMEs or through these -has been achieved through the house.
The list of such indigenous items is available on the Srijan portal https://srijandefence.gov.in/NotificationDt12052023.pdf. The Department of Defense Production has so far notified four positive indigenization lists comprising 4,666 items. The government has set a target of Rs 175,000 crore for defense manufacturing by 2024-25, including defense exports of Rs 35,000 crore.
The government has taken several policy initiatives and reforms over the years to encourage indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of defense equipment, thereby promoting self-reliance in defense manufacturing in the country.
(PC: Freepik)
