Source: The post development of India’s defense ecosystem has been created, based on the article “India’s atmanirbhar defense sector” published in “Indian express” on 3rd April 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy – Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
News: This article discusses India’s efforts to strengthen its defense industry. It mentions policy changes, increased domestic production, and growth in exports. There’s also a focus on innovation and involving women in defense roles, aiming for a self-reliant and developed India.
What is the current status of India’s defense ecosystem?
India was ranked 23rd among arms exporters by SIPRI, for the first time, in 2019.
Investments in Defence Corridors: Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh corridors attracted Rs 7,000 crore in investments.
Growing Defence Production: The defence production target for 2023-24 is Rs 1,35,000 crore and India expects the value of its defence production to reach Rs 1,75,000 crore by 2025.
What initiatives have been taken for the development of India’s defense ecosystem?
Policy Initiatives:
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 ensures 50% indigenous content in procurement.
New Procurement Category — Buy (Global-Manufacture in India): Encourages foreign companies to set up maintenance and manufacturing in India.
Positive Indigenisation Lists (5,000 items in this list) mandate domestic sourcing for certain defense items.
Financial Investments:
The Swedish Arms Major SAAB’s Announcement: First 100% FDI project for manufacturing Carl Gustav M4 rocket system in India.
Increased Domestic Procurement Budget: From 40% to 75% of the total capital procurement budget dedicated to domestic procurement.
Increasing Private Contributions: Private sector’s defense production contribution reached Rs 21,083 crore, about 20% of the total.
DRDO:
Review of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): A committee established for a holistic review to align DRDO with contemporary challenges.
Building “Fit to Purpose” Capabilities: Focus on developing domestic defence R&D and innovation, with substantial budget allocation.
Participation of women:
Initiatives like Nari Shakti and the opening of Sainik Schools and the National Defence Academy to women have significantly increased the participation of women in the armed forces.
Naval Platform Development:
The development of naval platforms includes significant projects like the INS Vikrant, which is the largest warship built in India, showcasing advanced maritime capabilities.
Additionally, under Project 17A, frigates such as the INS Vindhyagiri have been launched, further enhancing India’s naval strength with modern warships.
Other Developments
The Srijan Indigenisation Portal: Facilitates the indigenisation of around 34,000 imported items.
Way forward
To propel India towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, it’s essential to maintain momentum in indigenous defence production and elevate private sector involvement. Simultaneously, forging strong global strategic partnerships is key to securing India’s place in the global defence value chains.
Question for practice:
Discuss the recent initiatives and developments aimed at strengthening India’s defense ecosystem.
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