Lok Sabha Question No. 2468 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Indigenous Alternatives
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2468

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  AUGUST, 2018

## INDIGENOUS ALTERNATIVES

2468.  SHRI  UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  invite  youth  to  give  ideas  for  indigenous alternatives for foreign equipments or weapons available to armed forces;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has constituted / proposes to constitute any committee of experts / mechanism to exchange and implement those suggestions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (d): A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2468 FOR ANSWER ON 1.8.2018

(a) to (d): Ministry  of  Defence  (MoD)  has  introduced  'Innovations  for Defence Excellence' (iDEX) initiative which was launched by Hon'ble PM in  April  2018.  iDEX  is  aimed  at  creating  an  ecosystem  which  fosters innovation  and  encourages  technology  development  in  Defence  by engaging  R&D  institutes, academia,  industries, Startups  and  even individual  innovators.  iDEX  shall  function  under  the  aegis  of  Defence Innovation  Organisation  (DIO)  (formed  as  a  'Not  For  Profit'  Company Under Section 8 of Companies Act,2013), as its executive arm.

The DIO has under its wings an Advisory Committee with members from Service HQs, DPSUs, NITI  Aayog along  with representatives from the Department of Science and Technology and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Secretary (Defence Production) is the designated Chairman of the Advisory Committee. The main functions of DIO are:

- Receive periodic reports from iDEX team on the projects.
- Provide high level policy guidance.

In addition, to facilitate the participation of Indian Industry, separate  procedure  for  'Make-II'  sub-category  of  Capital  Acquisition under DPP 2016, has been notified wherein a number of industry friendly provisions such as relaxation of eligibility criterion, minimal documentation,  provision  for  considering  proposals  suggested  suo moto by industry / individual etc., have been introduced.

Ministry of Defence has also set up the 'Technology Development Fund (TDF)' which aims at funding the development of defence and dual use technologies that are currently not available with the Indian defence industry, or have not been developed so far. The funding is to public and private sector industry especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that may work in collaboration with the academia or research institutions to carry out innovation, research and development. TDF also aims at encouraging participation of public / private industries through provision of grants, so as to create an eco-system for enhancing cutting edge technology capability for defence applications.

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