Lok Sabha Question No. 1702 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-21
Subject: Promotion of Schemes by Defence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1702

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PROMOTION OF SCHEMES BY DEFENCE

1702. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  of  Defence  is  working  on  any  scheme  to  promote  solar  energy, domestic security,production of space technology and 'Make In India';

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Ministry  is  working  to  reduce  the  effects  of  COVID-19  and security/safety of people for the pandemic?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) to (c): A statement is attached.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1702  FOR  ANSWER  ON  21.09.2020  REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF SCHEMES BY DEFENCE'.

## (a) & b):

1. The Government has taken the following policy initiatives to promote 'Make in India' in defence sector: -
- i. A  new  category of capital procurement 'Buy {Indian-IDDM  (Indigenously Designed,  Developed  and  Manufactured)}'  has  been  introduced in  Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)-2016 in April, 2016, to promote indigenous design and development of defence equipment. It has been accorded top most priority for procurement of capital equipment.
- ii. The 'Make' Procedure of capital procurement has been simplified in April 2016. There is a provision for funding of 90% of development cost by the Government to Indian industry under Make-I category. In addition, there are specific reservations for MSMEs under the 'Make' procedure.
- iii. Separate  procedure  for  'Make-II'  category  (Industry  funded)  has  been  notified under  DPP  to  encourage  indigenous  development  and  manufacture  of  defence equipment. Number of industry friendly provisions such as relaxation of eligibility criterion,  minimal  documentation,  provision  for  considering  proposals  suggested by industry/individual etc. have been introduced in this procedure.
- iv. Under  'Atmanirbhar  Bharat'  campaign  of  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of Defence  (MoD)  has  prepared  a  list  of  101  items  for  which  there  would  be  an embargo on  the  import beyond  the  timeline  indicated  against  them.  This  would offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture these items using  their own design  and development capabilities to  meet  the  requirements  of the  Armed  Forces  in  the  coming  years.  This  list  includes  some  high  technology weapon  systems  like  artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircrafts, light combat helicopters (LCHs), radars and many other items to fulfil the needs of our Defence Services.
- v. An  innovation  ecosystem  for  Defence  titled  Innovations  for  Defence  Excellence (iDEX)  has  been  launched  in  April  2018.  iDEX  is  aimed  at  creation  of  an ecosystem  to  foster  innovation  and  technology  development  in  Defence  and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs,  Start-ups, Individual Innovators,  R&D  institutes  and  Academia  and  provide  them  grants/funding  and other support to carry out R&D which has potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs.
- vi. Department  for  Policy  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade,  Ministry  of  Commerce  & Industry  vide  Press  Note  No.  5  (2016  Series),  has  allowed  FDI  under  automatic route upto 49% and above 49% through government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded.

- vii. Government  has  notified  the  'Strategic  Partnership  (SP)'  Model  in  May,  2017, which  envisages  establishment  of  long-term  strategic  partnerships  with  Indian entities through a transparent and competitive process, wherein they would tie up with global  Original  Equipment  Manufacturers  (OEMs)  to  seek  technology transfers to set up domestic manufacturing infrastructure and supply chains.
- viii. Government  has  notified  a  'Policy  for  indigenisation  of  components  and  spares used in Defence Platforms' in March 2019 with the objective to create an industry ecosystem which is able to indigenize the imported components (including alloys &  special  materials)  and  sub-assemblies  for  defence  equipment  and  platform manufactured in India.
- ix. An  indigenization  portal  namely  SRIJAN  has  been  launched  on  14.08.2020  for DPSUs/OFB/Services with an industry interface to provide development support to MSMEs/Startups/Industry for import substitution.
- x. An  Inter-Governmental  Agreement  (IGA)  on 'Mutual  Cooperation  in Joint Manufacturing  of  Spares,  Components,  Aggregates  and other  material  related  to Russian/Soviet Origin Arms and Defence Equipment' was signed in Sep 2019. The objective  of  the  IGA  is  to  enhance  the  After  Sales  Support  and  operational availability  of  Russian  origin  equipment  currently  in  service  in  Indian  Armed Forces by organizing production of spares and components in the territory of India by Indian Industry by way of creation of Joint Ventures/Partnership with Russian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) under the framework of the 'Make in India' initiative.
- xi. In Feb 2018, Government decided to establish two defence industrial corridors to serve as an engine of economic development and growth of defence industrial base in  the  country.  They  span  across  Chennai,  Hosur,  Coimbatore,  Salem  and Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and across Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Kanpur, Chitrakoot and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
- xii. Offset  guidelines  have  been  made  flexible  by  allowing  change  of  Indian  Offset Partners (IOPs) and offset components, even in signed contracts.  Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are now allowed to provide the details of IOPs and  products  after  signing  of  contracts.  In  order  to  bring  more  transparency  and efficiency  into  the  Offset  discharge  process,  'Offset  portal'  has  been  created  in May 2019.
- xiii. Defence Investor Cell has been created in Feb-2018 by the Ministry of Defence to provide all necessary information including addressing queries related to investment opportunities, procedures and regulatory requirements for investment in the sector.

- xiv. Defence  Products  list  requiring  Industrial  Licences  has  been  rationalised  and manufacture of most of parts or components does not require Industrial License. The initial  validity of the  Industrial Licence granted under the IDR Act  has been increased  from  03  years  to  15  years  with  a  provision  to  further  extend  it  by  03 years on a case-to-case basis.
- xv. Under the latest Public Procurement Order 2017, Department of Defence Production  has  notified  list  of  24  items  for  which  there  is  local  capacity  and competition and procurement of these items shall be done from local suppliers only irrespective of the purchase value.
- xvi. Several Test facilities available with Government  entities have  been  made available to private sector.
- xvii. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has promulgated new patent policy to facilitate Indian industries to get free access to use DRDO patents. This provide an access to Indian industries to the innovations carried out by DRDO to further boost up their R&D and develop new technologies.
- xviii. Technology  Development  Fund  (TDF)  scheme  of  DRDO  provides  financial support to the Indian industries for the design development of innovative defence products.
- xix. DRDO has identified a list of 108 systems and subsystems which will be designed, developed and manufactured by industry only and will not be taken up by DRDO itself for development.
2. In  addition,  the  initiatives  taken  by  Ministry  of  Defence  to  promote  Solar  energy, domestic security and production of space technology are as under:-
- i. DRDO has been supporting MHA/CAPFs/State Police Forces in their modernization plans  through  offering  DRDO  developed  technologies/  products.  DRDO  is  also associated in R&D activities for development of space technology with ISRO.
- ii. DRDO has evolved ToT policy & procedure for transfer of Technology to industries. These technologies have applications for domestic security and  for space applications also.
- iii. Under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) of the Government, a total of 73.5 MW SPV (Solar Photovoltaic) /RE (Renewable Energy) power projects have been operationalized by the Service Head Quarters ( SHQs).
- iv. Solar  Power  plants  of  approx.  capacity  of  139  MW  have  been  installed  in  various units  of  Ordnance  Factory  Board(OFB)  and  Defence  Public  Sector  Undertakings (DPSUs).
12. c). The  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  tackle  the  impact  of  COVID-19 pandemic in defence sector are annexed at Annexure .

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1702  FOR  ANSWER  ON  21.09.2020  REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF SCHEMES BY DEFENCE'.

The following steps have been taken by the Government to tackle the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in defence sector:

## (a) Hospital Infrastructure development to tackle 'COVID'

(i)  Beginning  in  the  month  of  March,  2020  procurement  of  essential  equipment  to tackle  COVID-19  cases  in  AFMS  hospitals  was  undertaken.  Supply  order  for ventilators, oxygen concentrators, hand thermal guns, multipara monitors, PPE, Face masks, sanitizers, disinfectants etc, were placed for all AFMS hospitals.

(ii) Emergency procurement powers of the DGAFMS was sanctioned by the Raksha Mantri for procurement of additional equipment like RT-PCR machines and test kits. As on day, there are 27 functional laboratories in the AFMS carrying out molecular testing  for  COVID  using  RT-PCR, TrueNat, CBNAAT and Gen Expert techniques. Rapid Antigen Tests are available in the periphery for early diagnosis, isolation and contact tracing of cases.

(iii)  In  line  with  latest  treatment  trends  at  a  national  and  global  level,  drugs  like Favipiravir  and  Remdesivir  have  been  made  available  in  AFMS  Hospitals.  Plasma Therapy is also available in two hospitals of AFMS.

(b) Quarantine facilities. Station quarantine facilities have been set up in all military stations where troops are quarantined after returning from leave for 14 days. Any person developing symptoms during quarantine is immediately tested and isolated, if found positive.

(c)  Teams  for  Contact  Tracing.  Teams  comprising  of  medical  and  paramedical  staff  have been  trained  in  tracing  high  risk  contacts  of  confirmed  cases  for  instituting  quarantine measures. Asymptomatic high risk contacts are tested between day 7-10 of exposure.

(d)  COVID CARE CENTRES (CCC). These have been set up to augment hospitals where large  number  of  COVID  patients  are  being  admitted.  Asymptomatic  and  mild  cases areadmitted in these CCCs to decongest the hospitals.

(e)  Interaction  with  Armed  Forces  Medical  Services  of  Friendly  Countries.  Knowledge exchange  and  best practices  for  COVID  control  being  followed  by  USA,  Vietnam, Cambodia,  Laos,  Myanmar  and  Sri  Lanka  have  been  adopted  by  the  AFMS  to  optimise patient care.

(f)  Liaison  with  MoHFW  and  ICMR. The DGAFMS  has  maintained  continuous  liaison  to ensure  that  guidelines  and policies  issued  by  the  apex  bodies  are  implemented  to  optimise patient care. Multiple guidelines pertaining to control and management of COVID have been issued by the DGAFMS to ensure conformity of care across the three services.

(g) DRDO has undertaken R&D and product development on war footing to fight COVID-19 pandemic.  DRDO  has  developed  58  technologies  which  has  direct  utilization  to  combat COVID 19. These technologies are hosted on DRDO website (https://drdo.gov.in/messageboard/drdo-fight-against-covid-19)  and  transferred  to  Indian  industry  with  'NIL'  ToT  fees. DRDO has established three dedicated COVID hospitals at Delhi, Patna and Mujaffarpur for strengthening the medical infrastructure therein named as:

- Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel COVID Hospital Delhi Cantt.,Delhi
- PM care COVID Hospital, ESIC, Bihta, Patna, Bihar
- PM Care COVID Hospital, Patahi Marwan Airfield, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
- (h) DRDO has also developed Virology Research Labs for testing of COVID in various locations like Gwalior, Tezpur, Leh and Delhi and also deployed its qualified manpower and infrastructure to the State Government for strengthening their COVID testing capabilities.
- (i) DRDO has also extended support to Parliament by providing exclusive kits containing Covid protection products.
- (j) DRDO  has  executed  Indo-Israel  Government  to  Government  project  for  joint development and evaluation of rapid COVID testing modalities in various hospitals of Delhi.
- (k) Ordnance Factory Board has undertaken production of the following items to reduce the effect of COVID-19 and safety/security of people:
- i. Repairing of 73 Ventilators to Government of Telangana;
- ii. 25.34 Lakhs Medical Mask;
- iii. 1.27 Lakhs litre Sanitizers, and
- iv. 97228 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to various state Governments
- (l) In  addition,  BEL  has  manufactured  and  supplied  24111  ventilators  to  various  State Government.

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