Lok Sabha Question No. 4771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Domestic Defence Production Ecosystem
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4771

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  March, 2021

## DOMESTIC DEFENCE PRODUCTION ECOSYSTEM

4771. DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has adopted the time frame upto the year 2025 to create domestic defence production ecosystem;
- (b) whether the Government is also focussing on development of suitable human resource pool to support indigenization of the science intensive industry like special technology universities and special departments within existing universities;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a)    As  part  of  the  recommendations  of  the  Sectoral  Group  of  Secretaries-10  (SGoS-10), Department of Defence Production (DDP) has adopted a Vision and Action Plan 2019-2024 to enhance self-reliance and technologies, leveraging 'Make in India' and maximize the untapped employment and economic potential of the Defence Sector.
- (b) & (c):  The details of action taken by the Government are enclosed as Annexure.
- (d)  Does not arise.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO PARTS (b) & (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  4771  FOR  ANSWER  ON  24.03.2021  REGARDING 'DOMESTIC DEFENCE PRODUCTION ECOSYSTEM'

The Government is focusing on development of suitable human resource pool to support indigenization of the science intensive industry like special technology universities and special departments within existing universities.

2. The R&D Infrastructure Schemes such as Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institutes (SATHI) and Promotion of University Research in Scientific Excellence (PURSE) are open to start ups and manufacturing industries along with the researchers/scientists of academic organizations including development of suitable human resource pool to support indigenization of  the  science  intensive  industry  like  special  technology  universities  and  special  departments within existing universities.
3. Under the SATHI scheme, dedicated manpower will be made available to help with the data collection, interpretation  and dissemination of the information.  The aims of this scheme are: (a)  procurement  and  maintenance  of  high-end  equipment  and  infrastructure  facility necessary for research/testing/manufacturing/fabrication to cater to the demands of researchers, scientists,  students,  start-ups,  manufacturing  units,  industries  and  R&D  Labs;  (b)  Providing access and sharing of scientific equipment and infrastructure; (c) Capacity Building of operators and technicians for efficient operations and interpretations of results/outcome; and (d) Monitoring of usage of expensive scientific research infrastructure for maximum utilization of Infrastructure  Management with efficient operations and to be a part  of 'Aatmanirbhar  Bharat Abhiyan' (Self Reliant India Campaign).  Currently, three SATHI Centres have been established at IIT Delhi, BHU Varanasi and IIT Kharagpur.
4. The PURSE program is an on-going scheme exclusively for the University Sector being implemented  by  R&D  Infrastructure  Division  of  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  since 2009.    This  program  has  broadened  and  created  excellence  in  the  R&D  base  around  the performing  Universities  in  India.    The  synergy  and  focus  of  research  under  this  scheme  may preferably  be  aligned  to  National  Missions/priorities.    The  broad  objective  in  each  case  is  to support  potentially  high  impact,  interdisciplinary  research  (both  basic  and  applied)  aligned  to National Priorities/Missions.  Currently, 54 Universities have been identified for support under the PURSE Program.
5. In addition,  Department  of  Defence  Production  through Innovations for  Defence Excellence (iDEX)  framework  aims to achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging industries including MSMEs, start-ups,  individual  innovators,  R&D  institutes  and  academia.  iDEX  has  forged  strategic partnerships with premier institutions of the country such as IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc  Bangalore,  T-Hub,  IIIT  Hyderabad,   IIT  Hyderabad,  IIM  Ahmedabad, Forge Coimbatore and  Maker  Village,  Kerala.    These  Partner  Incubators  help  discover,  explore  and  support startups/MSMEs  and  develop  human  resource  pool  to  support  indigenization  of  the  science intensive industry.

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