Lok Sabha Question No. 3809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-25
Subject: Enhancement of Capacity of Defence Sector
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3809

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2022

## ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY OF DEFENCE SECTOR

3809. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

Will the Minister of Defence be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps to enhance the capacity of defence sector to enable security forces to efficiently tackle the present security scenario being faced by the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken steps to upgrade the existing weapons by adopting latest technology so that they can counter the enemy; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

(a) & (b):  The Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby ensuring delivery of modern defence hardware to Indian Armed Forces. These  initiatives,  inter-alia,  include  according  priority  to  procurement  of  capital  items  from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020; Announcement of 18 major defence  platforms  for  industry  led  design  &  development;  Notification  of  two  'Positive Indigenisation Lists' of total 209 items of Services and one 'Positive Indigenisation List' of total 2851  items  of  Defence  Public  Sector  Undertakings  (DPSUs),  for  which  there  would  be  an embargo on the import beyond the timelines indicated against them; Simplification of Industrial licensing process with longer validity period; Liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy allowing 74% FDI under automatic route; Simplification of Make Procedure; Launch of Innovations  for  Defence  Excellence  (iDEX)  scheme  involving  startups  &  Micro,  Small  and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); Implementation of Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017; Launch of an indigenisation portal, namely, SRIJAN  to facilitate indigenisation  by  Indian  Industry  including  MSMEs;  Reforms  in  Offset  policy  with  thrust  on attracting  investment  and  Transfer  of  Technology  for  Defence  manufacturing  by  assigning higher  multipliers;  and  establishment  of  two  Defence  Industrial  Corridors,  one  each  in  Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The capacity and capability development plans of the Armed Forces remain dynamic/flexible  and  are  based  upon  the  appreciated  immediate  &  emerging  national  security challenges and in support of operational response strategies.  Accordingly, the Armed Forces are ensuring preparation & implementation of prioritized acquisition plans to maximize capacity & capability developments, in consonance with the evolving threat perception.

(c) & (d):  Modernisation, upgradation and sustenance of military equipment and weapons is a continuous  process  and  constant  endeavor  to  equip  the  Armed  Forces  with  modern  weapon systems/equipment  being  carried  out  under  various  procurement  provisions  (DAP  &  DPM). Also, in emergency, special procurement powers to enhance the operational capability are given to the Service Headquarters.

DRDO has played a major role in the development of state-of-the-art platforms, weapon system  and  sensors  and  upgradation  of  defence  equipment  in  the  country  which  in  turn  has enhanced capacity of the  Armed  Forces  to  tackle  the  present  security  scenario  of  the  country efficiently.

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