New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged the private sector to come forward and make strides in both designing and manufacturing of the defence equipment while asserting that emphasis is being given to enhance manufacturing capacity in defence sector.
Addressing a webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions in defence sector, PM Modi said that a part has been reserved for domestic procurement even in the capital budget of defence.
He was referring to the Government’s decision to reserve Rs 70,221 crore, of the capital expenditure in defence budget worth Rs 1.35 lakh crore, for domestic procurements in 2021-22.
“Private sector to come forward and take up both designing and manufacturing of the defence equipment so that Indian flag can be kept flying high on the global stage,” PM Modi said during the webinar.
In his address, PM Modi stated that the webinar assumes great significance as it is focusing on the important issue of making the country’s defence sector self-reliant (Atmanirbhar).
He further said that there used to be hundreds of ordnance factories before independence, adding that, “In both the World Wars, weapons at large scale were exported from India. But, for many reasons, this system has not been strengthened as much as it should have been after independence.”
The Prime Minister also said that the government has relied on the capabilities of engineers and scientists on developing the Tejas fighter aircraft. “Today, Tejas is flying gracefully in the skies. A few weeks back, an order worth Rs 48,000 crore was placed for Tejas,” he added.
He also informed that since 2014, it has been the government’s endeavor to move forward in this sector with transparency, predictability and ease of doing business. In addition, PM Modi said the government has taken steps to bring about de-licensing, de-regulation, export promotion, foreign investment liberalization, etc.
The Prime Minister also said that India has made a list of 100 important items related to defence, which can be manufactured indigenously with the help of our local industries.
He also said that MSMEs work as a backbone for the entire manufacturing sector, while the reforms that are taking place today are giving more freedom to MSMEs and encouragement to expand.
In regard to this, PM Modi said a timeline has been set so that our industries can plan to meet these requirements.
He added that it is called a negative list in the official language but it is a positive list in the language of self-reliance. This is the positive list on which the country’s manufacturing capacity is going to increase. This is the positive list that will generate employment in India.
“This is the positive list that is going to reduce India’s dependence on foreign countries for our defence needs. This is the positive list that guarantees the sale of indigenous products in India,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi further informed that the defence corridors that are being built in the country will also help local entrepreneurs and local manufacturing. “Today, self-sufficiency in our defence sector has to be seen as the empowerment of these two fronts – “Jawan as well as Youth”, he added.
-RJV/ARK
