According to media reports, the government has finalised 25 projects under the Make in India initiative for private sector participation.
As per the reports, the Department has issued 319 licences to 197 companies out of which 150 licences were issued over the past 18 months. Out of these, 50 companies have already started production of indigenous defence equipment.
India has the third largest armed forces in the world with about 31.5 per cent of the defence budget being spent on capital acquisitions. Imports take care of 60 per cent of the requirement. Over the next 10 years, India is expected to invest about ₹15 lakh crore in defence equipment.
The new Defence Procurement Policy is going to be made public quite soon. Under the ambit of this policy, the companies will not just have to win a tender under the L1 category but will also need to have their products conform to certain quality criterias.
In advanced light helicopters, light combat helicopters and light utility helicopters, about 50 per cent of the components are imported. After the participation of private firms, these helicopters can be manufactured in the country.
