The steps taken by the Union Government to enhance Research and Development in defence manufacturing are as follows:
- DRDO has introduced a policy on selection of the Development cum Production Partner (DcPP) for DRDO developed systems, which ensures involvement of industries from the beginning of development cycle and lead to reduction in the time-frame of the development-to-induction cycle.
- DRDO has promulgated new Transfer of Technology (ToT) policy and procedure with ‘Nil’ ToT fee for its industry partners Development cum Production Partners (DcPP)/ Production Agency (PA) and ‘Nil’ royalty for supply to Indian Armed Forces and Govt. Deptt. This will enhance capabilities and competitiveness of Indian industries in global market. This will also provide further boost to Indian industries in defence manufacturing sector to achieve higher self-reliance.
- DRDO has promulgated new patent policy to facilitate Indian industries to get free access to use DRDO patents. This will provide an access to Indian industries to the innovations carried out by DRDO to further boost up their R&D and develop new technologies.
- DRDO has launched Technology Development Fund (TDF) which provides financial support to the Indian industries including MSMEs & Startups for design & development of innovative defence products. It provides funding through the means of grants-in-aid to design & develop technologies for the systems, components and weapons utilized by Armed Forces. TDF contributes towards shaping an enabling environment for nurturing innovation and boosting the development of indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The details of projects and amount sanctioned for utilisation under various R&D projects at DRDO during the last three years – number of projects sanctioned – 282 of amount of Rs. 37,985.37 crores.
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, thereby promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing & technology in the country. Some of the important steps are as follows:
- According priority to procurement of capital items from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020. The announcement of 18 major defence platforms for industry led design & development in March 2022.
- Notification of three ‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 310 items of Services and two ‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 2958 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 of 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 Indigenization 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.
- Establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Opening up of Defence Research& Development (R&D) for industry, startups and academia with 25 percent of defence R&D budget.
- Progressive increase in allocation of Defence budget of Military modernisation for procurement from domestic sources, etc.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to PV Midhun Reddy and Dr Sanjeev Kumar Singari in Lok Sabha on Friday.
