New Delhi: Referring to the country’s ‘self-reliance’ in the defense sector from the policies of the government, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday that our aim is that the goods needed by the forces should be developed in India and manufactured in India itself. In his address to a joint sitting of both the Houses on the first day of the budget session of Parliament, Kovind also said that the country has opened up space to the private sector and provided an infinite sky of possibilities and last year to enhance India’s space capabilities. The creation of In-Space for this is one such major step.
The President said, “My government is working with determination for the security of the country. The self-reliance of the country in the defense sector, especially in defense production, is increasing continuously due to the policies of the government. He said that the government is also aware and active about the rapidly developing drone technology and the possibilities associated with it. In this direction, the government has notified the Simplified Drone Rules, 2021, and also launched the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for indigenous manufacturing of drones and drone-parts, Kovind said. This will help the country to consolidate its position in this important technology of the future.”
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Kovind said that among all the approvals given for modernization of armed forces in 2020-21, 87 per cent of the products were given priority to ‘Make in India’. Similarly, ‘Make in India’ has been given priority in 98 percent equipment related contracts in 2020-21. He said, “Our forces have also issued a list of 209 such equipment which will no longer be purchased from abroad. A list of more than 2800 such equipment has been issued by defense undertakings, which will be manufactured in the country itself.
The President said that contracts have been signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the manufacture of 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (HLA). He said that the government has taken important steps to convert ordnance factories into defense PSUs. Apart from this, the government is also committed to promote the private sector and start-up enterprises rapidly in the defense sector, he added. Kovind said, “Our aim is that the goods needed by our forces should be developed in India and manufactured in India itself.”(Agency)