New Delhi: In a major reform initiative to boost the domestic defence industry, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced restrictions on import of 101 weapons and military platforms including artillery guns, assault rifles and transport aircraft.
"The Ministry of Defence is now ready for a big push to #AtmanirbharBharat initiative," Singh said on Twitter while making the announcement.
Taking cue from that evocation, the Ministry of Defence has prepared a list of 101 items for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timeline indicated against them. This is a big step towards self-reliance in defence. #AtmanirbharBharat
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 9, 2020
He said the ministry has prepared a list of 101 items for which the embargo on imports is planned to be progressively implemented between 2020 and 2024.
The list of 101 embargoed items comprises some high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters (LCHs), radars and many other items.
List of 101 defence weapons/platforms to be put on import embargo by Defence Ministry December 2020 onwards. https://t.co/adSforDvW5 pic.twitter.com/mYPH3nEnjr
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2020
Singh said all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that timelines for domestic production of equipment identified under a negative list for import are met, adding the measures will include a co-ordinated mechanism for hand-holding of the industry by the defence services.
"The embargo on imports is planned to be progressively implemented between 2020 and 2024. The aim behind the promulgation of the list is to appraise the Indian defence industry about the anticipated requirements of the armed forces so that they are better prepared to realise the goal of indigenisation," he said.
More such equipment for import embargo would be identified progressively by the DMA in consultation with all stakeholders. A due note of this will also be made in the DAP to ensure that no item in the negative list is processed for import in the future.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 9, 2020
source https://www.firstpost.com/india/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-embargoes-import-of-101-defence-items-in-big-push-for-atmanirbhar-bharat-8687871.html
