New Delhi: The Department of Military Affairs in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM)organised the inaugural two-day brainstorming session, titled ‘Revolutionising Indigenisation’ which concluded on March 5, 2024. The session yielded fruitful results and provided valuable insights for policy reform aimed at accelerating the indigenisation process and bolstering private sector involvement in India’s Defence Manufacturing Sector.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, in his address emphasised the ongoing transformative journey in defence reforms and stressed the importance of collaborative efforts across government agencies, services, R&D, and the defence production ecosystem. He called for a ‘Whole of Nation’ approach to foster innovation and achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing, aligning with India’s ‘Vision 2047’.
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to promoting indigenisation through increased private sector participation in the defence sector during the inaugural session.
The Brainstorming Session, chaired by Gen Anil Chauhan, saw active participation from key stakeholders, including MoD, DMA, Service HQs, Indian Coast Guard, DRDO, Department of Defence Production, DGQA, academia, industry partners, and tri-services field units. Consultative discussions centred on various facets of indigenization, addressing policy challenges, and devising strategies to enhance indigenisation with a focus on sustenance, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) issues affecting Aviation, Maritime, and Land Assets.
The outcomes emphasised the identification of key areas for the development of indigenous technologies and products, reducing dependence on imports, and ensuring high operational readiness of the Armed Forces, according to the official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Major highlights from the sessions included discussions on private sector participation in Defence R&D, optimising Make, iDEX, Positive Indigenisation List (PIL). It also included Technology Development Fund (TDF) schemes, incentivising private sector engagement in defence manufacturing, fostering a level playing field, managing Defence Industry Corridors, capacity mapping of defence manufactures, incentivising MSMEs, exploring PPP/GOCO models, and managing IPRs. The second day focused on Services & ICG showcasing their MRO requirements and inviting private industry participation to fulfil future needs.
