ADVANCING INDIA'S DEFENCE MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

India, currently the fifth-largest economy globally and poised to ascend to the third position, hopes to transition from being one of the largest importers of military equipment to achieving a surplus in exports. This shift is expected to establish India as a prominent exporter of defence goods, driven by advancements in its defence manufacturing capabilities. Moving, therefore, from import dependency to indigenous innovation, highlights JAYANT PATIL, Advisor Defence & Smart Technologies to CMD Larsen & Toubro

- JAYANT PATIL

India's Defence Industry has evolved from Pre-Independence where in Indian Private Industry was employed by the British towards support activities to the War Effort (WW-II). Independent India's Socialistic Republic model of Governance concentrated the entire National security effort in the "Public Sector" which grew in size, diversity and geographic spread with the major Wars in 1962, 1965, & 1971 and Nationalising what was in Private hands. This was similar to almost all major sectors of our economy that remained "Controlled" till economic liberalization in 1991. While opening up the economy in 1991 Defence sector was kept reserved for the state being strategic to the Nation alongside Space, Nuclear and Currency.

Baby Steps Towards Opening up of the Sector

Efforts to open the Defence Sector began a few years later with CII bringing together Private Industry players involved in Defence manufacturing as partners to DRDO development programs, Tierised Partners to DPSU / OF and those participating in the Naval Indigenisation Initiative.