100 percent indigenisation in defence not feasible: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said 100 percent indigenisation in defence production will not be "feasible", and achieving 70 percent self-sufficiency will be considered a "high level achievement".

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, the defence minister said: "Achieving self sufficiency in indigenous production up to 70 percent would be considered high level achievement."

He said 100 percent indigenisation is not feasible because manufacturing some of the components, though small in number, would be a costly affair. He said these components can be purchased.

In a written reply, the minister listed out the steps being taken to achieve higher self sufficiency.

"A number of measures have already been taken to achieve Self Sufficiency in defence production by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector. These measures include according priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors, liberalization of the licensing regime and providing access to modern and state-of-the-art technology to Indian industry by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector," Parrikar said.

The minister, giving details, said that at present majority of the naval ships and submarines are constructed in Indian shipyards.

He also said that over 75 percent of the total expenditure by the Indian Army on capital acquisition during the last three years has been for orders placed on Indian firms.

The minister said the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) that came into effect on April 1 gives strong support to 'Make in India' by according the highest priority to Buy Indian (Designed, Developed and Manufactured)[IDDM].

--IANS

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