India's Defence Production Hits Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore Mark with Rs 23,600 Crore in Exports

In the recent years, the country's defence production sector has attained combined production of goods worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore, Sushil Satpute, Deputy Director General, Department of Defence Production, New Delhi said.

Addressing a meeting of the Rajasthan Industries officials and sectoral delegates, Satpute said "exports of goods worth Rs 23,600 crore to friendly countries has been facilitated in last one year".

He said, "22.5 per cent of the goods goes to the private sector".

The Dy DG said the government's thrust for greater participation of the private sector also encouraged more and more companies showing interest to participate. This was evident from the fact that the number of defence production licences has gone up from 246 to 742.

The meeting was part of still in progress bid for promoting indigenisation in the manufacturing of defence products by the Government of India at the Udhyog Bhawan here, under the chairmanship of Alok Gupta, Principal Secretary, Rajasthan Industries and Commerce.

Shri Satpute addressed the meeting and conveyed that the private and public enterprises in India’s defence industry are currently producing goods worth INR 1.50 lakh crore, of which INR 23,600 crore is exported to allied countries. 22.5% of this production goes to the private sector. He added that, over the last 10 years, defence production licences in the private sector have increased significantly from 246 to 742.

Officials from RIICO also participated in the meeting and outlined details about land availability in Rajasthan for the defence development and investments. They highlighted Rajasthan’s strategic location for establishment of defence manufacturing units, an official spokesman said, adding that the state government has also expressed its willingness for formulating its Defence Aerospace Policy. Sushil said, "The state authorities also highlighted the advantages offered in the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS 2024)."

Entrepreneurs raised concerns about the difficulties in acquiring licences and approvals, and requested the Ministry of Defence Production to organise an exhibition in Rajasthan that would showcase the necessary defence equipment.

The entrepreneurs were assured that the necessary equipment for testing of defence products would be made available and would draw a significant investment in the state, the spokesman said.

The meeting was attended by Rohit Gupta, Commissioner of Industries, Miss Shivangi Swarnkar, Managing Director of RIICO, Suresh Ola, Commissioner of Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP), along with officials from 20 industrial units that are currently associated with defence manufacturing in Rajasthan.