Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
New Delhi,
The Ministry of Defence today said “Make in India” will be the way forward and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the apex decision-making body of the Ministry, has cleared proposals worth over Rs1,50,000 crore for the services within this year alone.Many of the equipment and platforms will be manufactured in the country, either by the public or private entities, through collaborations and tie-ups with foreign manufacturing companies. The limit of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Defence Sector was increased to 49 per cent from the previous 26 per cent.The Information Management and Analysis Centre – the nodal centre of the National Command Control Communications and Intelligence Network, a symbol of change for coastal security, in the wake of the 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai in 2008, has been opened.The MoD has decided that small transport planes to replace the fleet of ageing Avro planes will be made in India and so will be the course of production for the 384 light-utility helicopters needed by the Army and Air Force. Also six submarines will be built in India at a cost. Another Rs5,000 crore was allocated to encourage research and development of new Defence systems that enhance cutting-edge technology capability in the country.The MoD said the sudden and unprovoked attacks from the Pakistan side in the guise of armed infiltration in the LoC in Samba and later in Arnia and Poonch sectors of Jammu and Kashmir brought disquiet into the region as it resulted in civil casualties and martyrdom of soldiers.“It it seemed the attacks were timed to derail the smooth and peaceful assembly polls in J&K where people came forward in large numbers to vote,” said the MoD while claiming that the situation on the India-China border remained mostly peaceful with the Armed Forces keeping a constant watch on all developments having bearing on India’s security.
