Self-reliance in defense ecosystem crucial for India: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the country is working to strengthen the new defense ecosystem, which will reduce imports and boost exports.

“We have developed a habit of depending on foreign countries even for simple products. As addicted to drugs, we are also addicted to products imported from abroad. To change this mindset, we have worked in a mission mode after 2014, after learning from the past policy, to create a new ecosystem of defense with the help of 'Sabka Prayas'," the Prime Minister said.

"Most of the budget allocated for the purchase of defense equipment is being spent on purchases from Indian companies. In the last four-five years, our defense imports have declined by about 21 percent. We are fast moving from a major defense importer to a major exporter,” he said while addressing the Naval Innovation and Indigenization Organization seminar 'Swavlamban' here.

So far the government has come up with a list of 310 military systems and equipment which, in a phased manner, will be removed from the import list. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said, “We have achieved self-reliance in many fields and because of that a new image of India has emerged in the world. Under the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan, the Navy spent over 64% of its capital budget on domestic procurement in the last financial year and it will increase to 70% this year.

India is working to reduce its dependence on imported weapons. "Self-reliance" is key to India's defense in 21st century, PM PM said, "The first step is to develop 75 indigenous technologies for the Navy by August 15 next year. The aim is to take India's defense to unprecedented heights by the time we celebrate 100 years of independence.