AMN
Private sector players can now apply to Commerce Ministry for licences to manufacture tanks, fighter planes, warships and other defence equipment.
In a gazette notification, Home Ministry said the Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, DIPP, can now issue licences for manufacturing of defence items. However, the licences will be issued to the prospective manufacturers by the DIPP under the Home Ministry’s supervision and control.
The DIPP under the commerce and industry ministry, is mainly responsible for formulation of polices with regard to promotion of foreign investment and manufacturing industries. The decision has been taken to expedite the Make In India initiative and to invite private sector in the defence manufacturing sector.
Earlier, the Home Ministry was carrying out this exercise. The Home Ministry has given security clearance to nearly 3,300 fresh investment proposals in the last three years after conducting national risk assessment.