Atmanirbhar Bharat: Import Embargo On 101 Defence Items, Says Union Minister

New Delhi: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, the government will stop the import of 101 defence items “beyond given timeline” to boost indigenous production.

Announcing this on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the embargo will be implemented in phases between 2020 and 2024.

It would mean that the domestic industry will receive contracts worth almost Rs 4 lakh crore within the next six to seven years, he added.

“This decision will offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture the items in the negative list by using their own design and development capabilities or adopting the technologies designed and developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces,” the minister said.

Among others, the embargo list includes high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, radars and and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).

The list has been prepared by the defence ministry after consultations with all stakeholders, including the Armed Forces, public and private industry, Singh said.

All steps will be taken to ensure that timelines for production are met. This would involve a coordinated mechanism for “hand-holding of the industry by the Defence Services”, the minister said. The ministry will identify more such equipment for import embargo.