Question: On 13th June 2021 , Defence Minister announced budgetary support to Defence Excellence (iDEX)-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). What was the amount announced as the support?
a) Rs 498.8 crore
b) Rs 490.8 crore
c) Rs 488.8 crore
d) none of the above
Ans: a
Facts
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the budgetary support of Rs 498.8 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)
- This budget is allocated for the next five years.
- It has been done to make India a hub of defence manufacturing by providing financial support to nearly 300 start-ups/MSMEs/individual innovators and 20 partner incubators under the DIO framework.
iDEX–DIO
- iDEX–DIO has the primary objective of self-reliance and indigenisation in the defence and aerospace sector.
- DIO was established by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) under it iDEX framework was created.
- iDEX–DIO aims at creating an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in the defence and aerospace sector and creation of channels for innovators to engage and interact with the Indian defence production industry.
Past initiative done by government to boost self reliance in Defence and aerospace sector
- Last August, India announced to stop the import of 101 weapons and military platforms like transport aircraft, light combat helicopters, conventional submarines, cruise missiles and sonar systems by 2024 so that they can be purchased from local industry giving make in India in defence sector a boost.
- Subsequently a second negative list was also released.
- In May last, the government announced increasing the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent under the automatic route in the defence sector.
Need for indigenisation in defence sector for India
- India was second largest arms importer during 2016-20.
- This puts a huge burden on Indian economy and also costs huge amount of foreign reserves to India.
- This is why government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing.
By kameshwar shukla