In a major stride towards self-reliance in defence, India’s Department of Defence Production (DDP), under the Ministry of Defence, has unveiled the fifth positive indigenisation list (PIL), encompassing 346 items.

What Happened: The DDP rolled out the fifth PIL, which includes strategically crucial line replacement units, systems, sub-systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies, spares and components and raw materials. These items, amounting to ₹1,048 crore in import substitution value, will be procured solely from Indian industries as per the indigenisation timelines specified on the Srijan portal.

The Srijan Portal was initiated by the Ministry of Defence in 2020 to present defence items to industries, including micro, small and medium enterprises and start-ups, for indigenisation. “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's significant impetus for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat' has produced remarkable outcomes in the indigenisation of defence items,” the press release mentioned.

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The indigenisation of the items listed in the fifth PIL will be undertaken by defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) through various channels. This initiative is anticipated to stimulate economic growth, increase defence investment, decrease import dependence, and enhance the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry.

The DPSUs participating in the fifth PIL include Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), BEML Limited, India Optel Limited (IOL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).

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