Page 13 - NIS English 16-31 Aug 2022
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Swavalamban Seminar Nation
IN 2014, WORK BEGAN ON DEVELOPING vision of self-reliance in the defence sector
A NEW DEFENCE ECO SYSTEM. at the 'Swavalamban' seminar organised
Prime Minister Modi stated that we began by the Naval Innovation and Indigenization
Organization.
working on mission mode in 2014. Learning LEARN FROM THE PAST AND MOVE ON
from the approach of previous decades, we are The Prime Minister stated that when
now creating a new defence ecosystem with the
combined strength of all our efforts. Defence R&D discussing a self-reliant future in the defence
is now open to the private sector and startups. By sector, it is also necessary to draw lessons
organising our public-sector defence companies from the past decades. This will assist us
into different sectors, we have given them new in paving the way for the future. Looking
strength. Today, our attention is focused on how back, we can see our rich maritime heritage.
to connect our premier institutions, such as IITs, This legacy includes India's extensive trade
with defence research and innovation. routes. Our forefathers were able to dominate
the ocean because they were well-versed in
ATTENTION WAS NOT PAID ON RESEARCH wind direction and space science.
OR BUILD NEW FACTORIES IN PAST INDIGENOUS WEAPONS NEED OF THE
HOUR
PM Modi said that in the first one and a half We have not only increased the defence
decades after independence, we did not even budget over the last eight years, but we
build new factories. Old factories lost their have also ensured that this budget is
capacity. In the policies under compulsion after useful in the development of the country's
the 1962 war, there was some change in the
policies, but in this too; research, innovation, defence manufacturing ecosystem. Today, a
and development were not emphasized. At that significant portion of the budget designated
time, the world was relying on the private sector for the purchase of defence equipment
for new technology and new innovations, but is spent on procurement from Indian
unfortunately, the defence sector was kept in the companies. We have compiled a list of over
purview of limited government resources. The 300 weapons and equipments that will be
Indian Army had to depend on foreign countries made in India and used by our forces.
for simple weapons like rifles. AND THE RESULTS ARE BEFORE
EVERYONE...
The results of such efforts are now visible. In
the last five years, our defence imports have
dropped by about 21%. In such a short time
and not that we have done less to save money,
we have given its alternative here. Today, we
are rapidly transitioning from being the largest
buyer of defence products to being a major
exporter.
New India Samachar August 16-31, 2022 11