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The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the grant of Miniratna Category-I status to Yantra India Limited (YIL), recognising its rapid transformation into a profit-making Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) within a short span of about four years.

Background

Yantra India Limited was established on 1 October 2021 following the corporatisation of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into seven new DPSUs. The reform aimed to enhance functional autonomy, efficiency, competitiveness, and innovation in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
YIL is a Schedule ‘A’ DPSU functioning under the administrative control of the Department of Defence Production.

Performance Highlights

Since its inception, YIL has demonstrated strong operational and financial performance:

• Sales growth: From ?956.32 crore in FY 2021-22 (H2) to ?3,108.79 crore in FY 2024-25.
• Export growth: From nil in FY 2021-22 (H2) to ?321.77 crore in FY 2024-25, reflecting growing global competitiveness.

Key Products

Yantra India Limited operates in critical defence production segments, manufacturing:

• Carbon fibre composites
• Glass composites
• Aluminium alloys
• Assembly products for medium and large calibre ammunition
• Assembly products for armoured vehicles, artillery guns, and main battle tanks (MBTs)

Significance of Miniratna Category-I Status

The Miniratna-I status empowers YIL’s Board of Directors to:

• Incur capital expenditure up to ?500 crore
• Undertake new projects, modernisation, and equipment procurement
• Make faster commercial and investment decisions without prior government approval

This enhanced autonomy is expected to accelerate growth, modernisation, and export capacity.

Broader Policy Context

The decision aligns with India’s defence sector reforms and the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which seeks to:

• Reduce import dependence in defence equipment
• Promote indigenous defence production and R&D
• Encourage participation of Indian industry
• Position India as a global defence manufacturing and export hub

Notably, in May 2025, Miniratna-I status was also granted to Munitions India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, and India Optel Limited, reflecting the government’s phased approach to empowering corporatised DPSUs.