In News:

The Ministry of Defence has notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) comprising 405 defence items, with an estimated business potential of ?3,070 crore. The initiative seeks to deepen Aatmanirbharta in defence by progressively replacing imported components with domestically manufactured alternatives.

The list, notified by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), covers Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), sub-systems, sub-assemblies, spares, components and raw materials used in major defence platforms. These include the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, Su-30MKI, Jaguar, MiG-29, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and AL-31FP engine. Once an item is successfully indigenised, its procurement is to be made exclusively from Indian industry, within the specified timeframe.

DefenceIndigenisation in India

India’s defence production reached an all-time high of ?1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025–26, registering 15.6% growth over the previous year. DPSUs and other PSUs contributed around 76%, while the private sector contributed 24%. Defence production is targeted to reach ?3 lakh crore by 2029, while India exported defence equipment to 80 countries in FY2025–26. About 65% of defence equipment is now manufactured domestically, indicating a substantial reduction in import dependence.

Major Indigenisation Measures

The government has adopted multiple mechanisms:

• DAP 2020: Gives highest priority to Buy (Indian–IDDM) — Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured.
• Make Procedure:Make-I provides government funding of up to 70% of development cost, while Make-II is industry-funded with simplified eligibility.
• FDI: Up to 74% through automatic route and up to 100% through government approval in cases involving access to advanced technology.
• Defence Industrial Corridors:Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu corridors promote defence manufacturing clusters and investment.
• iDEX: Supports startups, MSMEs, innovators and academia in developing defence technologies.
• Technology Development Fund (TDF): Supports defence R&D by industries, particularly startups and MSMEs, with assistance of up to ?10 crore.
• Strategic Partnership Model: Promotes long-term collaboration between Indian companies and global OEMs for technology transfer and manufacturing.
• SRIJAN Portal: Identifies imported defence items that Indian industry can develop domestically.
• DTIS: Supports creation of specialised testing and certification infrastructure.