Central and Karnataka Governments Forge Deeper Ties to Boost Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
Bengaluru, August 29 – In a significant move to bolster India’s self-reliance in defence, the Ministry of Defence is intensifying its collaboration with the state of Karnataka, a national leader in aerospace and defence, to create a more robust domestic manufacturing ecosystem.
The partnership was the focus of a high-level meeting held here today between officials from the Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Government of Karnataka. The discussion centred on aligning central policy initiatives with state-level industrial strategies to accelerate growth in the sector.
Smt. Anjali Rao, IOFS, Deputy Director General (DDG) of the DDP, led the central delegation and underscored the critical importance of central-state partnerships. “A strong collaboration between the Centre and states is fundamental to building a robust defence production ecosystem,” she stated.
Rao detailed the Central Government’s multi-pronged strategy to advance the ‘Make in India’ vision in defence. This includes creating demand for domestic industry through a higher allocation of the defence budget for local procurement, streamlining the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), and providing preference to platforms with higher Indigenous Content (IC).
Further initiatives highlighted were the promulgation of Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) to ban the import of specific items, the launch of the Srijan Defence Portal to identify indigenous alternatives, and schemes like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to foster innovation. The government has also simplified the ‘MAKE’ procedure, eased Industrial Licensing, and liberalised FDI policy to attract investments and increase industry participation.
Karnataka: A Strategic Hub for Defence & Aerospace
The state’s pivotal role in advancing the sector was a key focus of the discussions. Karnataka’s initiatives were spotlighted, including its efforts to promote design, R&D, and innovation. A major project discussed was the establishment of the Defence and Aerospace Park at Devanahalli, envisioned as a premier hub for advanced manufacturing.
State officials also outlined policy reforms designed to ease doing business and attract investments, alongside the ongoing implementation of the Karnataka Aerospace & Defence Policy aimed at boosting industrial growth.
Dr. S. Selvakumar, IAS, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Industries Department, emphasized the state’s commitment. “Karnataka has always been at the forefront of defence and aerospace production, housing a large cluster of public and private sector enterprises. The State remains committed to working closely with the Ministry of Defence to ensure India’s self-reliance in the sector,” he said.
The meeting was attended by a broad contingent of senior officials from both the central and state governments, including Smt Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Commissioner for Industrial Development, signalling the high priority both administrations place on this strategic partnership. The collaborative effort marks a concerted step towards reducing India’s dependence on defence imports and establishing the country as a global manufacturing and export hub.
