CDS General Bipin Rawat reiterates ‘Make in India’ for armed forces

Only days after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat pointed out that Indian armed forces need to make major defence components in India, the former army chief has reiterated the need for forces to shun imports in an interview to TOI. “We should boost ‘Make in India’ by hand-holding our domestic industry even if they deliver weapons with only 70% of the GSQRs (general staff qualitative requirements) in the beginning…given the opportunity, they will eventually deliver cutting-edge technology,” he told TOI. As ET had also reported, the defence ministry has initiated a process to identify potential savings that can be made this year due to delays in production orders placed on foreign companies and could channel some of the resources to fast-track indigenous programmes that hold the key to sustaining local industry. "I am also happy to inform you that we are making our own guns, we are making our own air defence systems and small arms. You will be happy to know that the Air Chief has now placed a demand for 83 Light Combat Aircraft to be produced by the HALNSE -1.90 %. We do know that they have a lot of import content in them but gradually we have to start looking at how to ensure that most of the major components are made in India," the CDS told ANI. The move to aggressively push domestic manufacturing comes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "COVID-19 has taught us a lesson that time has come to be self-reliant. In times of crisis, nations will have to live by themselves. In fact, a country like India, when we are looking at becoming a regional power, we will have to support other nations and not be dependent on others," said the General.