Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — India's efforts to cut imports and boost homemade weaponry and equipment has hit a major roadblock, as the domestic, private defense industry is sharply divided over a not-yet-implemented policy that seeks to identify a select few private sector defense companies to be named Strategic Partners (SP), who could then be nominated to big ticket defense projects.
The nomination process is run by the Ministry of Defense (MoD). If the policy is adopted, it will change the way weaponry is acquired in the country.
The controversial policy had been recommended by a select panel nominated by the MoD, under the chairmanship of former Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) chief Vasudev Aatre.
Now, the private defense industry is divided over the selection criteria and the need for such a policy. An MoD source said the policy's consideration could be postponed, given the fierce opposition from various sections of the domestic industry.
"The very fact that the Aatre report, which seeks to detail criteria for selection of SPs, has been made public (April 19) — after the formulation of the Defence Procurement Policy DPP-2016, end March 2016 — suggests that the selection of SPs has been delayed," said Nitin Mehta, a defense analyst in India.
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