With India’s defence deals with Russia in a quandary amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the Centre has stressed on a renewed push for indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment, urging foreign and domestic companies alike to invest in India.
Addressing the ongoing Army Commanders Conference on Thursday, April 21, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “It is our ‘whole of government’ approach to ensure availability of best weapons, equipment and clothing to our troops braving extreme weather and hostile forces to defend our territorial integrity”. He added that in 2021-2022, ₹40,000 crore worth of contracts by the army are being awarded to Indian vendors.
In the backdrop of the India-U.S. 2+2 dialogue, Mr. Singh invited U.S. companies to invest in India, saying “US-India relationship is built on foundational bilateral agreements, military to military engagements, cooperation in enhancement of defence capabilities and now a new emphasis on co-development and co-production.”
