Prevailing Policy Gaps In Industrial Licensing For Defence Equipment Manufacturer To Be Addressed…

No.PR-76 September 6, 2018 New Delhi PREVAILING POLICY GAPS IN INDUSTRIAL LICENSING FOR DEFENCE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TO BE ADDRESSED SOON WITH DEPT. OF COMMERCE, SAYS MHA, ADDING NEW DRONE POLICY BEING FIRMED UP Gaps and glitches in the prevailing Industrial Licensing Policy to accord licensing for homeland security manufacturers would be sorted out shortly in consultation between ministers of Home Affairs and Commerce and Industry with former taking up the issue with the latter in next 2-3 days, according to Union Home Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Rajnath Singh. Likewise, the government of the day would shortly come out with new DRONE Policy as per which drones will be inducted in the Indian security system to monitor sensitive and vulnerable areas prone to security risks including thick and dense jungles in which naxals are operational. Inaugurating a Defence & Homeland Security Expo and Conference – 2018 under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, the Home Minister also announced technological up-gradation and modernization to monitor and check activities relating to terrorism especially in areas of Jammu, Gujarat and Assam with Jammu’s border new technological solution facility already being scheduled for inauguration in next few days by the Minister of Home Affairs. Elaborating the issue relating to gaps and glitches that still prevail in the current industrial licensing policy to give industrial licensing for domestic security equipment manufacturers’, Mr. Singh said that he would take up the matter with Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Suresh Prabhu in next 2-3 days and sort out the matter for good since the focus of the government is to escalate make-in India not only in equipment manufacturing but also in many more areas and thus the matter itself is of critical significance for the government also. Referring to the new Drone Policy, the Minister admitted that India has been facing security and terrorism related challenges for years and there are multiple vulnerable areas that are prone to various risks and therefore, the new Drone Policy is being firmed up as per which Drone Air Operation would be ideal to spot security and terrorism related threats in sensitive locations and thick and dense jungle in which physical monitoring of such risks become extremely difficult. The Home Minister also indicated that the top brass of paramilitary forces mandated to ensuring national security and security for its people would also be empowered to purchase security equipment beyond its current limit which ranges between Rs.20-25 crore as the government of the day has brought it at this level from the earlier ceiling of Rs.45 crore per annum. Director General, CRPF, Mr. Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar who was also present on the occasion listed out a detailed presentation on the occasion as to how the para military force is engaged in providing and ensuring security to the nation and its future requirement to strengthen the same. In his welcome remarks, President, PHD Chamber, Mr. Anil Khaitan emphasized that the policy regime for defence equipment manufacturers should be further liberalized so that the make-in-India progresses as per aspersions of the people of India including India Inc. Among other who were present on the occasion Acting Ambassador, Charge de Affairs, Embassy of Israel, Ms. Maya Kadosh; Sr. Vice President and Vice President, Mr. Rajeev Talwar and Mr. D K Aggarwal; Chair, Defence & Homeland Security Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. Rajiv Bhatnagar; Partner, KPMG India, Mr. Amber Dubey and Secretary General, PHD Chamber, Mr. Saurabh Sanyal. Ends. Koteshwar Prasad Dobhal Consultant (PR)