Task Force to focus on Indigenisation and Modernisation

An article by DSA Team    1 Comment

The National Security Council (NSC) has established a Task Force which will focus on the issues pertaining to defence modernisation as well as self-reliance in the country. The Task Force that has been formulated will be making suggestions to increase indigenisation in defence by more private sector participation, strengthening of the legal and regulatory framework for the industry as well as absorption and upgradation of technologies. The Task Force will also be able to strengthen the existing mechanism for finalising Staff Quality Requirements (SQRs) to foster competition and reduce single vendor cases. A penalty for vendors found non-compliant with defence procurement, particularly from the vigilance angle, is being envisaged as well.

The Defence Ministry has also suggested that harsh rules must be put in place to avoid controversies at the time of vendor selection, price negotiations and during procurements. The Task Force of Defence Modernisation and Self-reliance is part of the National Security Council Secretariat attached to the Military Advisor’s Wing of the Defence Ministry. The various defence institutions that will come under the purview of the Task Force include the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Gas Turbine Research Establishment.