Committee to Identify Raksha Udyog Ratnas Submits Report

New Delhi, Jun 6 (UNI) With the Government now committed to indigenising defence production to meet increasing needs domestically, a high-level selection committee to identify "Raksha Udyog Ratnas" submitted its report to Defence Minister AK Antony here today.

The Committee, headed by former Secretary Defence Production Prabir Sengupta also a former Director of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, examined the possibility of engaging particular industries in the country in Defence Production.

The Committee had been asked to identify various industries which could be involved in the production of large weapon systems and other requirements of the Defence Forces.

The committee was set up on May 9 last year in pursuance of the Government's policy to identify Tier-I industries in the country and to systematically encourage their involvement in Defence Production so as to assume the role of system integrators of large weapon-systems and producers of platforms required by the Defence Forces.

The other members of the committee were Messrs NR Mohanty, former Chairman, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited; SH Khan, former Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Industrial Development Bank of India and Bakul Dholakia, Director Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad.

Experts from the three Services, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), Defence Research and Development Organisation, finance officials from Defence Ministry and Engineers India Limited assisted the committee. M/s Engineers India Limited provided technical assistance to the Committee.

The companies recommended by the Committee will be notified only after the proposals have been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council, said an official spokesperson.

UNI