The Central Government is assiduous towards the modernization of the defence sector and is taking innovative steps for its further strengthening. To make this sector self-reliant on the lines of AtmaNirbhar Bharat campaign several changes has been done like participation of private sector, technology transfer, 74% FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) through automatic route, releasing of negative list of 101 items for import ban, and then the recent launch of Defence Acquisition procedure (DAP) 2020. Click Here to Read DAP 2020
Now to promote the participation of frontline members of defence in indigenous innovation, on September 29, 2020, iDEX4Fauji was launched, a first of its kind initiative allowing Faujis (Soldiers) or members of the Indian Armed Forces to become part of this process and get recognised. Soldiers are the ones who are working in the field and on borders, handling extreme conditions and equipment and would be having many ideas to improve such equipment. So in order to support such ideas through Services Headquarters this mechanism is started.
- It was launched by the Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) during the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) event which was held virtually from New Delhi.
- He also launched the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4), and Product Management Approach (PMA) guidelines.
- The above initiatives were launched to facilitate iDEX-DIO (Defence Innovation Organisation) in scaling up innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace ecosystem.
It should be noted that iDEX initiative was launched in 2018 by Department of Defence Production (DDP), MoD to achieve self – reliance in Defence sector by engaging Industries including MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), start-ups, individual innovators, R&D (Research and Development) institutes and academia.
- It is funded and managed by DIO , a ‘not for profit’ company as per Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 founded by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Other Launches:
– Under Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) 4, 11 challenges from Armed forces, OFB (Ordnance Factory Board) & DPSUs were made open to prospective startups, innovators, MSMEs to provide their innovative ideas on technologies with respect to defence sector.
– The PMA guidelines were released to develop a ready product on the basis of ‘right product and the product right’. These guidelines are also intended to monitor product development milestones achieved by iDEX winners against the requirements set by the Services/ DPSUs/ OFB.
Participants during the Event: The iDEX event successfully brought together the iDEX stakeholders on a single platform with participation of more than 500 startups and innovators through video conference. It was addressed by the Minister of State (MoS) Shripad Yesso Naik, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Secretary, Department of Defence Production Rajkumar.
Recent Related News:
i.On May 20, 2020 The Department of Defence Production(DDP), Ministry of Defence in order to further encourage procurement from local suppliers to boost ‘Make in India’, has approved 26 defence items out of 127 already notified under clause 3(a) of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017.
ii.On 28th August, 2020 India and Singapore carried out a review of their defence ties at the virtual meet of the 14th India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD). The DPD was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary (Defence), Singapore Mr Chan Heng Kee.
