Rajnath Singh announcement live updates: MoD to introduce import embargo on 101 items, says Rajnath Singh

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Rajnath Singh announces import embargo on 101 defence items

In an attempt to promote indigenous weapons over expensive foreign ones, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced an import embargo on 101 items beyond given timeline to boost indigenisation of defence production under Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Rajnath Singh said that following the embargo on certain defence imports, it is estimated that contracts worth almost Rs 4 lakh crore will be placed upon the domestic industry within the next 6 to 7 years. Almost 260 schemes of such items were contracted by the Tri-Services at an approximate cost of Rs 3.5 lakh crore between April 2015 and August 2020, said the defence minister. The list includes, wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) with indicative import embargo date of December 2021, of which the Army is expected to contract almost 200 at an approximate cost of over Rs 5,000 crore. Of these, items worth almost Rs 1,30,000 crore each are anticipated for the Army and the Air Force while items worth almost Rs 1,40,000 crore are anticipated by the Navy over the same period. Read more