Under deal approved by Defence Advisory Council, first 20,000 AK-203 rifles will be imported from Russia, and then, more than 6 lakh rifles will be manufactured in India.
Strike proposed by employees’ federations of ordnance factories from 26 July, against Modi govt decision to corporatise them, perhaps triggered introduction of the Bill.
OFB is a strategic asset that would flourish post ‘modification and modernisation’. Modi govt’s May 2020 announcement is a step in the right direction.
In a statement, OFB said only 19 per cent of the accidents involving defence ammunition between January 2015 and December 2019 could be attributed to the board.
Pointing out these shortcomings in an internal assessment, the Army has thrown its weight behind government plans to corporatise the OFB to make it more efficient.
Nobody is safe in a market where competition is stunted and choice limited. For the industry, meaningful reform will have to start with the government itself.
Data shows re-alignment in India’s exports, with Tamil Nadu & Telangana posting strong growth in 2024-25 as traditional heavyweights Gujarat & Maharashtra see declines. Gujarat still leads, though.
Of the total package, $649 million will be utilised for additional hardware, software, and support services, and the remaining for Major Defence Equipment (MDE).
Don’t blame misfortune. This is colossal incompetence and insensitivity. So bad, heads would have rolled even in the old PSU-era Indian Airlines and Air India.
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