Article Posted on : - Feb 26, 2015

NEW DELHI (PTI): Giving a boost to the defence manufacturing, a high powered committee has approved most of the proposals from the sector including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Pipavav Defence.

The inter-ministerial committee was chaired by Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Amitabh Kant here.

Out of the total 29 proposals which was considered by the committee, 22 were from defence manufacturing sector.

"All the clearances were given to them including security, explosives and from the Department of Defence production. Out of 29, 26 have been cleared by the licensing committee meeting," a senior official in the DIPP told PTI.

While Tata Motors proposed overhaul of armoured fighting vehicles and infantry main combat vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra had sought permission for manufacturing of torpedo launchers and decoy launchers.

Similarly, Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering has sought approval for manufacturing, assembling and testing of calibres of ammunitions ranging from 20 mm to 203 mm for the armed forces.

The other major players who have approached the committee with their proposals include Punj Lloyd, Samtel Thales Avionics and Max Aerospace & Aviation.

To attract foreign direct investment and boost defence manufacturing in the country, which imports up to 70 per cent of its military hardware, the government has raised the FDI cap to 49 per cent.

Six companies including Deccan Explotech and Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals have sought approval in the explosive sector.

Further, Kuber Products Ltd has sought permission for transfer of cigarette manufacturing license for Biccavolu Unit II in Andhra Pradesh from New Tobacco Company to Kuber Products Pvt Ltd.