Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi on December 17, 2024. The meeting focused on the roles and functions of the new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), established following the corporatization of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board.
Key Highlights
The committee was briefed on various aspects of the new DPSUs, including:
- Financial performance.
- Modernization and capital expenditure.
- Export achievements.
- Development of new products.
- Progress in ongoing research and development (R&D) projects.
Acknowledging Progress and Achievements
Shri Rajnath Singh commended the new DPSUs for their efforts in indigenizing critical defence products, modernizing production facilities, and actively promoting MSMEs. He noted significant improvements in productivity, quality, sales, and profitability since the corporatization process.
The Defence Minister expressed confidence in the DPSUs’ ability to drive modernization and indigenization, envisioning them as key players in enhancing India’s defence manufacturing capabilities. He highlighted their potential to incorporate world-class technologies, ensuring growth in areas such as quality, turnover, and profitability.
“Our new DPSUs will make India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in defence production,” Shri Rajnath Singh stated, emphasizing the strategic importance of the sector.
Addressing HR-Related Concerns
Responding to concerns raised by committee members regarding human resources (HR) issues, Shri Rajnath Singh assured that challenges arising from the corporatization process were being effectively addressed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. He also welcomed suggestions from members and committed to examining them for potential implementation.
Key Attendees
The meeting was attended by:
- Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth
- Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan
- Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar
- Senior officers from the Ministry of Defence.
The Defence Minister reiterated his vision of modernized, globally competitive DPSUs driving India’s defence production and contributing to the nation’s goal of self-reliance in the sector. This meeting marks another step towards strengthening India’s defence industrial base and achieving the objectives of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
