Can’t Compel Armed Forces to Buy from Any Firm

The defence minister said procurements have been simplified and significant strides are being made under Make in India in defence sector

Addressing the Indian Defence Conclave 2018 in New Delhi on 16 November 2018, defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, said she can’t compel the armed forces to buy defence equipment from any specific company. Adding that under the current administration, defence acquisitions had been significantly simplified and were happening speedily with ‘due diligence intact.’

“It’s not necessary that armed forces will have to be bound by me, or forced by me or compelled by me to say, oh no, this is an Indian company, you buy it only from them. I can’t say that to them. I have to work to make sure their operational preparedness is no way curbed. It’s for them to take a call on what is good enough for them. And if you are able to convince what is good enough for them is what you are producing, nothing can stop it. They will certainly buy it,” she said in the address.




Commenting on the indigenisation of the defence sector, she said processes had been simplified under the new framework. She remarked, “I think much water is flowing under the bridge of Make in India for defence. We are participating with them to make sure that we make it simpler, easier for them to operate, so that regulatory mechanisms don’t obstruct them.”

Sitharaman assured full support to the defence manufacturers assembled at the conclave, assuring that the government will help them in every possible way to export their products.