In a significant stride towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) comprising 405 strategically important items with an estimated domestic business potential of ₹3,070 crore.
Keywords: Positive Indigenisation List, Aatmanirbhar Bharat Defence, SRIJAN Portal, DRDO private sector participation, LCA Tejas, Su-30MKI indigenisation, defence manufacturing India
The list, released on Tuesday, covers Line Replaceable Units, sub-systems, sub-assemblies, spares, components and raw materials. Of these, 389 items are linked to Defence Public Sector Undertakings and 16 to the Indian Coast Guard. Once successfully indigenised within specified timelines, procurement of these items will be restricted exclusively to Indian industry through the SRIJAN Defence Portal.
The items support a wide spectrum of platforms, including the Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Su-30MKI and its AL-31FP engine, T-72, T-90 and BMP-II armoured vehicles, warships, missile systems such as Konkurs-M, Invar and MRSAM, as well as radars, sonars, fire-control systems, satellite communication equipment and high-explosive anti-tank ammunition.
Officials noted that more than 15,700 defence items have already been indigenised, yielding approximately ₹9,000 crore in import substitution over the past five years. DPSUs have placed procurement orders worth around ₹10,000 crore on domestic vendors up to March 2026.
In a parallel and equally consequential development, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has, for the first time, opened advanced missiles and nuclear-related strategic systems under its Directorate of Missiles and Strategic Systems to private sector participation. Private firms meeting stringent technical, financial and licensing criteria will be eligible to compete as Development-cum-Production Partners for future projects, including elements of the Agni series and submarine-launched systems. This marks a deliberate expansion of industry involvement beyond traditional public-sector channels and is expected to strengthen supply chains and production capacity for India’s strategic arsenal.
Together, the sixth PIL and DRDO’s policy shift reinforce the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision by deepening domestic manufacturing capabilities, encouraging greater private investment and reducing long-term import dependence across critical defence domains.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.