'Make in India' best suited to cater to needs of Indian Army: Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Deputy Chief of Army Staff

QUEPEM (GOA): Government's ' Make in India' policy is best suited to cater to the needs of the Indian Army, says Lt Gen Subrata Saha, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S). At the Defence Expo 2016, Saha said that the government's new Defence Procurement Policy ( DPP) has been designed to suit some very basic needs of the Indian Army.

Speaking extensively about the new DPP at an event organised by FICCI, Saha said, "Partcipation of various MSMEs and private companies makes Indian Army's technological requirements much easier to achieve. Elaborating upon the new DPP, Saha also said, "The new DPP focusses not only manufacturing but also on design and development which is a big step forward."

Saha went on to say, "The qualitative requirements of army staff will ensure the beginning of a revolution, as there is scope to bring in technology if you have tie-ups."

Appreciating the new DPP for providing industry a wider scope of participation, Saha said, "Intially request for information (RFI) was not part of the process. In case of the new DPP, this has been addressed."

ET initially reported that in a relief to companies participating in the ongoing tenders, the DPP 2016 makes it clear that projects for which tenders have already been issued will continue procurement under the older routes and the new policy would be applicable to fresh cases only. "All cases where RFPs have already been issued under earlier versions of DPP would continue to be processed under such earlier versions," it reads.

DPP 2016, in the making for over a year, to be applicable from April. A new category IDDM- Indigenous Designed Developed and Manufactured - touted as the most preferred acquisition option has been introduced in the new DPP.