Defence ministry puts restrictions on import of 107 items under staggered timeline
New Delhi, Mar 24: The Defence Ministry on Thursday announced a fresh list of 107 sub-systems and components that will not be allowed to import under a staggered timeline of six years beginning December with a primary aim to promote indigenisation.
The list comprises components required in the production of helicopters, submarines, warships, tanks, missiles, radars and communication systems many of which are currently procured from Russia.
Last December, the defence ministry released a list of 2851 sub-systems and components which will come under import embargo under a specific timeline.
Some of the components and sub-systems identified for import embargo in the fresh list are used for construction of indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), electronic warfare system, Astra missile, T-90 tanks and infantry combat vehicles.
The list released by the Defence Ministry comprised 22 items that will be taken up for indigenisation by the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) while Bharat Electronics Ltd will indigenise 21 sub-systems.
The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders will take up indigenisation of six components and subsystems used for construction of ships and submarines, Bharat Dynamics Ltd has been entrusted with indigenisation of four items for Astra missiles, while BEML Ltd got 12.
Other defence public sector undertakings (DPSU) being involved in the process are Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Goa Shipyard Ltd, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd and Munitions India Limited (MIL).
"In continuous pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing and to minimise imports by DPSUs under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', Ministry of Defence has approved another list of 107 strategically important Line replacement Units (LRUs)/sub-systems with a timeline beyond which there will be an embargo on their import," the ministry said.
It said the identified items will be indigenised and will only be procured from Indian industry after the timelines indicated against each of them in the list.
The ministry said the indigenisation of these items will be taken up by the DPSUs under the 'Make' category.
The 'Make' category aims to achieve self-reliance by involving greater participation of the Indian industry.
The DPSUs will offer these identified LRUs/Sub-systems for industry-led design and development.
"This will be a great opportunity for the Indian industry to get integrated in the supply chains of manufacturing major defence platforms, the defence ministry said in a statement.
It said the indigenous development of these LRUs/Sub-systems projects will bolster the economy and reduce the import dependence of DPSUs. "In addition, it will help harness the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry and position India as a design leader in these technologies," the ministry said.
"This list is in continuation to the positive indigenisation list of 2,851 sub-systems/assemblies/sub-assemblies/components which had been earlier notified by Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence on December 27, 2021," it said.
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Vistara in-flight experience will continue post-merger, says Air India
New Delhi (PTI): Air India on Friday said Vistara routes and schedule as well as the in-flight experience will continue and the flights operated with Vistara planes will have the code 'AI2' post-merger.
The merger of the two full service carriers is scheduled to be completed on November 12, following which Singapore Airlines will have a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India.
Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.
Post the merger, the vintage 'Maharaja' will be retained through the frequent flyer programme of the integrated entity.
"The existing members of Club Vistara will be seamlessly transferred to Air India's Flying Returns program. With this merger, Flying Returns will also evolve into an all-new avatar 'Maharaja Club'," Air India said in the statement.
Reiterating that the experience offered by Vistara will continue for customers post-merger, Air India said Vistara will be identified by a special four-digit Air India code beginning with the digit '2'.
"For instance, UK 955 will become AI 2955 helping customers identify them while booking... after November 12," the statement said.
Further, it said the routes and schedule operated by Vistara aircraft will continue to be the same, alongside the airline's in-flight experience that includes the product and service such as menu and cutlery on the Vistara aircraft.
There are concerns in certain quarters on whether Vistara passengers will continue to get the same services like now, post-merger as Air India, which is in the transformation phase, has been facing certain service issues in recent times.
Air India, on October 2, also said that Vistara experience will remain post-merger.
On Wednesday, Vistara Chairman Bhaskar Bhat said the integrated entity will share the best practices of the two airlines and the livery of Vistara will stay for sometime.
The Air India-Vistara merger, announced in November 2022, will also see Singapore Airlines acquiring a 25.1 per cent stake in the merged entity.
