Foreign collaborations optimised for profit, risk-sharing and a common goal of achieving technological superiority could well enable India to break into the global market in select areas.
It would be a bold gesture if MoD decides to categorise all development projects under Make-II. This will send a strong message to the industry and to the nation about MoD’s earnestness to promote private sector participation.
It behooves both HAL and ADA to work in synergy to meet the target of 16 aircraft per annum and ensure the successful and prompt completion of the Tejas Mk.1A project.
Why the objective sought to be achieved through the strategic partnership scheme could not be attained by resorting to an existing provision in DPP 2016?
There seems to be no clear advantage of giving an overarching role to the Ministry of Home Affairs as regards formulation of policy or grant of industrial licence for manufacture or export of defence items.
The objective of promoting Indian industry can be achieved in a simpler manner if after selecting the platform to be inducted MoD leaves it to the foreign OEM to tie up with the Indian company of its choice.
The new enabling provision in GFR-2017 provides the MoD a chance to amend its own procurement document and include a provision of production reservation and price preference for domestic industry.
It would be both graceful and fair to pay a reasonable amount that is seen as equitable compensation for infringement of the fundamental right to life or damages arising from tortious liability of the government.
Need for Sector-Specific Ease-of-Doing Business Indices
Sector-specific micro parameters that have a bearing on the ease of doing business need to be identified and quantified.