India working towards self-reliance in defence sector, says PM

Jhansi (UP), Nov 19: India which became known as an importer of arms has now adopted the mantra of “Make in India, Make for the World” to turn the country self-reliant in the defence sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday as he handed over some indigenously developed defence platforms to the armed forces.
At an event in Jhansi in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Modi formally handed over light combat aircraft (LCH) designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to the Air Force chief, drones and UAVs built by Indian start-ups to the Army chief, and the DRDO-designed and Bharat Electronics Limited-manufactured advanced electronic warfare suite for naval ships to the Navy chief.
The prime minister also laid the foundations of multiple development projects, including a Rs 400-crore plant under Bharat Dynamics that will make propulsion system for anti-tank guided missiles and a 600-megawatt Ultra Mega Solar Power Park being constructed at a cost of over Rs 3,013 crore. Addressing the event, Modi said, “India’s identity was that of an importer of arms. Today, the country’s mantra is ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
The country is working to make our armed forces ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant).
“We are adding the talent of private sector with our defence sector and new start-ups are being given a chance to show their ‘kamaal’ (good work) in this sector,” he said on the final day of ‘Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv’.
Several initiatives and schemes were launched or dedicated to the nation during the three-day ‘parv’ in Jhansi that also celebrated the 193rd birthday of Rani Laxmi Bai.
He said the admission of girl students has started in Sainik Schools from this session and in future brave women like Rani Laxmi Bai will come out of these schools and serve the nation. (PTI)