Rajnath Singh gives green signal for Rs 400 Cr Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme
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New Delhi, May 16: Uplifting the domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave a nod to a Rs 400-crore scheme for creating testing infrastructure in this sector. Naming the scheme Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), it will run for the duration of five years and envisages to set up six to eight new test facilities in partnership with private industry.
This scheme will boost the Make In India initiative as it will facilitate indigenous defence production, consequently reduce imports of military equipment and help make the country self-reliant.
Test facilities under DTIS will help meet long outstanding demand of MSMEs and Start Ups for facilitating testing of products made by them, without any delays. These facilities will be owned and operated by the Private Industry.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 15, 2020
"The projects under the Scheme will be provided with up to 75 percent government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’. The remaining 25 per cent of the project cost will have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) whose constituents will be Indian private entities and State Governments, " the statement read.
"The SPVs under the Scheme will be registered under Companies Act 2013 and shall also operate and maintain all assets under the Scheme, in a self-sustainable manner by collecting user charges. The equipment/systems tested will be certified as per appropriate accreditation," it further added.
The majority of the testing facilities are expected to come up in the two defence industrial corridors (DICs) in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, officials said. The scheme, however, will not be limited to setting up facilities in the DICs only.
The DTIS guidelines specify the establishment of testing facilities for drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), radar, electronics/telecom equipment, rubber testing, noise and shock testing, specialised driving tracks, ship motion testing, ballistics and blast testing, and environmental test facilities.