Representative of Navy informed the SCOD that the country has made significant progress in bridging the gap with other nations in the area of self-reliance, however, the non-availability of critical engines due to continued dependence on foreign OEMs has hampered the progress. The Indian Navy has taken up this issue on a mission mode. The Committee notes that the important cases related to the development of main propulsion systems are in progress under the Make-1 & TDF schemes.

Major illegal currency note printing scam uncovered in Ahmedabad and Surat 3 decade, 3 engine Amritkaal

The Modi government is set to launch Mission Drone Shakti, a major initiative aimed at strengthening India’s domestic drone ecosystem and boosting indigenous manufacturing. Under the proposed plan, India is preparing a ₹1,800 crore scheme to accelerate local drone production, encourage innovation, and reduce dependence on imported components. The scheme is expected to commence from FY27, subject to necessary approvals and clearances. A key focus of the initiative will be to promote local manufacturing of critical drone components while also providing support for research and development to help Indian companies build advanced drone technologies. Unlike the earlier incentive framework, the new programme is being designed as a five-year scheme, providing longer-term policy certainty for manufacturers and startups in the sector. This marks a significant scale-up from the earlier PLI (Production Linked Incentive) 1.0 for drones, which had an outlay of ₹120 crore and supported 23 beneficiaries. That scheme ran for three years between FY21 and FY24, laying the groundwork for India’s emerging drone industry. Mission Drone Shakti is expected to build on that foundation and position India as a global hub for drone manufacturing and innovation. 🚁