DBT Bureau
Pune, 29 August 2025
As a part of outreach to strengthen the defence ecosystem, the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence is actively engaging with States to promote initiatives that boost domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.
In this backdrop, Rolley M. Varma, IOFS, Deputy Director General (DDG),DDP, Ministry of Defence interacted with the officials of Department of Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Karnataka, Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), Karnataka Aerospace Technology Centre( KATC).
Rolley M. Varma, DDG underlined the importance of strong partnerships between the Centre and states in building a robust defence production ecosystem. She highlighted the Central Government’s initiatives to accelerate the ‘Make in India’ vision in defence by creating demand for domestic industries through increased allocation of defence budget for domestic industry, streamlining of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), preference to Indigenous Content (IC), promoting indigenisation through promulgation of Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs), launch of Srijan Defence Portal , Defence Exports Facilitation etc, increasing industry participation through the simplification of MAKE procedure, scheme such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), simplification of Industrial Licensing, liberalised FDI Policy etc. and fostering self-reliance by strengthening Defence Testing Facility etc.
Karnataka’s pivotal role in advancing the sector was spotlighted, with discussions centering on the State’s initiatives to promote design, R&D, innovation in defence manufacturing , establish the Defence and Aerospace Park at Devanahalli as a hub for advanced manufacturing, state-level policy reforms to ease doing business and attract investments, implementation of the Aerospace & Defence Policy to boost industrial growth and strengthen the ecosystem etc.
S. Selvakumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department, and Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Commerce emphasized that Karnataka has always been at the forefront of defence and aerospace production, housing a large cluster of public and private sector enterprises. He stated that the State remains committed to working closely with the Ministry of Defence to ensure India’s self-reliance in the sector.
The meeting also witnessed participation from senior government officials including S. Selvakumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industry Department; Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Commerce and Industries, Jagadish, COO, Karnataka Investment Forum; Nitish K. Patil, IAS, Director, MSME; Praveen Ramadurga, Joint Director, KIADB; Veerabhadraiah.B.R, Chief Engineer, KIADB; Nandini B S, Joint Director, Karnataka Udyoga Mitra; N. C. Poornima, Joint Director, Karnataka Udyoga Mitra, Kumarswamy, Addl. Director(P&P), Department of Industries & Commerce; Ragoji Rao, Addl. Director(MSME & PP), Department of Industries and Commerce; Arun Kumar, CEO, Karnataka Aerospace Technology Centre along with other senior representatives.
