Utilised 65.5 per cent of capital budget on indigenous procurement: MoD

The Defence Ministry on Wednesday said it had set aside 64 percent of the capital acquisition budget for the domestic industry in the financial year 2021-22 and has been able to ''over achieve'' the target.

The ministry said it has utilized 65.50 percent of the capital acquisition budget on making procurements from domestic sources.

''The Ministry of Defence (MoD) had earmarked 64 percent of the capital acquisition budget for the domestic industry in the financial year 2021-22,'' it said in a statement.

''At the end of 2021-22, the MoD has been able to overachieve this target and has utilized 65.50 percent of capital acquisition budget on indigenous procurements through Indian industry to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat','' it said.

The ministry further said that it has been able to utilize 99.50 percent of the defense services budget in 2021-22.

''As per preliminary expenditure report of March 2022, MoD has been able to utilize 99.50 percent of the defense services budget in FY 2021-22,'' it said.

In the last few years, the government has taken a series of measures to boost domestic defense manufacturing.

In May 2020, the government announced increasing the FDI limit from 49 percent to 74 percent under the automatic route in the defense sector.

India is one of the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion (in capital procurement in the next five years.

The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defense manufacturing.