The Defence Ministry has cleared its new policy for “suspending or banning” contractors for wrongdoings. While earlier policy allowed for blanket bans on conglomerates indulging in illegal activities, the new one pitches for segment-specific bans for a certain number of years only, PTI reported.
The new blacklisting policy will be uploaded on the official website of the ministry in the next few days. Officials, who were not identified, told the news agency that the new policy was aimed at being stricter with contractors without affecting the modernisation process.
Giving the Centre's Make in India initiative a push, the ministry also approved proposals worth Rs 82,117 crore to buy fighter jets, tanks, choppers and drones. However, the Defence Acquisition Council did not decide on the Indian Navy’s proposal to purchase 12 US2I amphibious aircraft from Japan.
The council, headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, gave Acceptance of Necessity to the Indian Air Force’s Rs 50,025-crore proposal for 83 Tejas Mark 1A aircraft, besides clearing the request to buy 15 Light Combat Aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Other defence purchase proposals that were approved on Monday included a repeat order of 464 Russian origin T90 tanks for Rs 13,448 crore and 598 mini UAVs worth Rs 1,100 crore.
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