India Notifies Sixth Positive Indigenisation List Banning Import of 405 Defence Items (Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence has notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL), placing 405 strategically important defence items under a phased import ban.
The move is aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The list, notified by the Department of Defence Production, carries an estimated business potential of ₹3,070 crore for the Indian defence industry.
What the List Covers
Of the 405 items, 389 are used by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and 16 by the Indian Coast Guard. The list includes line replaceable units, sub-systems, sub-assemblies, spares, components and raw materials linked to major military platforms.
These cover:
• Air platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter, Su-30MKI, Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) and AL-31FP engine
• Armoured platforms including T-72, T-90 tanks and BMP-II
• Warships and missile systems such as Konkurs-M, Invar and MRSAM
• Defence electronics including radars, sonars, fire control systems and satellite communication systems
• High-explosive anti-tank ammunition and other critical equipment
The detailed list, along with indicative timelines for each item, has been made available on the SRIJAN portal.
Progress in Indigenisation
According to the Ministry, more than 15,700 defence items have already been successfully indigenised, resulting in an estimated import substitution value of about ₹9,000 crore over the last five years.
DPSUs have also placed procurement orders, including in-house production, worth approximately ₹10,000 crore on domestic vendors up to March 2026.
The Positive Indigenisation Lists function as a policy tool under which the import of specified items is banned after designated deadlines, compelling the armed forces and DPSUs to source them from Indian manufacturers.
Defence experts note that the latest list creates a protected domestic market for a wide range of components and spares.
This regulatory push, combined with demand from the services, is expected to encourage Indian companies to invest in production capacity, technology and supply chains.
At the same time, the success of the measure will depend on the ability of domestic industry to deliver items of the required quality and in the necessary quantities within stipulated timelines.
The sixth Positive Indigenisation List represents another step in India’s ongoing effort to strengthen self-reliance in defence production by shifting the focus from finished platforms to the deeper ecosystem of components, spares and sub-systems.
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