Ministry of Defence Notifies Sixth Positive Indigenisation List, Restricts Import of 405 Items

NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has notified the sixth 'Positive Indigenisation List' (PIL), restricting the import of 405 strategically important defence items. Documented by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), the latest list is projected to generate an estimated business potential of ₹3,070 crore for the domestic manufacturing industry.

According to the ministry, the restricted items comprise line replaceable units, sub-systems, sub-assemblies, spares, components, and raw materials. Out of the 405 items, 16 are sourced from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), while the remaining 389 belong to Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

The newly barred items span across multiple operational categories. Affected platforms include air assets such as the Advanced Light Helicopter, Light Utility Helicopter, Su-30MKI, Light Combat Aircraft, and the AL-31FP engine. Armoured platforms like the T-72, T-90, and BMP-II, alongside warships and missile systems such as Konkurs-M, Invar, and MRSAM, are also included. Additionally, the list covers critical defence electronics—including radars, sonars, fire control systems, and satellite communication systems—as well as high explosive anti-tank ammunition.

The MoD stated that over the past five years, more, than 15,700 defence items have been successfully indigenised, achieving an estimated import substitution value of approximately ₹9,000 crore. Furthermore, DPSUs have placed procurement orders and in-house production contracts worth roughly ₹10,000 crore on domestic vendors up to March 2026.

Indigenisation for the items on the sixth PIL will be carried out through various channels, including the 'Make' procedure and in-house development. The initiative relies on active participation from the domestic industry, with a particular focus on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The detailed inventory is hosted on the SRIJAN Portal (srijandefence.gov.in), which outlines indicative timelines for the indigenisation of each item. Since its inception, the portal has facilitated the offering of over 33,000 defence items for indigenisation by DPSUs and Service Headquarters up to June 2026, a figure that includes 5,012 items previously notified under the first five PILs.

The government maintains that the latest restrictions align with broader efforts to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aiming to expand opportunities for domestic enterprises and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

"The steady expansion of the Positive Indigenisation List creates a predictable domestic market for Indian manufacturers and MSMEs operating in the defence sector. By restricting imports on hundreds of components and sub-systems, the government is opening up concrete business opportunities worth thousands of crores for local enterprises. For hardware startups and technology MSMEs, this policy provides a clear roadmap to integrate into the domestic defence supply chain, build indigenous capabilities, and scale their operations sustainably over the long term." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes