Will Rajnath Singh Conduct the Annual Performance Review of Defence PSUs on Nov 10?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rajnath Singh to review performance of DPSUs.
- 2025 declared as the Year of Reforms.
- Investment in R&D projected at Rs 32,766 crore.
- Significant growth in exports and profit.
- New R&D Manual to enhance efficiency.
New Delhi, Nov 8 (NationPress) The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, is set to conduct the annual performance assessment of the 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in New Delhi on November 10.
It is noteworthy that the defence minister previously announced 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, highlighting the critical role of advancing new technologies by DPSUs and the necessity for boosting exports and indigenisation.
To realize this goal, he encouraged them to enhance their investment and workforce for R&D.
“Since then, all the DPSUs have outlined their R&D roadmap for the next five years. Over the previous decade, a total of Rs 30,952 crore has been allocated for R&D by these 16 DPSUs,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in its press release on Saturday.
The momentum of R&D is now expected to double, with a projected budget of Rs 32,766 crore over the coming five years. While the majority of R&D investments in the last decade were made by established DPSUs, such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Dynamics Limited, the emphasis on R&D is now being distributed among all DPSUs,” it further noted.
In the next five years, the seven new DPSUs formed after the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board are expected to invest over Rs 3,000 crore in R&D, while defence shipyards have earmarked an investment of over Rs 1,300 crore.
“During the event, a compilation of D&D/R&D projects undertaken over the past decade, along with the plans for the next five years, will be unveiled. Additionally, the new R&D Manual of HAL, designed to enhance flexibility, speed, risk assessment, and resource allocation in R&D projects, will also be introduced,” the MoD mentioned.
The Union Minister is also scheduled to launch a report on renewable energy titled ‘Swayam’. This report marks the first effort under the auspices of the Department of Defence Production to gather the energy efficiency practices of all 16 DPSUs.
It is crucial to note that the performance of DPSUs in 2024-25 has been praiseworthy.
The total turnover reached Rs 1.08 lakh crore, reflecting a growth of 15.4 percent compared to 2023-24. The DPSUs reported a cumulative Profit After Tax of Rs 20,021 crore in 2024-25, marking a rise of 19.5 percent over the previous year.
Remarkably, in 2024-25, DPSUs achieved a 51 percent increase in exports when compared to the previous financial year.
The event will also celebrate various DPSUs for their significant accomplishments in diverse fields and facilitate the exchange of impactful MoUs.