Month: August 2021

As of 2021, India has the second largest armed forces and the third largest defence budget in the world. However, historically, the defence sector in India has been a monopoly for public sector companies. In 2001, the defence sector was unlocked for domestic private businesses subject to certain licensing requirements. This was also the same time foreign investors were permitted to invest in the defence sector. Initially, foreign direct investment (FDI) was permitted up to a maximum of 26%. Over the years, the FDI cap has been substantially increased and currently stands at 100%, subject to certain conditions. More recently, due to external aggression from neighbouring states, the Government has been keen to further develop the Indian defence manufacturing sector. The thrust has been to encourage the development of indigenous solutions for its defence requirements and reduce its external dependency. In this article, we will discuss the opportunities for foreign and domestic investors in the Indian defence industry.