- Why in news
- On 18 August 2026, the Department of Defence Production notified the sixth Positive Indigenisation List of 405 items, worth about Rs 3,070 crore, and put it on the SRIJAN Portal.
- What it is
- Positive Indigenisation Lists name defence items that DPSUs and Service bodies will stop importing and buy only from Indian industry once developed locally. The SRIJAN Portal, run by the Department of Defence Production, is where these items are offered to industry, including MSMEs and start-ups. Both support the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in defence.
- Sixth list
- 405 items worth an estimated Rs 3,070 crore: LRUs, sub-systems, sub-assemblies, spares, components and raw materials.
- Who the items are for
- 16 items are of the Indian Coast Guard and 389 are of DPSUs.
- SRIJAN Portal
- Launched by DDP in August 2020 so DPSUs and Service Headquarters can offer items to industry, including MSMEs and start-ups, for indigenous development.
- Routes to indigenise
- DPSUs and ICG will use the 'Make' procedure and in-house development, with industry participation, especially MSMEs.
- Results so far
- More than 15,700 items indigenised, with about Rs 9,000 crore import substitution over five years.
Don’t confuse with PIL (defence) vs Negative Import List: Positive Indigenisation Lists name items DPSUs will source from Indian industry once developed. Import embargo lists ban the import of listed items by a date.
Don’t confuse with SRIJAN Portal vs iDEX: SRIJAN lists items for industry to indigenise. iDEX funds start-ups and innovators for defence innovation.
Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.
Why it matters
- Cuts import dependence and builds domestic defence supply chains.
- Opens demand for MSMEs and start-ups through assured procurement.
Problems
- Indigenising complex parts for legacy platforms needs technology and testing capacity.
- MSMEs face long development cycles and uncertain orders.
Way forward
- Keep timelines firm and give assured orders once items are developed.
- Support MSMEs with testing facilities, finance and technology access.
Put in your answer
SRIJAN results: Over 15,700 items indigenised, about Rs 9,000 crore import substitution in five years.
DPSU orders: DPSUs placed orders worth about Rs 10,000 crore on domestic vendors up to March 2026.
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- 2014Mains GS3 · Q9Influence of liberalised FDI in defence on Indian defence and economy
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- 2026Prelims Q68Which listed defence hardware items are manufactured in India: Su-30 MKI, T-90 MK-III, Akula submarine
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The sixth Positive Indigenisation List of 405 items was notified by the Department of Defence Production, and it includes 16 items of the Indian Coast Guard.
- 2.The SRIJAN Portal was launched in August 2020 by the Department of Defence Production for DPSUs and Service Headquarters to offer items to industry for indigenous development.
- 3.Once an item on a Positive Indigenisation List is indigenously developed, it can still be imported freely by DPSUs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The sixth Positive Indigenisation List was notified by the Department of Defence Production.
True. DDP, Ministry of Defence, notified it.
2.The sixth list contains items of the three Services and the Indian Coast Guard only.
False. It has 16 Coast Guard items and 389 DPSU items.
3.The SRIJAN Portal was launched in August 2020 by the Department of Defence Production.
True. DDP launched SRIJAN in August 2020.
4.Items on a Positive Indigenisation List can be imported freely even after Indian industry develops them.
False. After successful indigenous development, these items will be procured from Indian industry.
5.Each item on the list has an indicative timeline for indigenisation.
True. Each item carries an indicative indigenisation timeline.
6.The sixth list is the first list issued under the SRIJAN Portal, which had 5,012 items before it.
False. 5,012 items were notified under the first five lists, so this is the sixth.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.