Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in India: Latest Updates, Significance and Advantages

What Exactly Are Defence Industrial Corridors?

• A Defence Industrial Corridor is a pathway where domestic production of defence equipment by the public sector, private sector, and MSMEs are organized to enhance the operational capability of the defence forces.
• Not only does it improve the connectivity of the defence forces, but it also boosts domestic production of defence equipment, benefiting all small and medium manufacturers along the corridor.

Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) is the nodal agency responsible for establishing the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The corridor comprises the following six nodal points:

• Agra
• Aligarh
• Chitrakoot
• Jhansi
• Kanpur
• Lucknow

Source- makeinindia.com

Defence Industrial Corridor in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor consists of five nodal points. These include:

• Chennai
• Coimbatore
• Hosur
• Salem
• Tiruchirappalli

Source- makeinindia.com

The Significance of Defence Industrial Corridors

• India ranks among the top 5 military spenders worldwide and is emerging as a defence manufacturing hub. DICs support the growth of the Defence sector and enhance manufacturing capacity in the sector.
• The Defence Industrial Corridors will catalyse indigenous production of defence and aerospace-related items, promoting the Make in India initiative.
• This will reduce our imports and promote the export of these items to other countries.
• The combined efforts of the Government and private players will help achieve India’s goal of self-reliance in defence.
• DICs generate direct and indirect employment opportunities and spur the growth of private domestic manufacturers, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Start-ups.