Context: The Defence Ministry has simplified defence export and licensing procedures to enable Indian defence manufacturers to access international markets faster.
Prelims Facts
- Defence Export SOP: For non-lethal defence items, stakeholder consultation has been removed for exports to most destinations; safeguards continue for sensitive countries.
- Open General Export Licence (OGEL): Standing, one-time authorisation allowing eligible exporters to self-generate export authorisations for multiple consignments of specified defence items without separate approval for each shipment.
- OGEL validity: Increased from 2 → 3 years.
- Three OGEL SOPs covering major platforms/equipment, parts & components, and intra-company technology transfer have been consolidated into one framework.
- FOEMs: Indian companies with long-term contracts with Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (FOEMs) can obtain OGEL for eligible items, with validity linked to the underlying contract, subject to conditions.
- OGEL coverage expanded to include civil-end-use exports of specified small-calibre arms components and protective equipment.
