Context:

In order to boost domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) 

About Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme:

• Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating state-of-the-art testing infrastructure in partnership with the private industry.
• The scheme was launched on May 08, 2020.
• The scheme would run for the duration of five years
• The scheme is envisages setting up of 6-8 Greenfield Defence Testing Infrastructure facilities that are required for defence and aerospace related production.
• The projects under the scheme will be provided with up to 75 per cent Government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’.
• The remaining 25 per cent of the project cost will have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) constituents of which will be the Indian private entities and state governments.
• In this regard, Department of Defence Production/Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DDP/DGQA) has published eight Expression of Interest (EOIs) catering to setting up of defence test facilities in selected domains.

Significance:

This will facilitate indigenous defence production, consequently, reduce imports of military equipment and help make the country self-reliant.

Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)

A special purpose vehicle, also called a special purpose entity (SPE), is a subsidiary created by a parent company to isolate financial risk. Its legal status as a separate company makes its obligations secure even if the parent company goes bankrupt. For this reason, a special purpose vehicle is sometimes called a bankruptcy-remote entity.

About Defence Industrial Corridors(DICs):

• A defence corridor refers to a route or a path along which domestic productions of defence equipment by the public sector, private sector and MSMEs in order to enhance the operational capability of the defence forces.
• The locations of these corridors are strategically decided by the Ministry of Defence while taking into account a natural ecosystem that could be utilised for enhancing the existing defence network.
• It encourages domestic production of defence equipment and benefits all small and medium manufacturers along the corridor supporting the visionary Make In India Programme. 

What is The Companies Act, 2013?

• The Companies Act 2013 is an Act of the Parliament of India on Indian company law which regulates incorporation of a company, responsibilities of a company, directors, dissolution of a company. 
•  The Act has replaced The Companies Act, 1956 (in a partial manner) after receiving the assent of the President of India in 2013  with few changes like earlier private companies a maximum number of members were 50 and now it will be 200. A new term of “one-person company” is included in this act.

Source: PIB

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