During Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to France last month, India signed two agreements related to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant located in the western state of Maharashtra. One of these, a pre-engineering agreement signed with AREVA, Alstom and Nuclear Power Corporation of India, aims to bring greater clarity on...
Light Utility Helicopter Competition Ties Foreign, Indian players
In India's first helicopter competition reserved for domestic defense companies to produce a light utility helicopter (LUH), Larsen & Toubro has teamed up with Airbus Helicopters; Tata Advanced Systems with Sikorsky Aircraft; Mahindra Defense Systems with Bell Helicopter; and Punj Lloyd with Russian Helicopters. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics also is negotiating...
Modi Administration Starts to Address Nuclear Energy Liability Law
The Indian government is working on plans to resolve the terms of the nuclear liability law that has staved off foreign and domestic equipment suppliers alike for it holds suppliers, and not just the operator, liable if an accident occurs. The latest trigger for the government’s rethink is the unwillingness...
New Defense Minister Acts Quickly
Six times since the infamous Bofors scandal of the 1980s, India has cancelled the purchase and upgrade of its artillery. This is set to change. At his very first opportunity to chair the Defense Acquisition Council meeting, Manohar Parrikar issued orders for a Request for Proposal to be launched for...
Indian, Foreign Contenders Partner on Navy Bid
India's Ministry of Defense reissued a request for proposal to three local private sector shipyards to build four amphibious assault ships for about $4 billion. All three contenders are permitted to enter into joint ventures with foreign original equipment manufacturers. ABG Shipyard, Larsen & Toubro, and Pipavav Defence & Offshore...
Forbes Names 5 India Firms on 50 Most Innovative List
Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Sun Pharma have made it on Forbes magazine’s list of world’s 50 most innovative firms. L&T led the list as 9th place, followed by HUL (12th), Infosys (19th), Tata Consultancy Services (29th) and Sun Pharma (38th). Note that Hindustan Unilever...