Defence Ordnance Factories' Exports Surge 81 Times Post-Corporatisation: Rajnath Defence minister Rajnath Singh highlighted a dramatic increase in exports from ordnance factories following their corporatisation, stating that the sector's output has grown 81 times since 2019-20. During a visit to the Yantra India Limited (YIL) facility in Nagpur, Singh noted that exports rose from Rs81 crore in 2019-20 to Rs4,500 crore as of 2025-26. The corporatisation of 41 ordnance factories into seven defence public sector undertakings (PSUs) in 2021 has also led to a more than doubling of production, with total output reaching Rs26,000 crore in 2025-26 compared to Rs12,700 crore before the reform. Singh emphasized that the corporatisation was a strategic move to enhance autonomy and performance, with results now evident. The transformation has enabled the PSUs to explore overseas markets, with YIL alone achieving Rs397 crore in exports. The minister also pointed to broader growth in the defence sector, noting that total defence production value rose from Rs36,000 crore in 2014 to Rs1.78 lakh crore as of 2025-26. Exports, which were Rs1,000 crore in 2014, have surged 40 times to Rs40,000 crore. The reforms have also driven efforts toward self-reliance. A new 10,000-tonne extrusion plant at Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ), a flagship unit of YIL, is set to supply high-grade aluminium to critical sectors. This material, previously imported, will now support manufacturing by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Mazgaon Docks Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, and even the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The plant, with an investment of Rs850 crore, aims to indigenise key components for fighter planes and other defence projects.#nagpur #rajnath_singh #yantra_india_limited #maharashtra_chief_minister #defence_public_sector_undertakings
Defence Production Secretary to Engage Stakeholders in Nagpur for Policy Insights Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar will convene a meeting with stakeholders from both private and public defence enterprises in Nagpur during his visit to the city on Friday. The gathering aims to gather perspectives from various levels of industry participants to inform future policy decisions. Kumar will be accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who will inaugurate a new facility at Yantra India Limited (YIL), a public sector unit (PSU) established from the ordnance factories. The meeting will include representatives from YIL, which produces hardware for ammunition; Dassault Reliance Aviation Limited (DRAL), which manufactures components for Rafael aircraft; Munitions India Limited, another PSU; and mid-sized and small ancillary units. The Vidarbha Defence Industries Association (VDIA) will also participate. The discussions are expected to address several key issues, including the accessibility of data from agencies like the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has been a point of contention among industrialists. Some stakeholders have raised concerns about the practice of "white labelling," where defence products are marketed as indigenously made despite being imported. The meeting will also focus on streamlining the export licensing process, as delays in granting licenses have been cited as a barrier to growth despite the government’s emphasis on boosting defence exports. The state’s industries department is coordinating the event, with plans to use the insights gathered to draft a new policy framework. The existing state defence and aerospace policy, formulated in 2018, will be revisited.#rajnath_singh #yantra_india_limited #vidarbha_defence_industries_association #dassault_reliance_aircraft #defence_production_secretary
OFAJ Workers Protest Stoppage of Overtime Payment Workers at the Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ), a unit of Yantra India Limited (YIL), staged a daylong protest in Nagpur against the management’s decision to halt overtime payments and increase the reliance on contract workers. The protest, organized by the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), a left-leaning union, was symbolic in nature, with only select workers participating. However, union leaders warned that further action would be taken if the management did not address their demands. OFAJ, one of the seven defense public sector undertakings (PSUs) formed in 2021 from the ordnance factories, is involved in manufacturing hardware for shells and rockets. The protest centered on the discontinuation of overtime payments, which previously amounted to approximately Rs12,000 per month for permanent workers who put in additional hours. This change was implemented after the corporatization of YIL, according to Ashish Pachgare, a representative of AIDEF. The union also highlighted the growing role of contract workers, whose numbers have increased to nearly half of the total workforce. Initially, contract workers were assigned only unskilled tasks, but now they operate key machinery as well. Pachgare noted that the shift was driven by the need for YIL to maintain financial viability as a PSU. The workers argued that the move to prioritize cost-cutting measures has undermined job security and working conditions. The protest underscored tensions between the management and labor representatives, with the union vowing to escalate the agitation if the demands for reinstating overtime payments and reducing reliance on contract workers are not met.#nagpur #ordnance_factory_ambajhari #yantra_india_limited #all_india_defence_employees_federation #ashish_pachgare
