(a) whether the Government proposes to procure infantry rifles from Indian / International vendors;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any plans to fast-track the procurement of infantry rifles in view of the fact that the currently used INSAS rifles is widely known to be prone to malfunction / breakdown especially at high altitude; and cold temperature; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)
(a) to (d): The capital procurement of Defence equipment including items such as rifles is carried out as per the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2013. The DPP 2013 provides for procurements from both indigenous and Foreign sources. The provision to purchase new rifles was made in the Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP) 2014-16.
The objective of DPP 2013 is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the Armed Forces in terms of capabilities sought and time frame prescribed by optimally utilising the allocated budgetary resources. It contains time lines for various stages of the procurement process.
*******