Following the vision of Prime
Minister Modi’s Atmanirbhar (self reliant) Bharat, the Centre has authorised an order directing Indian Army to curb
procurement of imported goods.

According to a Reuters
report, India’s 4000 defence canteens that sell liquor, electronics and other
goods at discounted prices to serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their
families had received an order to stop buying imported goods.

“Procurement of direct
imported items shall not be undertaken in future,” stated an October 19 internal
order from the Defence Ministry.

It has also been articulated that
the issued order comes post discussion with the Army, Air Force and Navy in May
and July as an attempt to back up Prime Minister’s campaign to promote
production and consumption of domestic goods.

The order, however, did not
enunciate what products would be targeted specifically but if industry sources
are to be believed, imported liquor is on extreme peril of such constrain.

Reuters reported in June that foreign liquor firms Pernod and Diageo had briefly stopped receiving orders for their imported
brands from such government stores. However, Diageo did not respond to a
request for comment, while a Pernod spokesman declined comment.

As per an August research
column by the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA), imported
products amounts to around 6-7% of the total sales value of which Chinese
products like diapers, vacuum, handbags and laptops makes up the bulk.

The step is believed to be
taken in the light of current events of restraining business and investment
with China, following a border standoff that claimed lives of 20 Indian soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Indian
Ministry of Home Affairs had already commissioned procurement and sales of
Swadeshi (Local) products through Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) shops.