Private sector players can now apply to Commerce Ministry for licences to manufacture tanks, fighter planes, warships and other defence equipment.<br/> <br/>In a gazette notification, Home Ministry said the Secretary in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) can now issue licences for manufacturing of defenceitems. However, the licences will be issued to the prospective manufacturers by the DIPP under the Home Ministry's supervision and control. The decision has been taken to expedite the Make In India initiative and to invite private sector in the defence manufacturing sector.<br/> <br/>The categories which will come under the new arrangement are tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, military vehicles fitted with mountings for arms or equipment for mine lying, all tracked and wheeled self propelled armoured and non-armoured weapon systems and all-wheel drive vehicles<br/>capable of off-road use.<br/> <br/>Defence aircraft, spacecraft and their parts, helicopters, lighter-than-air vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely piloted vehicles, warships of all kinds, vessels fitted with automatic weapons, chemical, biological,<br/>radiological and nuclear protect, special naval equipment, anti-submarines or torpedo nets will also come under its purview.<br/> <br/>The Home Ministry has given security clearance to nearly 3,300 fresh investment proposals in the last three years after conducting national risk assessment.