Union Minister Rajnath Singh Grants Miniratna Category-I Status to MIL, AVNL, and IOL.
National
In May 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the grant of ‘Miniratna’ Category-I status to three Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), namely Pune (Maharashtra)-based Munitions India Limited (MIL), Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-based Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and Dehradun (Uttarakhand)-based India Optel Limited (IOL).
- This decision by the MoD to grant Miniratna Category-I status to these three DPSUs will empower them to achieve an accelerated growth trajectory and reach new heights in India’s defence production and exports.
- MIL, AVNL, and IOL originated from the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), which was restructured into seven entities on October 1, 2021, to enhance autonomy and innovation in defence production.
- MIL and AVNL are classified as Schedule 'A' new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), while IOL is a Schedule 'B' DPSU; all three operate under the Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Main Point :- (i) Miniratna Category-I status is granted to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) that have made profits consecutively for three years, have a pre-tax profit of Rs 30 crore or more in at least one of those years, and maintain a positive net worth.
(ii) Miniratna Category-II status is awarded to CPSEs that have made profits consecutively for three years and have positive net worth, without the Rs 30 crore pre-tax profit criterion.
(iii) To qualify for Miniratna status, CPSEs must have no defaults in repayment of loans or interest to the government and should not rely on budgetary support or government guarantees.
About Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Minister : Rajnath Singh
Headquarters: New Delhi
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