Kalashnikov AK 203 to be produced in India by year-end: Russia

Context:

In a big shot in the arm for India's local manufacturing for defence, the Director General of Russia's Rosoboronexport has said Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles will be produced in India by year-end. 

Background

• In 2019, India and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement for setting up Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited-- a joint venture to manufacture the AK-203 assault rifles. 
• The Russian state company is a co-founder of the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited. 
• The project was announced by Indian PM Modi in collaboration with the Russian President and aims to produce millions of these rifles that will ultimately become part of the Indian security forces' essentials. 
• Rosoboronexport, which is Russia's state agency for exports/imports of defence products, will be participating in the mega DefExpo due to begin in Gujarat on 18th October. 

What is AK203?

• AK203 is the advanced version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle family, the first of which was the AK-47.