AMETHI: The fully indigenous AK-203 rifle, named “Sher”, has successfully completed firing trials at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) facility in Korwa, Amethi, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.
The rifle has been manufactured at the IRRPL facility in Korwa as part of India’s push to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister’s Office said the successful firing trials marked another step in the country’s journey towards defence self-reliance.
“India Cuts The Cord On Imports, Test-Fires Fully Indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’,” the post said.
The Uttar Pradesh government also said that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state was emerging as a major destination for defence manufacturing and contributing significantly to India’s self-reliance drive.
The development comes as Uttar Pradesh continues to position itself as an important hub for defence production and related manufacturing activities.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also launched the ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Matrushakti Yatra’ scheme and flagged off special buses to provide free travel facilities to women aged 60 years and above in the state.
Speaking at the launch event in Lucknow, Yogi said the scheme was aimed at making travel more convenient and dignified for elderly women while strengthening their self-reliance.
Under the scheme, women aged 60 years and above will be entitled to free bus travel facilities.
The Chief Minister also announced that on Raksha Bandhan, mothers, sisters and daughters would be provided free bus travel along with one accompanying person.
“The honour of maternal power and their convenience is our priority,” Yogi said.
