U.S. removes Indian companies from ‘Entity List’

• USA removed from its 'Entity List' as many as nine Indian space and defence related companies including those from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
• The entities being removed are: Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), the four remaining subordinates of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO): Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Defence Research and Development Lab (DRDL), Missile Research and Development Complex; Solid State Physics Laboratory; and the four remaining subordinates of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO): Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (SPROB), Sriharikota Space Centre (SHAR), and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Removal from the 'Entity List' eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies, and results in the removed companies being treated the same way as any other destination in India for export licensing purposes, the Commerce Department said in a statement.
• The notification removes India from several country groups in the Export Administration Regulations resulting in the removal of export license requirements that were tied to India's placement in those country groups.
• It further adds India to a country group in the EAR that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India's adherence to the regime, the U.S.—India strategic partnership, and India's global non-proliferation standing.
• Mr. Obama during his India visit had assured India that he would remove these companies from the 'Entity List'.