New Delhi: The government is mulling a far more liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) regime for its defence sector in the forthcoming budget. Top officials said that among a bunch of Budget proposals is a move to raise the FDI limit to 74 per cent under the automatic route for existing licensed defence manufacturers. “The move aims at accelerating technology inflows, joint ventures and domestic production in a strategically sensitive industry. We need to woo both capital and new technology into high-tech defence areas and this is one step which is being actively considered,” the officials said. Currently, only new firms coming into high-tech defence manufacturing can apply for a 74 per cent FDI under the automatic route.