Govt Pushes Reforms Unrelated to Coronavirus Crisis

The BJP government has announced a major opening up of defence production, power, space and coal and mining sectors for private participation. News reference: TOI

1. The government has decided to increase the FDI limit for defence production under the automatic route to 74%, from the current 49%.
2. The government also decided to push privatisation of power distribution companies after a gap of over a decade and said discoms in Union Territories will be privatised
3. In the space sector, the government for the first time announced its intent to allow the private sector to be a co-partner in future planetary exploration and outer space travel initiatives such as Chandrayaan and Mars mission. 
4. Govt has also opened up 500 coal mining blocks through open auction process. 

First of all, these announcements have nothing to do with the current Coronavirus crisis. Therefore it was not necessary to announce it while our country is already fighting Coronavirus crisis and we are not sure what our country's future will look like. I think it is not good to take far-reaching policy decisions during uncertain times. 

Is it that govt has done these decisions under pressure of some foreign countries which have big private companies in these sectors? Or is it that govt is purely attracting foreign capital? For example, if we look at space sector, India has zero "local" private companies with such a capability. Therefore, opening this sector for private companies essentially means that this sector has been opened up for the benefit of foreign companies.

At the moment, it seems that govt is trying to attract foreign capital with these policies. But these policies are not expected to do any real benefit now, since global companies would also not take investment decisions during these uncertain times. Therefore, the "timing" part of these decisions are always doubtful. 

As a policy, I support the idea to open up sectors for private operations since it will lead to overall rapid progress, development and also mass employment generation. This will also reduce corruption which is prevalent in government organizations. But I am against opening all sectors to foreign companies and govt should open up sectors for 100% FDI only in limited sectors and in a gradual manner.