New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received a cheque of Rs 174.43 crore as interim dividend from Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in New Delhi on March 12.

Chairman and Managing Director of BEL M V Gowtama presented the cheque to the Minister.

The BEL has declared 140 per cent interim dividend (Rs 1.40/- per share of Re one face value) to its shareholders for the financial year 2019-20. It pertains to the Government holding in the DPSU. This is the 16th consecutive year that BEL has paid interim dividend. It has paid a total dividend of 340 per cent on its paid-up capital for the financial year 2018-19. Government of India holds 51.13 per cent equity in the DPSU.

Secretary (Defence Production) Raj Kumar and other senior officials from Ministry of Defence and the DPSU were also present on the occasion.