India today faces a complex security environment with simultaneous threats from China and Pakistan, the rise of hybrid warfare (cyber, information, space), and rapid militarisation in the Indo-Pacific. To address these, the Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, focusing on structural, technological, and doctrinal transformation of the armed forces.
Reforms Undertaken:
Jointness & Integration:
- Push towards Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) with an aim to reduce duplication, enhance jointness, and speed of mobilisation.
- Northern (China-focused) – Lucknow
- Western (Pakistan-focused) – Jaipur
- Maritime – Thiruvananthapuram.
Emerging Technologies:
- Focus on AI, ML, robotics, hypersonics, cyber & space warfare.
- Establishment of Integrated Defence Cyber Agency and plans for space command.
- For example, Akhaster AI-based system, MQ-9B drones, Pralay missiles, Rafale-M fighters are advanced weapon systems.
Defence Procurement & Acquisition Reforms:
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP 2020): Prioritises domestic industry with 50%+ indigenous content.
- Simplification of procurement to speed up acquisitions and tech transfers.
- Push for private sector & startups. For example, Tata’s aircraft assembly line builds C-295 transport aircraft.
Defence Production & Export:
- Atmanirbhar Bharat push: Government is pushing for record defence production a seen in ₹1.27 lakh crore produced in 2023-24.
- Push for Defence exports resulted in increase in exports to ₹21,000 crore in 2023-24, up from ₹2,000 crore in 2014.
- For example, BrahMos missiles exported to Philippines while Tejas LCA received interest from Argentina, Vietnam.
Challenges in Modernisation:
- Lack of National Security Strategy (NSS): Disconnect between political intent and military doctrine.
- Cultural resistance: Especially to ensure jointness across Army, Navy, Air Force.
- Dependence on imports: India is still one of the world’s largest arms importers from 2019–23, as per SIPRI report.
- Insufficient funding: Defence budget is just at 1.9% of GDP vs. China’s 1.7% but with a much larger economy.
- Ad-hoc procurements: Post-Galwan clash emergency procurements highlight structural gaps in the procurement ecosystem.
- Human resource concerns: Recent initiatives like Agnipath scheme is criticised for short training and possible morale issues.
Way Forward:
- Institutional Reforms: Empower CDS & DMA with greater authority for joint planning.
- Technology Integration: Expand drone warfare, autonomous systems, AI-based ISR & cyber units.
- Strengthen Defence Industry: Focus on PPP models, PLI schemes, and defence corridors.
- Increase Budget Allocation: Move beyond 2% of GDP, prioritising modernisation.
- Global Partnerships: Expand India-US iCET, QUAD cooperation for tech transfer & co-production.
- National Defence University (NDU): Build strategic thinking cadre for future warfare doctrines.
Conclusion:
India should focus on implementing ITCs on time, adopting emerging tech at scale, and ensuring civil-military-industry fusion. A modern, joint, tech-enabled armed force is indispensable for India’s security, Indo-Pacific leadership, and strategic autonomy in the 21st century.
‘+1’ Value Addition:
- Net Exporter target: India plans to shift from importer to exporter of defense equipment with a target of ₹50,000 crore defence exports by 2028-29.
- Private sector involvement: 20% of defence production in 2022-23 came from private sector besides 14,000 MSMEs & 329 startups engaged.
- Cyber & AI integration: Project Sanjay & E-Sitrep are launched to boost network-centric warfare.
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