Military Affairs

About Centre

The Centre for Military Affairs comprises of a mix of serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces and civilian experts. The Centre adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to various issues that impinge upon India’s national security in general and the armed forces in particular. Its research focus is on issues that impact upon national security and capacity-building of the Indian armed forces. Specific areas of focus include: emerging contemporary challenges in warfare, jointness, defence co-operation, maritime security, and military training needs. In addition, the Centre also addresses China- and Pakistan-related issues with a bearing on their interface with Indian security. The Centre closely interacts with military establishments in India and abroad and contributes to policy making by conducting research in areas of significance for the armed forces.

The China-India-US Triangle: Changing Balance of Power and a New Cold War

China is no longer interested in maintaining previous patterns of its relationships with India and US. It seeks to forge new types of relationships that are reflective of the extant balance of power. China expects India to demonstrate awed subservience and refrain from security cooperation with US.

S. Kalyanaraman
September 21, 2020
IDSA Comments

Pre-emptive Strike Capability: Shifting Winds in Japan?

Japan’s quest for pre-emptive strike capability indicates a major shift in its defence doctrine. It is only a matter of time before Japan takes up such an offensive defence doctrine carrying a high possibility of conflict initiation/escalation with it.

Atul Pant
July 24, 2020
IDSA Comments

Military Manpower Cost in India and the United States: A Comparative Analysis

While both India and the US face similar fiscal constraints, the approach towards military manpower cost in the two countries significantly diverge. The prevailing debate in India about the imperative to greater economic efficiency in military manpower cost would benefit from a holistic examination of approaches undertaken by the US in managing its manpower expenditure.

Reimagining Think Tanks in Times of Pandemic

It is time that the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic are converted into an opportunity to upgrade and evolve the present method of human interaction prevalent in think tanks across the world.

Vivek Chadha
May 04, 2020
Issue Brief

Mosaic Warfare: Redefining Future Battlefield

Smaller, smarter, potent and cheaper combat entities — linked and networked – will be at the heart of future warfare.

Atul Pant
April 27, 2020
Issue Brief

COVID-19 and Geo-political Implications

The lack of international cooperation and trust deficit to tackle the COVID-19 crisis is stark. The pandemic of fear may deepen an ongoing shift towards increased anarchy reflected in ‘everyone for himself’ and could further energise the process of weakening international institutions and agreements.

Prakash Menon
April 17, 2020
IDSA Comments

Draft DPP 2020 – Keep it Simple

Draft DPP 2020 needs to cut out obfuscation, repetitions, and bring out core issues for the consideration of the decision-makers in a concise and clear manner.

COVID-19 and Social Unrest: Meeting the Challenges

The large scale social and economic disruption caused by COVID-19 has brought to our attention the socio-economic plight of urban migrant workers and the need for a more effective information dissemination.

Vivek Chadha
April 13, 2020
Issue Brief

Ensuring a Level Playing Field in the Indian Army

The Indian Army is at the cusp of a huge change. It has to concurrently manage the matter of Women Officers as seamlessly as possible. Success in this venture is predicated squarely on the mindsets of the seniors in charge and the WO community

Alok Deb
February 19, 2020
IDSA Comments

Is Lowering Colour Service a Suitable Option?

The adverse impact of lowering of colour service of soldiers below pensionable service will not only be felt at the structural and functional level but also the psychological level.