This paper examines the defence reforms process in India and critically examines past efforts and the factors that led to the post-Kargil defence reform. It analyzes the defence reform committees and their follow up.
This monograph examines higher defence management and defence reforms in India. It deliberately coincides with Cabinet discussing the Report of Naresh Chandra Committee on defence reforms and aims to initiate a debate on higher defence management and civil-military relations.
Despite being faced with myriad and complex challenges to national security, India's defence structures have not kept pace with changing times. The defence reforms that were undertaken periodically were reactive in nature and, in many cases, responses to crises as well as being sporadic, piecemeal and often ad hoc. The most recent review of security challenges undertaken occurred close to two decades ago, in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict of 1999.
The Technology Development Fund (TDF) is an important Grant-in-Aid Scheme of DRDO under Technology Management Cluster, for the purpose of inculcating defence R&D culture in private sector.
The provisions of the Convention on Cluster Munitions are not relevant in the extant case of supply of dual purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) to Ukraine.
The challenges associated with facial recognition technology (FRT) need to be studied in detail before deploying them in counter-insurgency/counter-terror operations.
Post-COVID, the renewed emphasis on indigenisation in India calls for a fresh, in-depth examination of the entire range of issues and policies pertaining to the development of a capable domestic base for the defence industry and technology.
The challenge lies in demonstrating to potential importers that India, currently the world’s largest arms importer, has the capacity to manufacture and export the equipment required by their armed forces.
