Modernization of Indian Defence Forces: Challenges&Prospects

The developments in Indias immediate neighbourhood over the past decade have led India to take a close look at her foreign and security policies. There is a widely sensed need for the rapid modernization of the Indian armed forces, which is being reflected in some of the key initiatives that have been taken up by the Indian government so far (such as Make in India), so as to address to the complex security challenges that emanate from its hostile neighbourhood. However, the pace of modernization of the Indian armed forces over the years has been rather slow, and technologically, they are not where they should have been. Indigenous development of modern defence hardware continues to remain a concern and Indian policy aspiration for defence self-sufficiency remains largely elusive. The aim of the research is to highlight how the Indian armed forces are responding to the emerging security scenario in the region and beyond, and to address issues in defence policy making, progress with defence modernization, and military effectiveness. The Indian defence industry suffers from major policy, structural, and cultural challenges that beset a military industrial complex that continues to struggle in terms of delivering modern defence hardware that could have added to the greater Indian defence indigenization and production. Experts see a number of systemic flaws in the Indian defence establishment and civil-military relations, which present major challenges for Indias military modernization aspirations. As Indias defence requirements are likely to increase in the foreseeable future because of the dynamic security environment, indigenous development of modern defence hardware and technology is likely to remain a top priority. As India is an aspiring great power (and it is believed that great powers have great arms industries), its ability to acquire autarky and self-sufficiency in terms of development of advanced defence hardware and technology to fulfill the requirements of its armed forces would be crucial so as to address to its national security concerns. The study here shall highlight the impediments to Indias defence modernization and its likely implications for Indias national security.