Harsha Kakar
The Defence Ministry released a statement at the commencement of 2025 mentioning that the year would be declared as that of reforms. It listed a total of 10 avenues for ‘focussed interventions.’ These include establishment of integrated theatre commands, focus on new domains such as Cyber and Space, and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Hypersonic technology and Robotics, making acquisition procedures simpler and time sensitive as also promoting public-private partnerships and civil-military coordination. The list of reforms also included enhancing defence exports and optimizing welfare of veterans.
The Defence Minister mentioned on the decision, ‘It will lay the foundation for unprecedented advancements in defence preparedness, ensuring India’s security and sovereignty amidst challenges of 21st century.’ While the idea is noble, its implementation is where its fruits would be truly visible. There have been announcements in the past, with little change to current systems. Most of the subjects listed by the MoD need a review and these have been under consideration for some time.
For example, integrated theatre commands have been under discussion for a prolonged period, however held back due to internal disagreements between the services. A major concern has been the reducing capability within the air force due to declining air power assets. There is a belief that air power resources once divided to theatre commands may not be available to others.
No nation, including China, our major adversary, has all elements, essential for major operations, allocated to single theatre commands. The Chinese Western Theatre Command, earmarked for operations against India, would require an induction of additional forces, both ground and air, from other theatres, in the event of a major operation. These additional forces are known to periodically train in Tibet. Hence, India adopting a similar model is possible.
While the government has thus far left it to the armed forces to determine consensus amongst themselves in the structure of theatre commands, it has possibly also pushed for the process to be speeded up. A statement issued after the joint commanders’ conference in Lucknow in Sept last year, mentioned, ‘The blueprint, with the requisite command, control and operational structures prepared by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, is more or less ready. Presentations have been made to the Defence Minister and others on the subject. The government will now have to take the final call.’
Hopefully, 2025 would witness its launch. It was reported that all service chiefs will now have an aide-de-camp allocated to them from a sister service. In addition, there are other promotional changes underway for senior ranks.
The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, modified in 2023, flawed in multiple ways, is also listed for reform. An announcement that the DAP would undergo a complete change was made months prior to the announcement of reforms by the Defence Minister. It was first introduced in 2002 as the Defence Procurement Procedure and has since then undergone eight revisions.
Even then it remains a complex system involving a 12-stage procedure including the grant of acceptance of necessity, request for proposal, technical evaluation, trials, general staff evaluation, contract negotiation and approval. It needs to be reviewed and the process made simpler and much faster.
The lack of a national security strategy, joint capability development plans and budget shortfalls are hindrances which need to be overcome. There are multiple agencies, including one under the NSA managing capability development plans, none of which have been effective.
Further, indigenous production needs to be boosted. Added is overcoming the national policy of granting contracts to the lowest bidder. It will need a concerted effort by the MoD and service HQs to work to make the DAP simpler, while not compromising on quality while ensuring bang for the buck.
For Aatmanirbharta to succeed there is a need to enhance civil-military fusion and public-private partnerships. The establishment of the Department of Military Affairs in the MoD was a shift in civil-military fusion. It changed the way armed forces have considered national security. It was a move from bureaucratic control which the armed forces underwent to political control, which is the need of the hour. The start has happened however, the system needs to be pushed.
In terms of public-private partnerships there should be focus on enhancing R and D, innovation and improving ease of doing business. To ensure that the DRDO remains focussed on R and D, it has been directed to focus on two to three critical projects per laboratory, with a goal of completing 100 such projects by 2025. It is also being encouraged to deepen collaboration with the private sector and start-ups, facilitating technology transfers and encouraging innovation.
There is also a need to support and encourage collaboration between Indian companies and foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) for local production of advanced defence platforms. For this the government will have to evolve means to reduce bureaucratic and regulatory barriers, which remain major stumbling blocks.
Focus on emerging technologies is essential in case the nation is to meet emerging challenges. For this public-private partnership and civil-military fusion are essential. This will imply breaking silos. Once again, easier said than done. A welcome announcement on indigenization has been that the army has been able to meet 88% of its ammunition demands from within.
The other aspects listed for reform, including enhancing defence exports and optimizing welfare measures for veterans is possibly more achievable. Defence exports have witnessed an increase in recent years. Addressing the Army war College, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh mentioned, ‘Our defence exports, which were approximately Rs 2,000 crore a decade ago, have now surpassed an impressive Rs 21,000 crore. We have set an export target of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.’
Red tapism has been the bane of Indian bureaucracy. In case these reforms are to be achieved, artificial hurdles would have to be removed. If implemented, these reforms would have a major impact on India’s national security preparedness. Government departments are also known to make grand promises at the beginning of the year only to forget them within days. Will this be just another announcement or a game changer, only time will tell.
(The author is Major General, Retd. )
Follow our WhatsApp channel
