India's defence capabilities boosted under Modi government, relying on imports only for immediate needs: NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat
defence capabilities over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, according to NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat. Speaking to PTI, Saraswat, a former chief of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), highlighted that the country now relies on arms imports only for immediate military needs.
Strengthened Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
Saraswat noted that currently, 60% of India's arms and ammunition are domestically produced, reflecting a substantial increase in indigenous manufacturing. He mentioned that major corporate entities like the Adani Group, Tata Group, and L&T are now manufacturing radar systems and guns within the country, further bolstering India's self-reliance in defence production.
Decrease in Import Dependency
Despite the rise in India's arms requirements, Saraswat pointed out that the ratio of imports to the overall defence requirement is decreasing. He cited a recent report by the Swedish think tank SIPRI, which stated that India's arms imports increased by 4.7% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, indicating a decreasing reliance on imports.
«Indian defence capabilities in the last 10 years have gone up substantially,» Saraswat told PTI. He pointed out that despite the rise in India's arms requirements, the ratio of imports to the overall defence requirement is decreasing. He cited a recent report by the Swedish think tank SIPRI, which stated that India's imports increased by 4.7% between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, indicating a decreasing
