India’s push to arm itself with its own products could spell a variety of strategic gains
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.In a world marked by persistent turbulence, the character of globalization is undergoing a decisive shift. Supply chains, once celebrated as instruments of efficiency, are now being used as tools of strategic leverage. Energy markets are volatile, shipping routes face disruptions and critical technologies are being subject to export controls.
For India, which is heavily dependent on imported energy, these developments underline a structural fragility. The risks extend to defence preparedness, where dependence on foreign suppliers for spares and systems can quickly turn into operational constraints during crises. It is in this context that defence reforms gain urgency.
For decades, a significant proportion of India’s defence requirements were met externally, reflecting a procurement architecture that privileged established foreign vendors over domestic capability creation. The shift underway, however, signals a more purposeful approach. Policy instruments such as the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 and the draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, along with targeted indigenization lists and liberalized investment norms, are rebalancing the ecosystem.
The emphasis is no longer merely on acquisition, but on capability development. The results are noteworthy: rising domestic production, exports and roles for private industry. Notably, the credibility of India’s ambition of emerging as a significant defence manufacturing hub is no longer in question.
The rationale for this shift is fundamentally strategic. In an era of fluid alignments, dependence on external suppliers carries inherent risks. The experience of sanctions and supply disruptions in recent conflicts has reinforced the
. Read on livemint.com