Is India's Military Future-Ready? A Deep Dive Into Defence Reforms

News18

11-05-2025

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Since the liberalisation era of 1991, India's defence transformation has been steadily progressing, and recent policy shifts mark a new era of ambition and innovation.
India's armed forces today stand at an inflection point — strategically recalibrating to navigate a world increasingly shaped by multipolarity, emerging technologies, and non-traditional security threats. Since the liberalisation era of 1991, India's defence transformation has been steadily progressing, and recent policy shifts mark a new era of ambition and innovation. But do these steps sufficiently prepare the military to confront present and future threats?
The economic reforms of 1991 not only unlocked market potential but also catalysed structural thinking within India's strategic community. Over the following decades, reforms such as the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), the formation of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), and a more open approach to private and foreign participation in defence manufacturing redefined the contours of military modernisation. Institutional innovations or structural changes included establishment of Strategic Forces Command, HQ of Integrated Defence Staff and the Andaman & Nicobar Command. By the mid-2000s, the focus had shifted toward increasing transparency and indigenisation, particularly through the expansion of DRDO-led projects and a growing private sector role. The 2010s witnessed the mainstreaming of digital procurement systems and increased international collaboration. The cumulative effect of these developments created the scaffolding upon which current reforms rest.
The formation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in 2020, introduced a much-needed focus on jointness and interoperability. The DMA was particularly significant in devolving ministerial powers to military leadership based on domain expertise, streamlining decision-making processes, and enhancing civil-military coordination.
The year 2025 has come to be known as a turning point — dubbed the 'Year of Reforms" — as Ministry of Defence aims announcement and rollout of several landmark initiatives. This included acceleration of indigenous capital acquisition projects, deeper integration of dual-use technologies via iDEX, structural overhaul of the Quality Assurance regime under DGQA, and plans to open up defence testing infrastructure to private innovators. These policy moves reflect a broader strategic vision that seeks not only to modernise but also to democratise access and foster innovation in defence manufacturing and R&D.
In recent years, administrative reforms within the Ministry of Defence have focused on enhancing the speed, transparency, and responsiveness of decision-making. There has been a decisive move toward digitisation — whether through e-procurement platforms or electronic workflow systems. The SRIJAN portal, launched to encourage domestic defence manufacturing, has facilitated direct engagement between the armed forces and industry, while also fostering accountability. One of the landmark developments has been the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven defence PSUs, which has allowed for greater autonomy, flexibility, and competitiveness, aligning defence production with contemporary management practices. Complementing this shift, NITI Aayog's Law and Security vertical — established as part of its evolving role in policy innovation — has contributed to strategic thinking on defence reforms, inter-agency coordination, and long-term capability planning. Its insights have helped shape pathways for resource optimisation, indigenisation strategies, and regulatory harmonisation in defence-related sectors.
The vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence has found expression in a comprehensive push for indigenisation. The Strategic Partnership Model and successive positive indigenisation lists have catalysed domestic industry participation across key military platforms. From fighter aircraft like the LCA Tejas Mk2 to long-range precision strike systems and indigenous drones, DRDO and Indian private manufacturers have stepped up significantly. India's growing defence exports — ranging from coastal surveillance systems to artillery equipment—are reflective of this maturation. However, a critical question remains: can this momentum be scaled to meet both strategic imperatives and commercial benchmarks?
Simultaneously, India's armed forces are embedding sustainability as a strategic variable. Efforts to green the battlefield — through solar-powered infrastructure, electrification of base logistics, and the adoption of alternative fuels — are transforming energy planning in operational theatres. These green solutions do more than address environmental concerns; they also reduce logistical vulnerabilities, particularly in remote, high-altitude, or conflict-prone zones, where supply chains are susceptible to disruption. The concept of a circular economy is also gaining traction within defence infrastructure planning, with initiatives focusing on defence recycling corridors to reprocess and repurpose obsolete weapon systems, electronics, and metals — thereby reducing both waste and dependency on essential imports.
Another critical axis of reform lies in the securitisation of critical minerals. Modern military capabilities are fundamentally dependent on rare earths and other strategic materials used in semiconductors, high-performance alloys, and communication systems. Recognising this, the Government of India has initiated a coordinated approach involving the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Mines, and Ministry of External Affairs to map dependencies and secure resilient supply chains. Bilateral partnerships and resource-sharing agreements are being explored to bolster this effort. The question arises: how resilient will India's critical mineral strategy be in the face of geopolitical volatility?
India's military is also undergoing a deep technological infusion, encompassing AI, cyber defence, and space-based capabilities. Through initiatives like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the Defence AI Council, and partnerships with leading academic institutions, the armed forces are beginning to leverage AI-driven decision systems, autonomous platforms, and quantum communication frameworks. India's representation in the National Quantum Mission ensures that military imperatives are integrated early into quantum computing and communication technologies, offering a strategic edge in futuristic warfare scenarios. However, to fully realise this potential, there is a pressing need to formally include representatives from the armed forces in the governance and strategic direction of the National Quantum Mission. Their operational insights and domain requirements can significantly align R&D efforts with defence objectives. Additionally, proposals to create frontier technology hubs focused on dual-use innovations—spanning from advanced materials to hypersonics — promise to align cutting-edge research with operational requirements.
But are we scaling fast enough to build credible deterrence in algorithmic warfare environments?
Concurrently, India faces an evolving threat landscape marked by grey zone conflicts, cyberattacks, and the proliferation of unmanned systems. The armed forces are investing in integrated ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems, predictive logistics platforms, and autonomous combat technologies. Joint training for multi-domain operations is being institutionalised to improve responsiveness across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains. The future-readiness of the armed forces will hinge on how quickly they internalise and adapt to these dynamic operational paradigms. Can these reforms provide real-time combat agility, or will legacy systems act as inertia?
India's defence diplomacy is also evolving as an extension of strategic reform. From the co-production of jet engines with the United States to trilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific and expanding defence exports to Africa and Southeast Asia, the emphasis is on building both technological depth and geopolitical alignment. These partnerships serve a dual purpose – enhancing access to cutting-edge platforms while supporting India's drive for strategic autonomy. The balance between indigenisation and interdependence is delicate but increasingly sophisticated.
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India's defence reforms reflect clarity of purpose—towards self-reliance, responsiveness, and technological sovereignty. Yet, implementation and institutional maturity will define their ultimate success. As threats evolve and alliances shift, India's ability to adapt—administratively, technologically, and strategically—will determine whether it emerges not just as a regional power, but as a reliable global security actor. Will these reforms deliver a future-ready Indian military or will they remain works in progress? The answer lies in sustained execution and strategic foresight, not just ambition.
Maj Gen K Narayanan is a military expert who has served the Indian military force for decades and now serves at NITI Ayog as Program director. Darpajit Sengupta is a fellow at NITI Aayog. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
tags :
India-Pakistan ties Indian Army Operation Sindoor
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 11, 2025, 13:47 IST
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