YEAR OF DEFENCE
REFORMS – DEFENCE
NEWS: The Ministry of
Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the “Year of Defense Reforms,” signifying
a commitment to modernizing and strengthening its armed forces.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Need for Modernization
of Defence
- A strong and modern military is essential to safeguard the nation’s
sovereignty, territorial integrity, and strategic interests.
- It ensures readiness to address multi-domain conflicts, including
cyber, space, and traditional warfare.
Key Features
- Operationaling Integrated Theatre Commands: It
will enhance tri-services synergy by integrating the Army, Navy, and Air
Force under unified commands.
- Each
command will address specific geographical challenges using shared
resources.
- Optimizes
resource utilization and ensures joint operations across domains.
- Technological Advancements: Emphasis on cybersecurity, space
operations, and emerging technologies like:
- Artificial
Intelligence (AI)
- Machine
Learning (ML)
- Hypersonic
systems
- Robotics
- Focus
on multi-domain integrated operations.
- Streamlined Procurement: Simplification of acquisition
processes for faster capability development.
- Promotion
of indigenous manufacturing and global competitiveness.
- Collaboration
and Integration: Breaking silos across defense stakeholders.
- Encouraging
public-private partnerships and technology transfers.
- Collaboration
between defense and civil industries.
- Export-Oriented Approach: Positioning India as a credible
exporter of defense products.
- Building
partnerships with foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
- Research & Development (R&D): Strengthening
R&D for innovation in defense technologies.
- Establishing
partnerships to foster indigenous solutions.
Impacts
- The reforms will ensure India’s sovereignty and security,
providing a robust defense infrastructure to counter evolving threats.
- Promotes India’s goal of becoming a self-reliant defense power
with export capabilities, contributing to economic growth.
- Strengthens India’s global defense partnerships and enhances its
position as a leader in cutting-edge military technologies.
Recent Defence Reforms
Taken
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Established
in 2020 to promote jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Agnipath Scheme: Short-term recruitment of soldiers
for 4 years to modernize and reduce pension costs.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: Focus on indigenization with a
negative import list and defense industrial corridors.
- Simplified Procurement: Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020
to speed up and simplify purchases.
- Defence Exports: Target of $5 billion by 2025;
examples include BrahMos missile exports.
- Space and Cyber Agencies: Establishment of the Defence Space
Agency (DSA) and Cyber Agency (DCA).
- Defence R&D: Promotion of startups and MSMEs
through iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence).
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/defence-ministry-declares-2025-as-year-of-reforms/article69049368.ece