Defence Indigenisation in India

Published on 17 Feb 2025

Defence indigenisation in India is the strategic development and domestic manufacturing of military equipment to achieve self-reliance enhancing the country's geopolitical stance.

Historical Context

✔     Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), 1983: Initiated to develop a range of missile systems including Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Nag, and Agni. This marked a significant step in enhancing India’s indigenous missile capabilities.

✔     Self-Reliance Index (SRI) Initiatives: In 1992, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's committee aimed to increase the SRI from 30% to 70% by 2005, a target not yet fully achieved.

✔     Shift to Co-Development: In the 1990s and 2000s, India began co-developing and co-producing defence systems with countries like Russia, Israel, and France, exemplified by the BrahMos missile.

Notable Developments

✔     INS Vikrant: India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.

✔     Tejas Aircraft: DRDO's indigenous aircraft project, with efforts to develop the Kaveri engine.

✔     Project 75: Development of advanced stealth submarines like INS Kalvari.

✔     Arihant Submarine: India’s first indigenous nuclear submarine.

✔     Agni V: An intercontinental ballistic missile.

✔     Pinaka Rocket Launcher: Developed by RDE, Pune.

✔     BrahMos Missile: A joint venture with Russia.

✔     Arjun Tank: A third-generation main battle tank developed by DRDO.

Challenges to Indigenisation

✔     Deficiency in Defence Planning: Inadequate strategic planning hampers progress.

✔     Institutional Capacity: Limited capacity for timely policy implementation.

✔     Infrastructure Issues: Insufficient production and logistic support infrastructure.

✔     Dispute Resolution: Absence of mechanisms to address disputes effectively.

✔     Land Acquisition Restrictions: Delays in acquiring land for manufacturing facilities.

Government Initiatives

✔     Defence Procurement Policy (2016): Focuses on increasing domestic procurement and supporting Indian industries.

✔     Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX): Provides grants and support for innovations in defence technology.

✔     Defence Industrial Corridors: Established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to bolster regional defence production capabilities.

✔     Positive Indigenisation Lists: Promote procurement from domestic sources and restrict imports of certain items.

Way Forward

✔     Export High-Value Systems: Focus on exporting high-value platforms like Aircraft Carriers.

●       Example: India's offer of LCA-Tejas to Malaysia.

✔     Comprehensive Export Deals: Offer integrated defence export solutions and training.

●       Example: India's BrahMos missile export deal with the Philippines.

✔     Leverage Defence Lines of Credit (LoC): Facilitate defence exports to foreign countries.

●       Example: India's LoC for defence exports to Vietnam.

●       Example: Tata and Mahindra's contributions to defence manufacturing in India.

✔     Dedicated Export Promotion Body: Establish a body to streamline defence export initiatives.

●       Example: Creation of India's Defence Export Promotion Cell.

✔     Defence Modernisation Fund: Propose a non-lapsable fund to bridge budget.

●       Example: UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review fund.

Tags:
Security

Keywords:
Defence Indigenisation Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme Project 75 Defence Industrial Corridors Indian Military

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Internal Security