Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan today emphasized the significance of self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities as the cornerstones of lasting peace in India. Addressing the inaugural session of the Defence Partnership Days event in New Delhi, Gen Chauhan stressed that India’s progress on the international stage, including becoming the fifth-largest economy, hinges on a strong, self-reliant defence sector.
The occasion, jointly organized by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and Indian Military Review, was inaugurated by Gen Chauhan and Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production). During his speech, Gen Chauhan said that India’s security landscape requires a robust defence sector that is both self-sufficient and capable of adapting to evolving global challenges.
“As we march ahead on the path of advancement and prosperity, we believe that self-reliance and indigenous defence capacities are the foundations to enduring peace,” Gen Chauhan said. He pointed out that national security is a common thread binding all stakeholders in the country’s defence efforts, emphasizing that the indigenization effort cannot succeed without prioritizing the nation's interests.
Gen Chauhan also touched upon important reforms undertaken by the Government of India to strengthen the defence industry. These include opening up the sector for private industry, joint ventures, and foreign direct investment (FDI). However, he noted that true success in the sector will need a shift in mindset, encouraging the adoption of the “4I’s”: innovative, inventive, indigenous, and imaginative.
The CDS also acknowledged the long-term nature of investments in defence manufacturing, indicating that the returns on such investments, particularly in research and development (R&D), take time to materialize. He proposed that India could consider establishing a "Defence Bank" with favorable loan terms to support such projects, alongside funding measures like iDEX and the Technology Development Fund (TDF).
Further, Gen Chauhan stressed the significance of developing defence policies in emerging technologies such as space, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and autonomous systems. These policies, he argued, would guide the industry and provide transparency on how the armed forces foresee the future of warfare and national security.
The Defence Partnership Days occasion is seeing the participation of over 200 companies, along with more than 100 officers from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, involved in technology and procurement. The two-day affair seeks to facilitate strategic partnerships through a series of business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings, allowing key stakeholders to collaborate on strengthening India’s defence capabilities.
On the sidelines of the occasion, an exhibition featuring 75 companies is being held, providing a forum to display innovations that contribute to the country’s self-reliant defence sector. The occasion emphasizes the growing role of industry in improving national security and shaping the future of India’s defence ecosystem. (PR)