Article By: Maj. Gen G S Bal ( Retd)
India has emerged as a Military power in the last decade. As per data published by Stockholm International Peace Research Institut (SIPRI) in March-April 2021, India accounted for 3.2 percent of the global share in military expenditure, while US accounted for 39% and China 13%, making India, thereby, the third largest global spender on military hardware. Similarly, in terms of military expenditure, US spent $778 billion, China $252 billion and India spent $72.9 billion. In 2012, India spent 2.15 percent of GDP on Military expenditure.
India cannot choose its neighbors. With China on our Northern and Pakistan on our Western frontier, we cannot expect a dramatic change in our relationships with our neighbors. After Taliban acquired power in Afghanistan, having taken over the reins of the country, we lost the strategic depth that had been traditionally provided by a friendly Afghan regime. Our requirement of arming and sustaining a strong and self-reliant defense force, to fight and withstand a two front war, is likely to persist for a long time.
Therefore, the need for a stable, self-reliant and resilient India, with a strong and well equipped armed forces, that can face the challenges of the next two/three decades, has become a military compulsion for India.
Lessons learnt, during previous wars on our western, eastern, and northern borders, have taught us that self-reliance is a necessity for sustaining wars beyond 10 days of intense fighting. Apart from that, to save the drain on our foreign reserves we must intensify our mission for “atam nirbhar bharat”. Towards this end, the Ministry of defense has taken some proactive measures to attain self-reliance in defense production:
Import embargo: The Ministry recently took a decision to introduce import embargo on a large number of defense equipment. The list comprises high technology weapons such as artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, Light combat helicopters, radars amongst others.
74% In defense Production: The Government has increased the Foreign Direct Investment for the defense sector from 49% to 74%. This will give a boost to domestic defense production and will result in reinforcing development of new technology in India and maximize expansion of PSUs and the private sector.
Capital Procurement Budget: A separate budget of Rs 52,000 Cr has been allocated for domestic procurement. This is likely to reduce imports and encourage domestic manufacturing of defense equipment.
Offset programs: The key objectives of the Defense Offset Policy is to leverage capital acquisitions and develop Indian Defense Industry with the aim of augmenting capacity for research, design and development related to defense products. Equipment purchased from abroad comes along with transfer of technology followed by licensed production under the offset program.
Why to do Post Graduation in Defense.
Genesis of M Tech in Defense Technology Programs.
DRDO (Defense Research & Development Organization) is The R & D Wing of the Govt Of India with a vision to empower India with cutting edge technologies and a mission to achieve self – reliance in critical war fighting equipment and equip our armed forces with the state-of-the art weapon systems. Aligned with our visionary PMs’ clarion call for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’, the DRDO, in conjunction with AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education), has embarked on a futuristic program of MSc in Defense Technology. The program aims to train a pool of scientists as future work force to enhance scientific culture amongst youth and giving impetus to ‘Make In India’ defense products placing us firmly on the path of self-reliance.
The indigenous defense production sector is fast expanding and it is hoped that by the next decade India will become an export hub of state-of -the art weapons and equipment. With the tremendous financial support being provided by the Govt for defense startups and production agencies, the domestic job sector is likely to expand exponentially. MSc in defense technology opens up new avenues for jobs in a burgeoning defense industry in the western world like Thales, Raytheon, Texas Instruments, Boeing, ELBIT-ELOP , General Motors, Lockheed Martin and BAE, to name a few.
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary”.
Therefore, in conclusion, it may be stated that this newly introduced course would strengthen young minds to explore a brighter and better future with a flavor of patriotism and pride in working for the elite Defense system that works towards nation building.