Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ‘Year of Reforms’
Why in the News?
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, marking a significant step in modernizing India’s Armed Forces.
Nine Broad Areas Listed for the ‘Year of Reforms’
- Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs): Enhance jointness and resolve inter-service disagreements for effective ITC implementation.
- Emerging Domains and Technologies: Prioritize cybersecurity, AI, ML, hypersonics, and robotics, and develop tactics for future warfare.
- Operational Collaboration: Strengthen inter-service cooperation through shared training and joint operational capabilities.
- Acquisition Reforms: Simplify procedures to expedite procurement and facilitate technology transfers via public-private partnerships.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encourage collaboration between the defence sector and industries to foster innovation.
- Civil-Military Coordination: Break silos to eliminate inefficiencies and optimize resources.
- Defence Exports: Position India as a global defence exporter, promoting R&D and partnerships with foreign OEMs.
- Veterans’ Welfare: Optimize welfare measures for veterans and leverage their expertise.
- Cultural Pride: Promote indigenous capabilities and instil pride in Indian culture alongside adopting modern military practices.
Key Initiatives for Defence Modernization in India
- Acquisition of Advanced Weaponry: Rafale jets (36 inducted, 26 more planned) enhance air power; S-400 air defence systems provide long-range protection; Arjun Mk-1A tanks boost indigenous capability and firepower.
- Indigenous Development: LCA Tejas replaces ageing fighter jets and supports air-to-air refuelling; INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, strengthens underwater deterrence.
- Technological Advancements: Network-centric warfare improves situational awareness (e.g., Project Sanjay, E-Sitrep); AI and robotics enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; cyber warfare capabilities grow under the National Cyber Security Policy.
- Defence Production and Export: Domestic production reached a record ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2023–24, emphasizing indigenisation; exports hit $2.63 billion, supplying markets like Vietnam and the Philippines.
- Strategic Infrastructure: Border security efforts include the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System and Border Infrastructure Management, improving troop mobility and safeguarding boundaries.
PYQ:[2014] Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector is now set to be liberalized: What influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long run? |
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