Indian Defence Review

Equipment Capability Gaps: Its Impact on Mission Outcomes

“In the 21st century, leaders who lack sufficient technical know – how, function at a marked disadvantage. An officer or a soldier who feels insecure about even a small portion of his weapon, will not be able to meet with the rapidly changing conditions of modern day combat. An Army that feels it possesses the...

Impact of 1965 War on Pakistan

Pakistan Army realised the vulnerability of East Pakistan, with its 4100 Km border with India and defended by a weak division with only two effective brigades – even though it was never attacked by India. At hindsight, the Indian decision not to activate the eastern front paid dividends in the 1971 War. Had India...

Indo-Pacific: An Emerging Outlook for the 21st Century

Strategically located in the Indian Ocean, India was a flourishing economic and cultural centre from the dawn of civilisation. As historian KM Panikkar in his seminal work ‘India and the Indian Ocean’, brought out, “Millenniums before Columbus sailed the Atlantic and Magellan crossed the Pacific, the Indian Ocean...

Trump was a Strategic Boon for India

Today habitual and professional Trump detractors are breast beating about the violence in the US Capitol Hill. President designate Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have not spared any invectives. Nancy Pelosi has gone to the extent of seeking impeachment of Trump. Some of the elements inimical to Trump are also...

Indian Model of Theatre Commands: The Road Ahead!

In the history of restructuring of the Indian Armed Forces, the year 2020 started with hopes and anxiety with the long-awaited appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a redistribution of duties, to further...

Xi Jinping and the Future of CCP

In an unprecedented move effective from the New Year’s Day, China has removed the military from the government control and expanded the powers of its Central Military Commission (CMC), headed by Xi Jinping, to mobilise military and civilian resources in defence of the national interest, both at home and abroad. The...

Equipment Capability Gaps: Its Impact on Mission Outcomes

Impact of 1965 War on Pakistan

Nuclear Submarine Ahoy: Whither Bound?

The idea of nuclear propulsion for ships and aircraft for India was first mooted by Dr Homi Bhabha in 1954. In 1965, he sought assistance from US Atomic Energy Commission for developing nuclear propulsion technology. This was turned down. This should have been no surprise – as at the time, the US was unwilling to...

Indo-Pacific: An Emerging Outlook for the 21st Century

Harnessing Youth Power in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir has suffered tremendously in the shadow of the gun for the last almost three decades. Violence hit the youth of the region most of all. Their education and development suffered since families were engrossed in the day to day challenge of survival. As a result, they lost out on employment opportunities...

Positive changes in Kashmir raise hopes for early statehood

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a paradigm shift in its socio-political environment in recent times. Of great importance is the successful and incident free conduct of the District Development Council (DDC) elections that began on November, 28 and culminated with the counting of votes on December,...

FDI in Defence Manufacturing-26-49-100 Percent

There are times when a nation is blessed with decisive leadership, which can take bold policy initiatives that would benefit future generations. In the budget of 2014, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in defence production was increased from the then 26 percent to 49 percent. There was noticeable excitement amongst the...

Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces awards Rosoboronexport with Certificate of Honor

In line with Order No. 1 of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin dated October 15, 2020, Rosoboronexport JSC (part of Rostec State Corporation) has been awarded the Certificate of Honor “For merit in strengthening the country’s defense capacity and developing...

Complexification and Public-Private Positioning in the Land Forces Armament Sector

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, restructuring has pervaded the land forces defense industry. Without the needs demanded by such a threat, a transformation precipitated in the Western industrial apparatus. Land defense systems have become increasingly complex, while economic conditions have altered the industry...

Xi's Mega Projects: Should India Worry?

On the occasion of the New Year, President Xi Jinping called the Communist Party “a gigantic vessel that navigates...

A Glimpse of Life in the Army

Many of us wonder what the Army does in peacetime when there is no war on. Some people believe that they live a...

Approach towards Kashmir in 2021

The year 2020 commenced with the UT under the spoke of security forces as a fall out of abrogation of article 370. COVID 19 restrictions added to those already prevalent in the region. Senior politicians, representing major political parties, remained under detention, to be released in turn as the situation improved. They were released gradually over the year, with Mehbooba Mufti being the...

NATO Military Alliance Europe Highlights Strategic Concerns on Emerging China Threat

The “China Threat” is no longer a security challenge confined to India, Japan and Indo Pacific nations but now palpably perceived as a global threat- in –the- making impacting the NATO Military Alliance as reflected in the NATO Document released in November 2020. NATO...

Let the Staff go along with the Flag; the Typewriters can Follow Later

This morning, one of the pioneers of the Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS) passed away. It perhaps marks the end of an era. KC Johorey, who later joined the IAS and became Chief Secretary in Goa, was one of the first to join the IFAS in 1954. He started his career in...

Insurgency as a Spoiler: South Asian Context

Issues Meriting Importance At the outset it should be clear that there is no international definition for the insurgency. It is commonly agreed that it is an organised armed struggle by a section of the local population against the State, usually with foreign support. The possible...

Curtailed Army Day Celebration 2021

Army Day is celebrated in India on 15th of January every year to commemorate a historic event post independence in January 1949 when Gen. KM Cariappa became the first Indian to assume the Command of the Indian Army. The celebration commemorates yet another turn of historic event when India got rid of British Generals. Gen, later Field Marshal KM Cariappa became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army after taking over from last...