Modi 3.0: Six Defense Sector Reforms Key to National Security

Rahul Rawat

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Over the past two terms, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has created the narrative of being a more muscular, national-security-oriented political party with a strong will to pursue reforms and implement policy decisions. However, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his term in office as part of a National Democratic Alliance coalition government, many of his long-promised reforms in the defense sector remain in stasis. Modi 3.0 will have to address the six key reforms outlined below to ensure that India is capable of dealing with threats to its national security.

Develop a National Security Strategy

While the idea of developing a National Security Strategy (NSS) is not new and has been attempted at least thrice in the past, previous Indian governments have been unsuccessful due to the hesitation to establish political accountability for national security. In Modi’s previous term, the government was vocal about streamlining and transforming India’s national security, and promised to deliver the NSS. However, due to indecisiveness leading to a delay in processes and lack of enough political will, the government could not deliver. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is collating inputs from various stakeholders and ministries to develop a comprehensive NSS. However, given the Chinese military challenge to India on the continental border and future threats at sea, such a strategy is much needed at the earliest. The lack of such a strategy raises concerns about a missing alignment between national policy and military strategy. As former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane opines, “Defense strategy…has to flow out of a national security strategy.”

Alongside this, policymakers need to develop a revised and robust Joint Doctrine for the armed forces to cater to the needs of the emerging Integrated Theater Commands (ITCs) concept. The ITCs match the threats identified in the NSS with the warfighting roles and functions required for their mitigation. Therefore, the NSS becomes a key step in bridging the national political approach with the military’s operational readiness against adversaries. Sufficient political will and a push from the government are key to make this happen.