Challenges In India’s Bid To Be Military Power

Context: There are various challenges associated with the military power of India.

Ordinance factory reforms

• Corporatization: Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) have now been corporatized as seven new entities.
• The goal is to make India Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and to make a major military power.

Challenges before India’s military power aspirations

• Tensions along Line of Control (LoC): In 2020, China challenge reached new heights with Galwan setback, incursions by PLA in central and eastern LAC etc.
  • Continuing impasse: Recently held 13^th round of Corps Commanders’ talks failed to resolve the impasse. Hence, this winter will be challenging for the Indian military.
• Unsettled border dispute: In politico-diplomatic front, tension increased with China with respect to Arunachal Pradesh Border Dispute and asking India to stop taking actions that would complicate and expand boundary issue.
• New developments in China-Bhutan relations: Recent preliminary agreement signed between China-Bhutan excluded India totally.
  • A diplomatic setback for India and could lead to extension of Chinese footprint in Indian periphery.
• Military budget and competence gap: As per report of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, prevailing fund allocation is not supportive to inevitable needs of Army.
  • There is a huge deficiencies and obsolescence of weapons, stores and ammunition existing in Indian Army.

Way Forward: Corporatisation of OFB shall carried forward and be reflected in reforms in processes and funding of OFB and as a whole, revamping defence manufacturing ecosystem in India.