Amid global uncertainty and regional conflicts, it was need of the hour to modernise armed forces to counter enemy inside and outside. National security has always been a top priority for the Modi Government. This can be seen in the Government adopting a zero-tolerance approach against terror as well as extremism. Areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, terrorism (J&K) and insurgency (North East), which were once notorious for violence and unrest, are now becoming transformed, integral states. A clear and immediate articulation of public policy that focuses on Aatmanirbharta in Defence has been PM Modi-led Government’s primary onus.
Whereas carrier INS Vikrant showcases the country’s growing prowess for indigenous manufacturing, it is no coincidence that India’s defence expenditure has increased more than two times! The capital outlay on Defence Services has increased over 2 times in the last nine years. This are some of many examples of nine years of unparalleled military reforms and modernisation, which makes ours the World’s second largest military, now armed with state-of-the-art weapons, with a very heavy indigenous reliance.
Aatmanirbharta in defence can also be seen as we continue to foster innovation and technology development; 25 per cent of defense R&D budget has been earmarked for industry, startups and academia. One such example is the launch of Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework which has played a pivotal role in supporting start-ups and innovators for prototype development of weapons and platforms. This is supported by the establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. While indigenous development of defence equipment has given the Indian Army Infantry Combat Vehicles from Tata Motors, Rafale and LCA Tejas have sharpened the combat capabilities of Air Force, and of course, Indian Navy indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant is the largest and the most complex warship ever built in the maritime history of India.
India’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 which is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km was successfully tested while enhanced PINAKA rocket, called Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) developed by DRDO bespeak of our regal outreach when it comes to spreading our wings of indigenization.
India’s foreign policy as regards its neighborhood has always been under the radar. This Government’s ‘Neighborhood First Policy’ supported by the revitalized ‘Act East’, ‘Think West’ and ‘Connect Central Asia’ policies continue to enhance our engagement. In an effort to reaffirm what is thus stated, PM Modi-led government’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ – ‘SAGAR’- is also designed to strengthen our ties with our partners.
India’s G-20 Presidency with the all-encompassing theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth-One Family-One Future” has been widely appreciated because of our inherently humanist philosophy. Over the last nine years, India has also played a pivotal role as the ‘First Responder’ during humanitarian crises. Over time and several missions, our disaster protocols have also become more resilient. During the last nine years India has taken up several major relief and evacuation operations such as Operation Kaveri (2023), Operation Dost (2023), Operation Ganga (2022), Operation Devi Shakti (2021) and Mission Sagar (2021), to name a few.
Closer home, a holistic approach to strengthening security has been a significant push for the modernization of the police force, including the setting up of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) designated as the nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
Through Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) we are also moving towards the realization of a drug-free India and through it the total arrests in drug smuggling cases saw a 222 increase. When it comes to bringing peace and prosperity to the North East, compared to 2014 there has been a 76 reduction in extremist incidents in 2022.
Be it the resolute and intrepid reaction against terrorism from the surgical strike, to the absolute containment of incidents of stone pelting, to the 94 per cent conviction rate in terror-financing cases, under the leadership of PM Modi, the last nine years have seen a unique two-pronged thrust, one that builds on our incredible amiable reputational capital, and another that shows to the world unambiguously: if provoked, we dare, and will not spare.
Comparative Analysis – Then and Now
India’s Defence Expenditure Doubled!
2014-15: 3.17 lakh crore
2023-24 (BE): 6.23 lakh crore
10-fold Increase in Defence Exports
2016-17: Rs. 1,521 crore
2022-23: Rs. 15,920 crore
Capital Outlay on Defence Services: Over 2x increase in last nine years!
2015-16: Rs 71 thousand crore
2023-24 (BE): Rs 162 thousand crore
Progressive increase in defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry
2018-19: 54per cent
2019-20: 59per cent
2020-21: 64per cent
2021-22: 64per cent
2022-23: 68per cent
2023-24: 75per cent
222per cent increase in Drug Smuggling related Arrests
2006-13: 1.62 lakh+
2014-22: 5.23 lakh+
Seized Drugs in Kg: 3x increase!
2006-13: 22.45 lakh Kg
2014-22: 62.60 lakh Kg
Value of Seized Drugs: 3x increase!
2006-13: Rs. 33 thousand crore
2014-22: Rs. 97 thousand crore
Indian defence export has risen by more than 10 times since 2016-17!
2016-17: Rs. 1,521 crore
2022-23: Rs. 15,920 crore
Flag Ship Schemes
Indigenous Design and Development of Defence Equipment
Indian Army
• Order placed for 118 Arjun Mk-1A Main Battle Tanks (MBTs)
• Made in India Infantry Combat Vehicles from Tata Motors have been inducted into the Indian Army
• Procurement of 1.86 lakh Bullet Proof Jackets
• Rs. 5,100-crore project for the joint production of more than 600,000 AK-203 assault rifles in Amethi
• Induction of indigenous artillery gun ‘Dhanush’ commenced
• Indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM)
• Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile System (MRSAM) developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
• Indigenously developed Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘Helina’
Indian Air Force
• BrahMos missile on the Su-30 MKI successfully integrated of the
• Indigenously designed and developed Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile successfully flight-tested
• Indigenously-developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) has been carried out
• New generation Anti-Radiation Missile (RUDRAM) was successfully Flight tested
• The indigenously designed and developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-DHRUV)
• Development of Tejas Mark-2 fighter aircraft at a total cost of Rs. 9000 crore approved
• Light Combat Helicopter “Prachand” is India’s first indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter
• Uttam Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar indigenously developed
• AKASH Weapon Systems has been inducted
• New version of the AKASH Missile – ‘Akash Prime’ and ‘Akash-NG’ successfully flight tested
• Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) System successfully developed
• Long Range Surface to Air (LRSAM) system has been jointly developed by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
• Foundation stone of C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility laid – the country’s first in the private sector
• Astra ‘Beyond Visual Range’ Air-to-Air Missile designed and developed by DRDO
Indian Navy
• Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant the largest and the most complex warship ever built in the maritime history of India
• Project 15B, Visakhapatnam-class guided missile destroyers, one of the most technologically advanced guided missile destroyers in the world being built
• Project 17A Nilgiri-class frigates, a series of stealth guided-missile frigates being built
• Project 75 submarines, a series of stealth submarines built under the ‘Make in India’ initiative
• India joins a select group of nations by conducting an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’
• DRDO developed Supersonic Missile-Assisted Torpedo (SMART) system successfully launched
• Vertical Launch of Short-Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) has been developed for the Indian Navy
Rocket Force
• India’s first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km successfully tested
• Enhanced PINAKA rocket, called Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) developed by DRDO
• Flight test of home-made new-generation surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’ was conducted successfully
• DRDO successfully demonstrated the hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight testing of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV)
AGNIPATH for a youthful and dynamic Armed Forces
• A transformative reform for recruitment of youth in the Armed Forces as ‘Agniveers’ for tenure of 4 years
• Open to men and women between 171/2-21 years of age (Two years age relaxation for 1st batch- 23 years)
• Designed to attain a youthful and diverse profile of the Armed Forces & Provide a fresh lease of ‘Josh’ and ‘Jazba’
• A shift towards a more tech savvy military
• Based on merit & organisational requirements, up to 25% ‘Agniveers’ to join regular cadre
• Attractive ‘Seva Nidhi’ financial package for Agniveers
• Adequate re-employment opportunities for those returning to society and who could emerge as role models for the youth
Towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence
• Priority to procurement of capital items from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020
• 75per cent of the capital procurement budget earmarked for domestic industry in Budget 2023-24
• Notification of four ‘Positive Indigenisation Lists’ of total 411 items of Services
• Notification of three ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ of total 3738 items of Defence Publice Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)
• Launch of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme involving startups & MSMEs
• Implementation of Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order 2017
• Launch of an indigenization portal namely SRIJAN to facilitate indigenisation by Indian Industry including MSMEs
• Establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
• 25per cent of defence R&D budget earmarked for industry, startups and academia
• The expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources has reduced from 46per cent of overall expenditure in 2018-19 to 36.7per cent in December, 2022.
• 2,786 defence items have been indigenised (till February 2023).
Tremendous Rise in Defence Exports
• India signed a 375 billion dollar deal to export the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to Phillipines
• India delivered 12 high-speed guard boats to Vietnam.
• Dornier-228, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery Guns (ATAGs), Brahmos Missiles, Akash Missile System, Radars, Simulators, Mine Protected Vehicles, Armoured Vehicles, and PINAKA Rockets & Launchers are some of other major defence items which have been exported.
• Presently Defence items from India are being exported to more than 85 countries
9 Big Achievements
1. Vande Bharat Mission: 3.2 crore people rescued during COVID
2. Operation Raahat: 4,748 Indians rescued from Yemen
3. Operation Ganga: 22,500 Indians evacuated from Ukraine
4. Operation Maitri: Around 5,000 Indians rescued from Nepal during earthquake
5. Operation Samudra Setu: 3,992 Indians brought back during COVID
6. Operation Kaveri: Around 3,000 Indians evacuated from Sudan (ongoing, as on 03-05-2023)
7. Operation Devi Shakti: 670 Indians evacuated from Afghanistan
8. Wuhan Evacuation: 654 Indians brought back from Wuhan
9. Operation Sankat Mochan: 153 Indians rescued from South Sudan
On Global Stage
• ‘Project Seabird’: Karwar to be Asia’s largest naval base
• 2nd largest Armed Forces in the world
• 3rd largest military spender in the world
• 4th in military strength
• 4th country to develop hypersonic technology
• 4th country to test an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon
• 5th country to have submarine launched nuclear missile
• 6th country to have a dedicated quantum mission
Other Major Initiatives
Armed Forces on Path of Reforms
• Chief of Defence post created
• Department of Military Affairs created to spearhead path-breaking reforms
• Powers delegated to Service Headquarters (SHQs) to augment operational capability
• 41 Ordinance Factories regrouped and given greater autonomy under 7 DPSUs
iDEX – Fostering innovation in Defence
• Outlay of Rs 498+ crore
• iDEX Investor Hub pledge Rs. 200+ crore
• 19 Partner Incubators
• 139 iDEX winners provided grants
• Supply orders placed for 3 iDEX winners
Police Modernisation on the Fast-track
• Safe City Projects sanctioned in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) using technology to aid smart policing and safety management
• Establishment of state-of-art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh
• Assistance to 28 States and UTs to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories
• Setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts
• Setting up of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the country
• Setting up of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations
Making Cyber Security a Priority
• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) designated as the nodal point in the fight against cybercrime
• National Cyber Coordination Centre to generate situational awareness regarding existing and potential cyber security threats
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) launched to enable public to report all types of cyber crimes
• Cyber Forensic-cum-Training Laboratories have been commissioned in 33 States and UTs
• Tollfree number 1930 made operational for citizens to lodge cyber complaints
Towards a Drug-Free India
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) launched in 372 most vulnerable districts
• More than 9.58+ crore people have been reached out so far
o 3.13+ crore youth
o 2.09+ crore women
o 3.14+ lakh educational institutes
• 340 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers set up
• 46 addiction treatment facilities set-up in government hospitals
• Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction ‘14446’ launched
Bring Peace and Prosperity to the North East
• Agreements Signed to end insurgency and bring lasting peace in North East
1. NLFT-Tripura Agreement in August 2019
2. Bodo Accord in January 2020
3. Bru-Reang Agreement in January 2020
4. Karbi Anglong Agreement in September 2021
5. Assam-Meghalaya Inter State Boundary Agreement in March 2022
From Disturbed Area to Aspirational Area: Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) reduced from a large part in North East:
o Assam: AFSPA reduced to only 8 districts.
o Manipur: Disturbed area notification removed from 19 police stations in 7 districts
o Nagaland: Disturbed area notification removed from 18 police stations in 8 districts
o Arunachal Pradesh: AFSPA left in only 3 districts and 2 police stations in 1 district
o Tripura and Meghalaya: Completely withdrawn
• Compared to the year 2014, there has been:
o 76per cent reduction in the extremist incidents in 2022
o 90per cent reduction in deaths of security personnel in 2022
o 97per cent reduction in deaths of civilians in 2022
Significant Drop in Left Wing Extremism
• 77per cent reduction in LWE related violence incidents in 2022 as compared to 2010
• 90per cent reduction in deaths of civilians and security forces in 2022 as compared to 2010
• Geographical spread of LWE violence significantly reduced and only 176 Police Stations of 45 districts reported LWE violence in 2022 as compared 465 Police Stations of 96 districts in 2010
Resultant deaths (Civilians + Security Forces) reduced by 90per cent !
2010: 1005
2022: 98
Zero Tolerance Against Terrorism
• Resolve against terror has been displayed time and again from Surgical Strike to Balakot Strike
• No incidents of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir
• 94per cent conviction rate in terror financing cases
• 54 Terrorists and 44 Terrorist organizations listed under UAPA
• 1000+ terrorists killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 5 year
• Terror Incidents: 44per cent decrease!
2018:228
2022:125
• Security Personnel Killed In Action: 66per cent decrease!
2018: 91
2022: 31
• Civilians killed: 23per cent decrease!
2018: 39
2022: 30
Jammu & Kashmir: Dawn of a New Era
• The dream of one nation, one law, one symbol fulfilled
• All the Central Laws have been extended to J&K
o 890 Central Laws applied, 205 State laws repealed and 130 State laws modified in line with the Constitution of India
o Laws like Child Marriage Act, Right to Education, Reservation and Land Reforms are now effective here
• Record investment of Rs. 1547.87 crore has been received by J&K during 2022-23 (till January 2023)
• Jammu & Kashmir moving on the path of progress in step with the rest of the country
Changing the Face of India’s Foreign Policy
Global Pandemic Response: Helping the world in Crisis
• Drugs, test-kits and protective gear worth approx Rs 100 crore provided on grant basis for a total of 82 countries
• 29.16 crore doses of vaccines supplied to more than 99 countries and two UN entities
o India has gifted 1.49 crore doses of vaccines to more than 50 countries
o India supplied 5.20 crore doses to 48 countries through the COVAX mechanism
• Training programmes for delivering Covid-related training for healthcare professionals in SAARC countries
• Technical assistance in the form of dispatching Rapid Response Teams to Comoros, Mauritius, Kuwait and Maldives
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