An ‘atmanirbhar’ India can look the world in the eye

News: Recently, Russia’s military assault on Ukraine  has been at the centre of attention lately. Its impact is being acutely felt in India. 

Why did Russia attack Ukraine? 

Putin’s stated aim of “de-Nazifying” a democratic nation (headed by a Jewish president).  Ukraine has a past of collaboration with German occupying forces in WWII.  

Violation of NATO’s guarantees that it would not expand even “an inch eastward” on the dissolution of the USSR. In the past, NATO enlisted 10 former Warsaw Pact members over a decade. By 2021, four more East European nations had joined NATO and Ukraine appeared to be on the verge of doing so. It was perceived as a threat to the restoration of Russia’s glorious past by Putin.

What was the response of Europe and India? 

The West has imposed economic sanctions on Russia, which resulted into the crashing of rouble and unplugging of Russia’s economy. In response, Putin described the sanctions as “akin to a declaration of war.” 

India has adopted successive abstentions on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine during votes in the UN Security Council and elsewhere. However New Delhi stance has attracted criticism as it has placed it alongside China and Pakistan who also abstained. Therefore, India is seen as pro-Russian.  

Why did India adopt a policy of abstention in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine? 

It is rooted in “realpolitik”. India’s vital national interests can well be served by its “balancing act” at the cusp of the East-West Duopoly. The intricacies of the long-simmering Russia-Ukraine tensions are another factor that has discouraged India from taking a hard stand. 

Security Angle: India source 60-70% of its military hardware from Russia. Any interruption in the supply could have a devastating impact on our defence posture vis-à-vis the China-Pak axis. It has jeopardized the credibility of India’s “strategic Autonomy”. 

Why has India failed to attain a degree of self-reliance in military hardware?

Politicians are indifferent towards national security: They focus remain on the five-year electoral cycle/ This has prevented the evolution of a long-term vision for India’s Defence Technology Industrial Base (DTIB).  

The bureaucracy’s incomprehension of military technology: It has allowed the defence science establishment to have its way without an iota of accountability for missing time, cost or performance targets.  

What is the way forward?

De-Russification of the armed forces:  Since 1962 Sino-Indian war, India was heavily relying upon Moscow’s military-industrial complex. And, since the Soviet Collapse in 1990, the relationship has become brittle and transactional. It is time to initiate a process of progressive “de-Russification” of Indian armed forces; not to switch sources, but of becoming self-reliant. 

Genuine Indigenisation of India’s defence technological and industrial base (DTIB): Under the banner of “atmanirbharta” label, the focus is on production of the battle-tanks, warships and jet-fighters for the self-reliance. But the vital sub-systems like engines, guns, missiles, radars, fire-control computers, gear-boxes and transmission that are either imported or assembled under foreign licences, are being ignored under the self-reliant mission. Therefore, genuine atmanirbharta requires selective identification of vital military technologies 

The military needs to look beyond its immediate operational needs and lend support to indigenisation.  

Source: The post is based on an article “An Atmanirbhar India can look the world in the eye” published in the Indian Express on 21st Mar 22.