To be fighting fit

To be fighting fit

Context

The government must order a comprehensive strategic review of the future threats to India. Author provides his suggestions in the backdrop of an allegedly insufficient defence budget

The present situation

According to a recent report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,

• India was the largest arms importer in the last five years, accounting for 12% of global imports
• The Indian defence budget has now overtaken that of the U.K. to become the fifth largest in the world

Impact of an insufficient budget

• An insufficient defence budget impacts not only modernisation but also the current operational readiness of the force
• Reduction in revenue allocation means cutting down on training requirements and routine replacement of items like surveillance and protective equipment.

Why, more defence allocation is needed?

• Multipolar Asia: Author states that Asia is developing a multipolar strategic environment with Russia, China, India and the U.S. competing for greater influence
• State-on-state conflictpossibility: One region where such a possibility exists is South Asia. India faces not only a long-term strategic challenge from China but also the continuing efforts by Pakistan to maintain military balance with India by keeping the Indian Army tied down in Kashmir, and developing a credible nuclear force

What should be done?

• Regular consultations: Regular strategic consultations between the political and military leadership are needed so that government and military are in the same page
• Comprehensive strategic review: Government to order a comprehensive strategic review of the future threats to India. This will provide a clear picture to the political leadership, and also directions to the military. A long-term capability development plan can then be prepared by the military and approved by the government. This will form the basis for the defence budget thereby avoiding the annual squabbles over allocation
• Comprehensive and an integrated approach to border management: The government must also take a holistic look at all border-guarding forces — the Army, Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). While the Army leads in responding to all Chinese provocations such as Depsang, Chumar and Doklam, the border is technically the responsibility of the ITBP under the Home Ministry
• Understanding realities of India’s finance:The military also must understand the realities of India’s finances and look to reconstruct itself. A country may provide its military with generous budgets and large cadres of manpower, but if the military’s doctrine is misguided, the training ineffective, the leadership unschooled, or the organization inappropriate, military capability will suffer.The military must stop talking in terms of numbers, of squadrons, ships and divisions, and focus on capability. Utilization of modern technology like robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence can be the key to enhancing capability

Conclusion

Civil-military differences over defence budgets are an inevitable part of any democracy. However, these differences can be minimised if there is a common understanding of the national security strategy, and of the genuine requirements of the military for putting this strategy into effect. On its part, the military must focus on capability for future warfighting, not mere numbers.