Armed Forces

The issues confronting the defence establishment at the beginning of the year broadly related to defence policy, human resource management and operational preparedness.

• Amit Cowshish
• December 29, 2015
• IDSA Comments

IDSA was tasked by the 7th Central Pay Commission in July 2014 to conduct a study on the “Nature, Quantum & Components of Defence Expenditure and Defence Pensions”. The study was carried out in accordance with the terms of reference provided by the Commission.

• IDSA Team
• November 30, 2015
• Special Feature

The wellbeing of veterans and their transition to a second career by ensuring implementable policy initiatives is a national obligation. This not only has a welfare agenda but also an economic sense to it​.

• Pradeep Sofat
• November 02, 2015
• IDSA Comments

A dissatisfied military is not in the interest of India which has to contend with multiple internal and external security issues. The nation at large and the political leadership must be alive to the prevailing sentiments and act appropriately.

• N.S. Brar
• August 24, 2015
• IDSA Comments

Converting the Services` HQs as departments of the government within the scope of Allocation of Business Rules, with responsibility to Parliament for obtaining defence appropriations, may be in the long-term interests of the country.

• Gautam Sen
• June 23, 2015
• IDSA Comments

At a time when the battlefield has been progressively transforming from the conventional to unconventional, the role of Special Forces will become critical in shaping its outcome. Conflicts in the past decade have established the primacy of such forces. Their role has evolved and today special operations are meant to be decisive and achieve strategic objectives. The Indian security establishment has also been taking notice of these changes and by and large making right moves.

• Amit Kumar
• April 2015
• Journal of Defence Studies

The nature of warfare has undergone a major change over the last few decades, brought about by rapid advancement in technologies combined with changes in doctrines and organisational concepts. This has resulted in enhanced focus on integrated and joint operations. Unified structures have been put in place by all major militaries in the world to optimise their defence capabilities. India appears to be reluctant to adapt wholeheartedly to the changing nature of war-fighting despite facing a wide variety of threats to its internal and external security.

• Vijai Singh Rana
• January 2015
• Journal of Defence Studies

The effort to set right the operating environment has to start with creating a mechanism to review the existing devolution of power comprehensively based on clearly defined principles and not in an ad hoc manner.

• Amit Cowshish
• November 05, 2014
• IDSA Comments

The strategic discourse on defence and security matters in India revolves around familiar themes and sub-themes, ranging from larger issues such as the absence of a clearly articulated national security policy to somewhat fractious issues such as the higher defence management, civil-military relations and modernization of the armed forces.

• Amit Cowshish
• July 2014
• Journal of Defence Studies

India has had a healthy tradition of the armed forces personnel being apolitical while being allowed to exercise their democratic right of voting in the electoral process. While the state police and central police and para-military units have been in the front tier of security network during the elections, the armed forces have discharged a crucial auxiliary-cum-supportive role.

• Gautam Sen
• April 09, 2014
• IDSA Comments