A Defence Minister With Military Background — A Risk India Needs to Take
The Modi government has initiated several defence reforms. But mere political acumen of the defence minister is insufficient to steer them.
Editorial Staff
A Defence Minister With Military Background — A Risk India Needs to Take
In December 2019, a long-pending and critical evolutionary process of structural reforms in defence were unleashed by the Narendra Modi government. It was a commendable PMO-driven initiative. It encompassed the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff, triple hatted as military adviser to the defence minister, the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs. Notably, the position has mandated the CDS to establish the Theatre/Joint Commands. The fact that defence reforms were required to be driven by the PMO reflects the platitude that India requires a strong PMO to override the narrow interests of individual central ministries and state governments in order to serve national objectives. It is never the ideal solution but has been found to be an effective method in a diverse and complex country inhabited by a plethora of domestic power centres. Post-Kargil, the creation of the National Security Council Secret…
