India faces increasing security challenges as country's stature rises as a world power

New Delhi: – Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane said that India is being viewed as an emerging global power in the Asian continent. In this situation, the challenges faced by the country also have increased. While countering these challenges, India cannot depend on other countries for weapons and defence equipment. Therefore, development of the weapons and defence equipment manufacturing industry in the country is significant.

The Army Chief spoke at a symposium organised by ‘Society of Defence Manufacturers’, an association of the weapons and defence equipment manufacturers in the country. While speaking on the ‘Army-Industry Partnership’ the Army Chief pointed out that indigenous production and development of weapons and defence equipment and research in this sector has become extremely important. In the times to come, India is faced with major security challenges. In these times, India cannot be dependent on other countries for the supply of weapons and defence equipment. The adversaries of India have started indigenous manufacture of weapons and defence equipment. On this front, they are ahead on India, to an extent.

Therefore, becoming self-reliant on the defence manufacturing front becomes vital. General Naravane said that this would prove very important during a conflict. The Army Chief also pointed out that there is a conspiracy to keep the Indian Army busy with terrorism and Naxal fronts- this is a part of non-conventional warfare.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced, only recently, that important steps are being taken to make the country Atmanirbhar in the weapons and defence equipment. The Defence Minister had clarified that under this certain important gadgets and instruments will be manufactured indigenously and the union government will encourage this. The Defence Minister had also said that the process for export of India’s defence equipment has already started.

Army Chief General MM Naravane made it clear while speaking at the symposium on Thursday, that the focus is on developing indigenous development of defence technology. The Army Chief claimed that 75% of the Army’s current demand, worth ₹1.5 trillion, for weapons and defence equipment, is being fulfilled under ‘Make in India’.