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Context:

The Ministry of Defence declares 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’.

Details

The focus would be on introducing integrated command units to increase the synergy of the three services and ensure simpler and time-sensitive military procurement with the broader objective of transforming the military into a technologically advanced force.

The overall aim of the nine-point reforms planned by the Ministry of Defense would be to ensure deeper collaboration between key stakeholders, break down silos, eliminate inefficiencies and optimize the use of resources.

The reforms would lay the foundations for "unprecedented" progress in defense preparedness and ensure India's security and sovereignty amid the challenges of the 21st century.

Integrating capabilities

The following broad areas have been identified for targeted intervention in 2025:

• Reforms should focus on further strengthening Jointness & Integration initiatives and facilitating the establishment of integrated theater commands.
• Focus on cyber and space: Reforms should focus on new areas such as cyber and space and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics. Related tactics, techniques, and procedures needed to win future wars should also be developed.
• Develop a shared understanding of operational requirements and joint operational capabilities through cross-departmental collaboration and training.
• Acquisition procedures need to be streamlined and time-sensitive to facilitate faster and more robust capability development.
• Facilitate technology transfer and knowledge sharing between the defense sector and civilian industry, promote public-private partnerships by facilitating business.
• Focus on collaboration between different stakeholders in the defense ecosystem. Break the silo. Effective civil-military coordination should focus on eliminating inefficiencies and optimizing resources.
• To position India as a credible exporter of defense products, and promote R&D and partnerships between Indian industry and foreign OEMs for knowledge sharing and resource integration.
• Ensure the well-being of veterans while leveraging their expertise. Efforts will be made to optimize welfare measures for veterans.
• Instill a sense of pride in Indian culture and ideas, instill confidence in achieving global standards through indigenous capabilities, while imbibing best practices of modern armies that suit the country's conditions.

Source:

PIB