India Emerges as a Beacon of Global Optimism: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan
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New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan remarked on Thursday that India is currently positioned as a beacon of global optimism, while stressing the critical need for a self-sufficient defence industry within the country’s landscape.
"We have achieved the status of the fifth-largest economy globally. As we progress on the journey towards prosperity, we hold the belief that self-reliance and homegrown defence capabilities are essential for lasting peace. The security landscape of India calls for a strong and self-sustaining defence sector," he noted.
Gen Anil Chauhan made these comments during the opening session of the Defence Partnership Days, an event co-hosted by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies and Indian Military Review in Delhi.
The inauguration was attended by Gen Anil Chauhan alongside Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar.
Discussing the various reforms and initiatives undertaken by the government in the defence sector, Gen Anil Chauhan stated: "India has liberalized its defence industry through reforms, welcoming private players, joint ventures, FDI, and more. However, we have yet to fully embrace this openness. To achieve genuine success, we must adopt the '4I’s: innovative, inventive, indigenous, and imaginative."
He emphasized that a unified commitment to national interest is the vital thread connecting all stakeholders.
"The entire initiative of indigenization will falter if national interest does not serve as the adhesive binding all components," he added.
He reiterated that as India forges ahead towards progress and prosperity, self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities are the cornerstones for sustainable peace.
Gen Anil Chauhan noted that while investments in defence manufacturing take time to yield results, the duration for defence R&D is even longer, with outcomes often being uncertain. He suggested that establishing a Defence Bank with favorable loan terms could be a viable option, in addition to funding initiatives like iDEX and TDF.
He also advocated for the development of defence strategies in emerging technologies such as space, AI, quantum, and autonomous systems to guide the industry on how the services envision the future.
Over 200 companies and 100 officials from the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces, specializing in technology and procurement, are participating in this two-day event.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the event aims to unite government and business stakeholders while facilitating strategic interactions through a series of targeted business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings.
Alongside the event, an exhibition featuring 75 companies is being organized to demonstrate what the industry can contribute to enhancing the nation’s defence capabilities.
