India’s Evolving Defence Strategy: Balancing Peace and Power
Author: Col Dinesh Chandra (Retd)
Overview
India’s defence strategy has undergone a profound transformation over the past seven decades. From tentative beginnings with idealistic restraint we have slowly moved towards pragmatic assertion. What began as a non-alignment stance rooted in high morals has now matured into a complex architecture of deterrence, partnerships and self-reliance. At its core, India’s contemporary approach now recognises a hard truth that peace cannot be sustained by goodwill alone. It requires credible capability, clear signalling and constant adaptation to a volatile international environment. The balance India seeks today is not between war and peace, but between strength and restraint.
From Idealism to Strategic Realism
Immediately after independence, India’s strategic outlook was deeply influenced by Jawaharlal Nehru’s belief in non-alignment and global cooperation. The armed forces were primarily seen as instruments of border protection and internal stability. After independence the immediate focus was on nation-building rather than power projection. However, the geopolitical realities of South Asia soon challenged that vision. The 1962 war with China exposed the dangers of under-preparedness, while the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan reshaped India’s understanding of regional dynamics. By 1971, with the creation of Bangladesh, India had learned that decisive military capability was not contradictory to peace, it was essential for ensuring it.
The 1998 nuclear tests were another turning point. The tests represented both a declaration of strategic autonomy and an assertion that India would secure its interests on its own terms. Since then, the national security consensus across political lines has shifted from moral positioning to pragmatic capability-building.
Strategic Autonomy and Multi-Alignment
The global environment India now operates in is multipolar and uncertain. Traditional alliances have weakened and regional flashpoints have multiplied. In this context, India’s long-standing policy of “non-alignment” has evolved into “multi-alignment”. Rather than remaining neutral, India now actively engages with multiple partners to maximise strategic flexibility. It participates in the QUAD with the United States, Japan and Australia to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific Region, while simultaneously maintaining defence and energy partnerships with Russia and West Asian countries. This balance allows India to avoid over-dependence on any single power bloc while positioning itself as a responsible, independent power in global security. Multi alignment also provides operational advantages, greater interoperability, access to technologies and diplomatic leverage in crisis situations.
Enhanced Role of Defence Diplomacy
India’s defence diplomacy has become a vital extension of its foreign policy. The country now conducts multiple joint military exercises annually across the tri-services. It trains officers from many African and Southeast Asian nations and provides humanitarian and disaster relief to countries in need. This outreach serves three strategic purposes. First, building trust and interoperability with friendly states. Second, projecting India’s capabilities as a security provider rather than a passive actor. And third, counterbalancing Chinese influence, particularly in the maritime domain. Institutions like the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the United Service Institution of India (USI) now emphasise defence diplomacy as a key component of strategic influence and a means of building partnerships through professionalism and mutual respect rather than diplomatic coercion.
Modernisation and Capability Building
Diplomacy without credible military capability risks being hollow. Recognising this, India has embarked on a broad modernisation effort that spans doctrine, technology and structure. The focus areas are:
Jointness and Integration: Establishing joint theatre commands to improve coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Mobility and Logistics: Enhancing transport networks, especially in border areas like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Technology and Innovation: Prioritising cyber defence, space assets, and electronic warfare capabilities.
The 2020 Ladakh standoff with China was a wake-up call. On one hand it revealed logistical and infrastructural vulnerabilities but on the other hand it also showcased India’s rapid response capacity. Troops and heavy equipment were mobilised at unprecedented scale under extreme conditions, reinforcing a doctrine of “active deterrence” i.e. maintaining peace by demonstrating readiness for war.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative
Self-reliance in defence which was once aspirational, is now recognised as a strategic necessity. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, India is restructuring its defence industrial ecosystem through policies like Positive Indigenisation Lists, iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), Defence Industrial Corridors and import embargoes that push domestic R&D and private-sector production. Major reforms such as OFB(Ordnance Factory Board) corporatisation, indigenous procurement focus, and export-oriented policies aim to build a globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem and reduce foreign dependence.The key reforms pertaining to defence include corporatisation of the OFB into specialised entities, increased FDI limits in defence manufacturing and provision of incentives for private sector participation and innovation. India is not merely seeking import substitution but aiming to become a net defence exporter. In 2023–24, defence exports crossed USD 2.5 billion which is a record high. Self-reliance also enhances strategic autonomy. It reduces dependency on unpredictable suppliers and builds an indigenous base of technology and talent that can adapt faster to national needs.
Regional Security and Strategic Posture
India’s defence posture in its immediate neighbourhood reflects a combination of deterrence, partnership and resilience. Main focus areas are:
Pakistan: The approach has shifted from reactive defence to proactive deterrence. Precision strikes and cross-border operations have replaced earlier policy of criticism and restraint. This posture signals signals a willingness to impose costs on aggression. Intelligence-led operations and improved border management have made responses faster and controlled.
China: The contest is subtler but far more consequential. India has accelerated border infrastructure, deployed advanced surveillance systems and deepened strategic coordination with Indo-Pacific partners. The aim is not escalation but reaching an equilibrium and preventing unilateral advantage while continuing dialogue.
Indian Ocean Region (IOR): India is consolidating its position as the primary security provider in the region. Initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and expanded naval exercises enhance maritime domain awareness and ensure freedom of navigation.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite clear progress, several challenges still persist. Modernisation has been hampered by procurement delays and bureaucratic complexity. Dependence on imported technology remains significant in many critical areas. Coordination across services is improving but total intermeshing and jointness in the real sense leaves much to be desired. Cyber and information warfare capabilities need rapid scaling. When compared to western countries, the gap is quite wide. Addressing these issues will determine how effectively India can translate intent into credible power. Sustaining defence reforms will require consistent political will, stable funding and a culture of accountability within the establishment.
Conclusion
India’s defence evolution tells a story of a nation learning that moral authority and military capability are not opposites but complements. From the humility of post-colonial idealism to the confidence of an emerging power, India’s strategic journey reflects maturity and adaptation. The current focus on deterrence, diplomacy and self-reliance captures this balance. Peace remains the goal, but it is now pursued from a position of strength. In a region where stability is fragile and power politics relentless, India’s model offers an important lesson: Credible peace is built on preparedness, resilience and confidence to act independently when required.
References
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