India has been a casualty of self-imposed arms control that has placed significant constraints on its policy of deploying military power as an instrument of furthering its national objectives in a rapidly evolving geo-political milieu. There are many reasons that have contributed to this sorry state of affairs which have led to a stunted capability not corresponding to its status as a regional power and its aspirations of becoming a global power.
Many factors can identify a nation’s military, in the list of which its capacity for economic growth occupies the top ranking. Since independence, Indians have been trying to convince themselves and their neighbours that they are a peace-loving nation committed to the principle of ahimsa (non-violence), as propagated by the Father of the Nation. This has been reflected in maintaining the defence budget around a measly two per cent, always unenthusiastically granted, ever since independence. Having been increased briefly, it is now being threatened to be reduced once again, citing economic difficulties. As a result, the defence industrial wherewithal to provide the military the resources to protect the integrity of the nation, has also been found wanting, leading to dependence on imports from foreign nations rather than a march towards self-reliance.
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