IndiGo showed how a single point of failure can ripple across a sector. In defence, where there is no external fallback, the consequences are far more serious.
Deepak Lamba allegedly established Automation Engineering & Industrial Services in July 2022 when he was DGM, Ordnance Factory Ambajhari. Rs 1.71-cr tender awarded just 4 months after.
Defence exports were once seen as exceptions. Today, they are part of annual planning cycles. Startups now pitch to the Army in structured innovation challenges. PSUs participate in global tenders.
Stocks of defence firms surged in past few yrs, by over 1,000% in some cases, driven by narrative that they would gain from govt’s domestic procurement push. Now, those stocks are tanking.
With German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in town, India has told the European nation it is welcome to set up factories here for manufacture of military equipment, it is learnt.
In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence noted cadets can be used to train elderly & cyber illiterate in proper use of cyber applications like banking transactions.
While govt has opened up the sector to private players & FM in budget speech said quarter of govt R&D spending would go to private sector, procurement system remains a stumbling block.
Armed forces are identifying weapons & platforms that will be placed on an import ban list as Modi govt has announced a slew of measures to boost ‘Make in India’.
A poor Muslim man from Kurnool, selling khoya buns during the Medaram Jatara in Telangana, was harassed by some YouTubers and surrounded by a mob over allegations of 'food jihad'.
Indian refiners are testing Venezuelan barrels again as Russian supply sinks, but analysts say volumes will remain limited due to refinery constraints & supply capacity.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
WoW!!
Well researched and well written.
For the common citizen, this is a wake up call.
However, it would be helpful to know if multiple suppliers would bring in the advantage of back ups or simply spread the risks too thin – but still high risk.
Also, does India defence have the financial muscle to have multiple suppliers for what are basically closed, highly sensitive and secretive platforms?
Finally, don’t other countries also have the same problem of limited suppliers for cutting edge defence equipment?
BTW, paisa vasool for this write up. Pays to pay for The Print.
WoW!!
Well researched and well written.
For the common citizen, this is a wake up call.
However, it would be helpful to know if multiple suppliers would bring in the advantage of back ups or simply spread the risks too thin – but still high risk.
Also, does India defence have the financial muscle to have multiple suppliers for what are basically closed, highly sensitive and secretive platforms?
Finally, don’t other countries also have the same problem of limited suppliers for cutting edge defence equipment?
BTW, paisa vasool for this write up. Pays to pay for The Print.