KEY POINTS
- India’s Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan publicly criticises defence manufacturers.
- Says “Make in India” defence ambitions are faltering amid delayed weapons delivery.
- Complains that industry lacks capacity, honesty about performance, and national commitment.
- Remarks published by The Print highlight deepening mistrust between armed forces and domestic suppliers.
ISLAMABAD: India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has publicly voiced frustration over persistent delays in the country’s defence procurement system, signalling deep mistrust between the armed forces and the domestic defence industry.
His unusually candid remarks have raised questions about the viability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship “Make in India” defence programme.
According to India’s The Print, General Chauhan complained that the armed forces are not receiving essential weapons and equipment on time, despite contractual commitments made by Indian manufacturers.
He said the military expects “some sense of nationalism and patriotism” from the private sector engaged in profit-driven defence production. Defence reforms, he added, cannot be a one-sided effort unless the industry is “truthful about its own capabilities” and honest about what it can deliver.
General Chauhan expressed concern that companies frequently sign contracts but fail to deliver on schedule, creating operational challenges for the armed forces. The repeated delays, he suggested, reflect serious structural weaknesses in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
His remarks underline rising internal frustration as India claims to push for greater indigenisation in defence procurement, even as its military struggles with long-standing supply bottlenecks.
