Defence Economics & Industry

About Centre

India spends a significant amount of resources on its national defence. Efficiency in utilisation of resources is not only an economic imperative but vital for defence preparedness. In view of this, the Defence Economics and Industry Centre was created in 2006 to promote research on various economic aspects of India’s defence. Since its inception, the Centre has undertaken a number of policy relevant studies besides constantly engaging vital stakeholders (Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and Industry) on a range of issues. The major focus areas of the Centre are:

Defence Acquisition
- Organisational and procedural improvement
- Offsets
Defence Industry
- Self-reliance in Defence Production
- Efficiency of Defence Public Sector Undertakings/Ordnance Factory Board
- Enhancing Private Sector Participation in Defence Production
Defence Research and Development
Defence Budget

Defence Budget 2018-19: Over to the Standing Committee for Scrutiny

This Issue Brief highlights five major issues and concerns that may merit the SCoD’s attention while examining the latest Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence.

Laxman Kumar Behera
February 26, 2018
Issue Brief

Defence Budget 2018-19: The Imperative of Controlling Manpower Cost

Like in the past several years, the defence budget for 2018-19 also grew marginally, with much of the growth being cornered by rising manpower cost.

Laxman Kumar Behera
February 02, 2018
Issue Brief

Defence Budget under stress: Can 2018-19 be the catalyst for change?

Innovative ways will have to be examined and existing systems, practices and procedures need to be questioned for finding optimum solutions to relieve budget stress.

Vinay Kaushal
January 29, 2018
Issue Brief

Problems of Costing in Defence Procurements

The benchmark price could be different from the initial cost estimate because, in many cases, the negotiation stage is reached several years after in-principle approval.

Amit Cowshish
November 20, 2017
IDSA Comments

Need for Sector-Specific Ease-of-Doing Business Indices

Sector-specific micro parameters that have a bearing on the ease of doing business need to be identified and quantified.

Amit Cowshish
October 05, 2017
IDSA Comments

High Fuel Prices: Does the End Justify the Means?

The contentious discourse in the media ignores the implications of state taxes on rising fuel prices.

Vinay Kaushal
September 27, 2017
Issue Brief

Acquisition of single-engine fighter aircraft – A few suggestions to expedite the procurement process

MoD can leapfrog many of the 11 stages in the procurement programme by taking the measures outlined to fulfil the urgent requirements of the Air Force.

Amit Cowshish
September 26, 2017
IDSA Comments

Defence Reforms: Why is it Critical to Bite the Proverbial Bullet?

This policy brief attempts to suggest six critical policy imperatives that must act as guidelines for the ongoing attempt at defence reforms.

Vivek Chadha
September 11, 2017
Policy Brief

Making the Right to Information (RTI) work in Defence

Adhering to the RTI Act in letter and spirit will lead to more responsible decision-making, greater accountability, and more credibility to the actions of the MoD.

Amit Cowshish
August 21, 2017
IDSA Comments

13th Five-Year Defence Plan (2017-22) – A Re-Run of the Past

Achieving the intended outcomes of the 13th five-year defence plan is critically dependent on the ability of the Ministry of Finance to increase the defence budget by at least 100 per cent from next year onward.