Sujit Thakur

This article examines India’s Defence Industrial Base (DIB), tracing its shift from post-independence State monopolies to a contemporary ‘Sovereignty by Design’ framework. Analysing the emerging Public–Private–Foreign Consortium structure, the study evaluates how the Atmanirbhar Bharat paradigm facilitates India’s rise as a distinct global pole. It argues that in the evolving G3 narrative (USA-China-India), India is actively designing a multipolar order to balance the US–China duopoly and protect its strategic behaviour. The article concludes that true strategic autonomy in a fractured, globalised world depends on transitioning from licenced assembly to mastering deep-tech Intellectual Property (IP).

• Sujit Thakur |
• July-August 2026 |
• Strategic Analysis

This article examines India’s drive towards national security self-reliance through defence innovation under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. The study situates this project within a historical continuum, interpreting India’s orientation as a strategic reclamation of its ‘Golden Bird’ civilisational identity. It introduces the concept of a ‘G2.5 world order’—an unstable environment defined by neo-mercantilism, weakened multilateral norms, and power-driven economic coercion. The central argument posits that economic sovereignty alone is insufficient to ensure strategic autonomy. Drawing cautionary lessons from Japan’s post-Plaza Accord stagnation and Russia’s strategic attrition, the article concludes that Atmanirbharta must function as a pragmatic hedging strategy.

• Sujit Thakur |
• March-April 2026 |
• Strategic Analysis