Dysfunctional Operating Environment in Defence: The Malaise There is no single agency in MoD to deal with these issues holistically. Generally, matters related to administrative powers are processed separately for each service by the administrative wings concerned with little concern for commonality. Amit Cowshish | October 27, 2014 | IDSA Comments
Impact of the Recommendations of the Standing Committee on Defence (14th Lok Sabha) on the Defence Budget In the run-up to the voting on the budget, detailed demands for grant(DDGs) presented by various ministries to the Parliament are examinedby the departmentally-related standing committees. As Parliamentcannot possibly examine more than 100 DDGs presented to it everyyear, these committees are required to examine them in detail and reportback to the Parliament. One such committee is the Standing Committeeon Defence. Amit Cowshish | October 2014 | Journal of Defence Studies
Nanotechnology: Current Global Trends and Future Military Applications for ‘Soldier as a System’ The last decade has witnessed unprecedented developments in the discovery of novel materials and their radically different properties at nano scales. Global efforts in research and development (R&D)in nanotechnology are being undertaken by many countries due to far-reaching benefits encompassing the entire arena of science and technology. The field of defence is likely to profit immensely by nanotechnology-enabled applications. Sanjiv Tomar | October 2014 | Journal of Defence Studies
ISIS in Central Asia There is no single factor cited for motivating Central Asians to join ISIS ranks. However, the search for employment and earnings remain the main driver. More than 4 million migrants (Uzbeks, Tajiks and Kyrgyz) engaged in low-paid jobs in Russia are vulnerable to the jihadi network. P. Stobdan | October 22, 2014 | Issue Brief
Dysfunctional Operating Environment in Defence: The Problem Widespread problems have made the operating environment ‘dysfunctional and inefficient’. Some of this is on account of inscrutable issues like ‘integration of the services with the MoD’ or ‘civil-military relations’ but, in large part, the immediate problem lies with MoD’s inability to resolve more mundane issues. Amit Cowshish | October 21, 2014 | IDSA Comments
India at Risk by Jaswant Singh The book covers reflections of a soldier-turned-politician on the security challenges faced by India since her independence. The author has covered major events like the 1947–48 Kashmir War, the 1962 India–China War and the 1965 Indo-Pak War (the two operations in which he participated), besides the 1971 War for Liberation of Bangladesh and other events till the 1990s, based on research material. Y.M. Bammi | October 2014 | Journal of Defence Studies
India’s Defence Procurement Procedure: Assessing the Case for Review and Reforms his Issue Brief examines certain provisions relating to intellectual property rights and transfer of technology in India’s defence procurement procedures, together with suggestions on streamlining the same for achieving enhanced procurement efficiencies in capital acquisitions. Sandeep Verma | October 17, 2014 | Issue Brief
Turkey: ‘Sick Man’ of NATO In the West, there is growing realisation that only boots on the ground can defeat or substantially destroy the Daesh. Unless a ground force capable of taking back the territories seized by the Daesh arrives on the scene, the advantage will lie with the jihadis. Sandhya Jain | October 17, 2014 | IDSA Comments
Can ISIS be degraded and destroyed? With the US determined not to commit troops, the military defeat of ISIS, at present, is therefore neither feasible nor imminent. Neither the so-called retrained Iraqi Army, nor US air power against this powerful and motivated force will be sufficient. R. S. Kalha | October 17, 2014 | IDSA Comments
Insurgency in North-East India: External Dynamics State and non-state elements in India’s neighbourhood have been supporting insurgency in the North-East to weaken the Indian state. In the 1960s and 1970s, insurgents from the region, particularly the Naga rebels, had received moral and material support from China. Moreover, elements in Pakistan and Bangladesh too have been aiding North-East Indian insurgents from time to time. Sushil Kumar Sharma | October 2014 | Journal of Defence Studies