A Niti Aayog’s working paper has recommended amendments in legal and policy frameworks for safeguarding national defence supply chains and ensuring operational readiness which, it believes, will also shape country’s path to global leadership by 2047.
The Niti Aayog’s document outlines a strategic framework for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047, focusing on four key pillars: “Economic Competitiveness and Growth, National Security and Stability, Global Partnerships and Strategic Influence, and Legal Reforms and Good Governance”.
Streamlining procurement procedures and reducing regulatory delays are essential for effective public private partnership (PPP) implementation, the paper suggests which is in line with Ministry of Defence choosing 2025 as the year of reform for bringing in speedier and transparent acquisition process.
It noted that as defence supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, including espionage, data breaches, and sabotage, integrating robust cybersecurity measures, including blockchain security and end-to-end encryption, is critical to safeguard defence supply chains.
The Aayog paper emphasised over the need to develop national-level blockchain security standards for defence supply chains, implement smart contracts for automated and transparent procurement
processes and ensure compliance with international cybersecurity regulations and data privacy laws.
The working paper -- “India’s Path to Global Leadership: Strategic Imperatives for Vikshit Bharat @2047” -- has been co-authored by Major General K Narayanan (Ret), Programme Director of Security and Law Division at the at Aayog and his colleague Darpajit Sengupta.
“Update the Defence of India Act (1962) to address cyber resilience, supply chain security, and geopolitical risks, simplify procurement processes and mandate domestic sourcing for critical components, enforce mandatory cybersecurity audits and impose penalties for noncompliance,” the paper suggested.
Revision of Defence Acquisition Procedures (2020) is another recommendation to simplify procurement processes and mandate domestic sourcing for critical components.
Likewise, the document impresses upon “Enhancement of Defence Production and Export Policy (2020)“ for providing legal incentives for domestic manufacturers and simplify export regulations.
“Their successful implementation will require collective effort, collaboration, and sustained commitment across all sectors of society, government, and industry,” wrote Narayanan and Sengupta in the preface to the paper.