The draft offset guidelines 2020, with revamped features, is a bold attempt at attracting technology and investment as well as promoting defence exports. However, the MoD may consider further refining some of the features of the revised guidelines.

• Laxman Kumar Behera
• June 08, 2020
• Policy Brief

Self-reliance in defence may be better realised if India’s military instrument were to be shaped by political guidance and geopolitical considerations instead of being carried away by the contemporary winds of COVID-19.

• Prakash Menon
• June 01, 2020
• Comment

Although the new measures announced to fast-track the defence sector are significant, they do not add up to a comprehensive and overarching reforms package.

• Amit Cowshish
• May 20, 2020
• Comment

Inclusion of new clauses in the draft DPP-2020 and changes made in some of the existing ones are intended to make the SCD more comprehensive. However, there is a scope for bringing about textual clarity in the new as well as some of the existing clauses of the SCD, especially those which have been modified.

• Amit Cowshish , Laxman Kumar Behera
• May 14, 2020
• Policy Brief

Redrafting the chapter on post-contract management, expatiating the concept of contract operating officers and clearly defining their role and responsibilities vis-à-vis the other agencies, could go a long way in serving its purpose.

• Amit Cowshish
• May 08, 2020
• Comment

It would be advisable to review the proposed offset guidelines keeping in view the feedback from the industry, especially the foreign vendors who carry the primary obligation to execute the offset contract, as also the legacy issues.

• Amit Cowshish
• April 30, 2020
• Comment

Smaller, smarter, potent and cheaper combat entities — linked and networked – will be at the heart of future warfare.

• Atul Pant
• April 27, 2020
• Issue Brief

The inevitable reprioritisation of the central government’s expenditure in the coming union budgets would affect the resource allocations particularly for big ministries like the MoD, which will be forced to realign their business practices.

• Laxman Kumar Behera
• April 24, 2020
• Comment

Given the rapidly rising pension liability in India and the concern expressed by the CDS, the experiences of the US and the UK could be useful in carrying out pension reforms in India.

• Laxman Kumar Behera , Vinay Kaushal , Amit Cowshish
• April 23, 2020
• Policy Brief

The PPP model helps in improving the productivity and exploiting the full potential of asset-based services that base workshops provide. This is particularly relevant when there exists a competitive market and a benchmark for the army between an in-house and an external solution.

• Vinay Kaushal
• April 18, 2020
• Issue Brief