Context:
According to the latest data on international arms transfers from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India has emerged as the world’s leading arms importer during the period from 2019 to 2023. This marks a significant increase, with India’s imports rising by 4.7% compared to the previous five-year period from 2014 to 2018.
Relevance:
GS III: Internal Security
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Highlights of Recent SIPRI Data
- Recent Indian Government Initiatives to Reduce Arms Imports
- About SIPRI
Key Highlights of Recent SIPRI Data
Arms Importers:
- Asia and Oceania/Middle East Dominance: Nine of the top 10 arms importers in 2019–23 were located in Asia and Oceania or the Middle East, with India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar leading the list.
- Ukraine’s Rise: Ukraine emerged as the 4th-largest arms importer globally during this period.
Arms Exporters:
- US Dominance: The United States remained the largest arms supplier globally, experiencing a 17% growth in arms exports between 2014–18 and 2019–23.
- France’s Ascendancy: France became the world’s second-largest arms supplier.
- Europe’s Contribution: Europe accounted for one-third of global arms exports, showcasing its strong military-industrial capacity.
- Russia’s Decline: Russia saw a significant decline in arms exports, decreasing by 53%.
India’s Arms Import Dynamics:
- Shift from Russia: Although Russia remained India’s primary arms supplier, its share dropped to 36%, marking a departure from the historical trend where Russian deliveries dominated.
- Diversification Strategy: India is increasingly diversifying its arms imports by turning to Western countries like France and the USA and boosting its domestic defence industry.
Recent Indian Government Initiatives to Reduce Arms Imports
Budget Allocation:
- Increased Capital Expenditure: The Defense Ministry received ₹6.2 lakh crore in the Interim Budget 2024-25, with ₹1.72 lakh crore allocated for capital expenditure, reflecting a 5.78% increase from the previous year.
Indigenisation Initiatives:
- Positive Indigenisation Lists: The Department of Military Affairs released the 5th Positive Indigenisation List, encompassing 98 items to bolster domestic manufacturing in the defence sector.
- Increased FDI Limits: The FDI limit in the defence sector was raised to 74% through the Automatic Route and up to 100% via the Government Route in 2020.
Defence Industrial Corridors:
- Uttar Pradesh: Nodes established in Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur, and Lucknow.
- Tamil Nadu: Nodes set up in Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX):
- Objective: To create an ecosystem for innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging various stakeholders and providing grants, funding, and R&D support.
SRIJAN Portal:
- Purpose: A one-stop-shop for vendors to find opportunities for manufacturing defence equipment previously imported, enabling collaboration between DPSUs, government agencies, and Indian companies.
About SIPRI
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international think-tank institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.
- It was established in 1966 at Stockholm (Sweden).
- It provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.
-Source: Indian Express
