Adaptive Defence Strategy

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized the government’s commitment to developing an ‘Adaptive Defence’ strategy to address the complex and evolving security challenges faced by India.

About Adaptive Defence:

• What it is:

• Adaptive Defence refers to a strategic approach where military and defence systems evolve continuously to counter dynamic and emerging threats proactively.

• Need for Adaptive Defence:

• Changing nature of threats: Shift from traditional warfare to hybrid and grey-zone threats like cyber-attacks, terrorism, and information warfare. Technological evolution: Rapid advances in AI, drones, swarm technologies, and quantum computing demand agile responses. Geopolitical uncertainty: Increased cross-border tensions and global interdependence require a responsive and collaborative defence strategy.

• Changing nature of threats: Shift from traditional warfare to hybrid and grey-zone threats like cyber-attacks, terrorism, and information warfare.

• Technological evolution: Rapid advances in AI, drones, swarm technologies, and quantum computing demand agile responses.

• Geopolitical uncertainty: Increased cross-border tensions and global interdependence require a responsive and collaborative defence strategy.

• Key features:

• Proactive and anticipatory: Focus on predicting future threats and preparing in advance. Integration of emerging technologies: Use of AI, drones, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity tools. Strategic flexibility: Adaptation at tactical and operational levels for changing scenarios. Collaboration and jointness: Integration among the armed forces and collaboration with global defence systems. Focus on self-reliance: Promoting indigenous defence manufacturing under initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

• Proactive and anticipatory: Focus on predicting future threats and preparing in advance.

• Integration of emerging technologies: Use of AI, drones, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity tools.

• Strategic flexibility: Adaptation at tactical and operational levels for changing scenarios.

• Collaboration and jointness: Integration among the armed forces and collaboration with global defence systems.

• Focus on self-reliance: Promoting indigenous defence manufacturing under initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus

• General Studies Paper II (Governance and International Relations) Role of technology in governance and defence diplomacy. India’s collaborations and partnerships in defence production.

• Role of technology in governance and defence diplomacy.

• India’s collaborations and partnerships in defence production.

• General Studies Paper III (Security) Challenges to internal and external security, including hybrid and grey-zone warfare. Defence modernization and indigenous manufacturing. Role of AI and cybersecurity in national security.

• Challenges to internal and external security, including hybrid and grey-zone warfare.

• Defence modernization and indigenous manufacturing.

• Role of AI and cybersecurity in national security.

• Essay Topics on national security, technology in warfare, and self-reliance in defence.

• Topics on national security, technology in warfare, and self-reliance in defence.

• Ethics Paper IV Ethical dimensions of advanced military technologies like AI in warfare.

• Ethical dimensions of advanced military technologies like AI in warfare.