Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has delivered a strong message to India's defence industry, emphasizing the critical need for timely delivery, honesty, and competitiveness in bolstering military readiness. Speaking at a seminar at the United Service Institution (USI) in Delhi on Friday, November 14, 2025, General Chauhan cautioned against repeated delays, inflated claims of indigenous content, and over-promising, stating that such practices undermine national security and erode military preparedness.
General Chauhan expressed concerns about the armed forces facing vulnerabilities due to unreliable timelines and overstated performance. He highlighted instances where companies had "over-promised and failed to deliver," which he deemed unacceptable. He revealed that the Army had flagged repeated lapses during evaluations for the fifth and sixth Equipment Procurement (EP) cycles.
The CDS stressed that nationalism and patriotism should guide the private sector's ambitions, not just profit motives. He urged the industry to be truthful about its capabilities and stop obscuring gaps in indigenous technology. "You can't leave us in a lurch. If you sign a contract and don't deliver on time, it is a capability lost," he warned. He also criticized firms that misrepresent the level of indigenous content, emphasizing that "A lot of industries say something is 70% Indian, but when you check, it's not. You have to be truthful because this is about national security".
General Chauhan emphasized that Make-in-India in defence manufacturing would only succeed if the private sector met global benchmarks in terms of quality and pricing. He cautioned against overpriced products, stressing the need to be cost-competitive not just for domestic sales but also for success in the international market. He stated that with India entering an era of networked, precision-heavy, multi-domain warfare, the margin for error has effectively closed.
Touching on the changing nature of warfare, the CDS said that uncertainty defines conflict, making preparation, foresight, and accurate equipping essential. He highlighted that the era of preparing for "the previous war" is over, and to win future wars, India must fight with tomorrow's technology today. He also reflected on how the very basis of military strategy has evolved, and that earlier strategy was largely dictated by geography.
General Chauhan also offered a glimpse into India's expanding defence ecosystem, noting over 430 licensed defence manufacturers, 16,000 MSMEs supporting them, and a defence production of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2024–25, which is up 18%. He also mentioned the target of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029–30 and that 75% of the capital budget is now reserved for domestic procurement. He called this the result of a decade-long push to build a strong military-industrial base for a Viksit Bharat 2047.
In essence, CDS Chauhan's address served as a "red line" to the defence industry, signaling a tightening of expectations and a demand for greater accountability as India aims to build a dependable, combat-ready indigenous defence system under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
