Overview of Civil-Military Relations
Both civil and military components are essential to the governance of a nation. Key aspects include jointness—collaboration among services—and integration, which involves alignment between civil and military institutions. Different political systems exhibit varying civil-military coordination, with democracies focusing on civilian control and authoritarian regimes often seeing military dominance.
Historical Context and India's Approach
Post-colonial India has transitioned from a command-driven structure to one based on democratic norms and institutional synergy. This evolution echoes Samuel Huntington’s advocacy for military autonomy under civilian control. Despite challenges, India has maintained democratic governance and civilian supremacy in civil-military relations, unlike many countries that experienced military rule post-independence.
Successes in Civil-Military Coordination
- Aid provision during disasters and law enforcement, marked by speed, discipline, and unique capabilities like CBRN emergency response.
- Roles in regional humanitarian efforts and crisis evacuation.
Challenges and Differences
- Military officers prioritize hierarchy, speed, and uniformity, which contrasts with the civil services.
- Discrepancies in institutional memory due to short military tenures versus longer civil service tenures.
- Conflicts in areas like procurement and modernization due to differing priorities and processes.
- Resource contestation over land, spectrum, and airspace.
- Duplication in logistics, training, and infrastructure across services.
Reforms and Developments
Post-Kargil Reforms
- Establishment of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
- Strengthening of strategic policymaking with a National Security Advisor and the National Security Council.
- Introduction of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).
Second-Generation Reforms (2019 Onwards)
- Creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).
- Statutory backing for jointness through the Inter-Services Organisations Act of 2023.
- Improvements in joint operations, logistics, and training.
Recent Policy Changes and Initiatives (2021 Onwards)
- Easing of restrictions on geospatial data and drones.
- Accelerated border infrastructure development.
- Enabling dual-use of defence airfields and better land transfer processes.
- Implementation of the Agniveer recruitment and training scheme.
Future Directions and the Need for Third-Generation Reforms
Modern warfare blurs civil-military lines, requiring deeper integration to address hybrid threats like cyberattacks and disinformation. The co-development of dual-use technologies with civilian sectors is crucial, especially given global tech sanctions and supply chain vulnerabilities.
New strategies, such as lawfare and grey-zone warfare, demand a whole-of-society approach. The current global security landscape, influenced by initiatives like the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and the growing Russia-China axis, underscores the inadequacy of siloed responses.
The complexity of 21st-century threats necessitates unprecedented synergy between civil and military institutions, highlighting the urgent need for third-generation civil-military reforms.