USI Strategic Year Book
2018
United Service Institution of India
Strategic Year Book
2018
Editor-in-Chief
Lieutenant General P K Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd)
Director USI
Editors
Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM & Bar (Retd)
Deputy Director (Research) &
Head Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3), USI
Dr. Roshan Khanijo, Senior Research Fellow
& Research Coordinator
United Service Institution of India
New Delhi
Vij Books India Pvt Ltd
New Delhi (India)
United Service Institute of India
Strategic Year Book 2018
Published in 2018
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Design and layout by
Team Vij Books
Editorial Team
Editor-in-Chief
Lieutenant General PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd), Director USI
Editors
Major General BK Sharma, AVSM, SM & Bar (Retd), Deputy Director (Research) and Head Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3), USI
Dr. Roshan Khanijo, Senior Research Fellow and Research Coordinator, USI
This publication has been conceptualized by the Director, USI and his staff. It incorporates commissioned contributions from recognized subject experts. The USI would like to thank various individuals who contributed their expertise to compilation of this publication. The views expressed herein are of the authors and not of the USI.
T he USI of India since its inception in 1870 has rendered a Yeoman service to the nation, inter alia by promoting strategic thought, providing policymakers with invaluable strategic inputs and articulating Indias strategic interests and outlook at the international arena. Publication of the Strategic Year Book by the USI is a key national endeavour for shaping and underscoring Indias contemporary strategic discourse.
In todays knowledge world, strategic communication and public diplomacy have assumed overwhelming importance in gauging and shaping perceptions. Most developed countries, notably the US, periodically publish policy documents namely, National Security Strategy (NSS), Defence Strategy, Defence Capabilities Plan, Nuclear Posture Review and such like other literature to showcase nuances of their strategic outlook, intent, capacities and orientation to shape strategic geopolitical environment and seek outcomes in keeping with their national interests. Over the years, an increasingly confident China too has refined the art of circulating such publications for propagating their world-view, strategic thoughts (with the Chinese characteristics) and direction, under the rubric of a sophisticated Information Campaign Strategy. Likewise, other major world powers periodically publish such literature.
Conversely, India continues to eschew publication of White Papers, Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy, Doctrines or Approach Papers on matters of national security. Plethora of Indian literature on the national security by individual writers or Think Tanks lacks rigour, credibility, objectivity and ownership from the policymaker. A rising India cannot afford to be lackadaisical in articulation of her core interests, strategic objectives and the world-view. It is axiomatic that Indias National Command Authority (NCA) holistically reviews the impact of internal and external strategic environment on her national interests. This is essential to clearly identify strategic gaps vis a vis our competitors, rivals and adversaries, to make informed policy choices, to craft realistic strategies for enhancing and leveraging Comprehensive National Power in furtherance of national interests. The publication of the Strategic Year Book is a key endeavour in that direction.
The issues of Strategic Year Book published in 2016 and 2017 have been widely appreciated by our readers in India and abroad. The articles in the Strategic Year Book 2018 focus on the strategic challenges and opportunities beset by India in its strategic journey towards an emerging Leading Power. I am sanguine this Publication will prove useful in generating informed debates, cross-fertilizing ideas and refining policy framework.
Jai Hind
|
New Delhi | Lt Gen PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) |
Apr 2018 | Director USI |
T he idea of modern Indian State is steeped in our rich civilizational past. Our sagacious ancestors envisioned the world as one family (Vasudhavia Kutumbakam). Indias civilizational values, pluralism, secularism, syncretism, democracy and peaceful co-existence are enshrined in our sacred Constitution. Indias rich heritage and geo-strategic location confer on her positive attributes of a Great Power. The idea of India inspires a lofty national vision. It envisions India a strong, socially cohesive, militarily powerful, culturally vibrant, forefront of science & technology, pragmatic & influential in international relations, confident and satisfied society in pursuit of dignified peace & tranquillity in a multipolar world. There is a growing recognition that as an emerging Leading Power, India must invest in all elements of Comprehensive National Power (CNP); Hard Power, Soft Power, instruments of National Power and Dispersed Power (Diaspora) thus transforming her into a Smart Power. A proactive and dynamic Foreign Policy is a sine quo non for strategic configuration of Indias CNP to achieve stated core national interests and strategic objectives with a view to achieve a favourable strategic posture in ever-evolving Balance of Power. In her quest for achieving a Leading Power status, India has to navigate deftly through a geopolitical landscape that is characterized by Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) environment.
Let us not be oblivious, to the reality that on the flip side, Indias diversity lends itself to a multitude of fault-lines which are exploited by Anti-National Elements (ANEs), anti-social forces and a hostile Pakistan China strategic nexus. Collusive hybrid threats are a stark reality that India can ill-afford to take lightly. Indias strategic neighbourhood is in turmoil; be it political instability in the neighbouring countries, socio-economic unrest, sectarian or Jihadi conflicts and vexed nature of Great Power rivalry. These geopolitical developments impinge on Indias national security. Chinas phenomenal rise, assertive behaviour to propel itself to centre-stage of new international order, is a matter of concern for India and the international community at large. Perceived relative decline of the US and its inward looking
