Bharat Shakti Exercise and Aatmanirbharta in Defence

UPSC Relevance

Security and Defence: Modernization of Indian Armed Forces, Make in India initiative in defence sector.
Governance: Policy reforms, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Science & Technology: Indigenously developed defence technologies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pokhran, Rajasthan, to witness a demonstration of India’s indigenous defense capabilities.
Bharat Shakti will simulate realistic, synergised, multi-domain operations displaying integrated operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces to counter threats across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.

Exercise Bharat Shakti: showcased India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative in defence.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of self-reliance for boosting national security and economic growth.

Significance: You’ve highlighted the importance of the exercise by calling it a “significant tri-Service” event.

Focus: Mentioning “firepower” clarifies the focus on military might.

Location: Specifying “Pokhran Field Firing Range” adds precision.

Indigenization: Highlighting “indigenously developed” platforms underlines the Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) aspect.

Leadership: Including “CDS General Anil Chauhan” indicates high-level participation.

Theme: Referring to “self-reliant India” reinforces the core message.

Live fire and manoeuvre exercise displayed indigenous weapon systems and platforms.

Reduced dependence on foreign imports.
Increased domestic production of defence equipment (tanks, missiles, aircraft carriers).
Encouragement of private sector and MSMEs.
Defence corridors established in UP and Tamil Nadu.
Growth of defence startups.

Focus on 5th generation fighter jet development to further strengthen defence sector.
Economic growth as a driver for enhanced defence prowess.

The exercise included participation from all three branches of the Indian military (Army, Navy, Air Force).
The success of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence strengthens India’s position as a global player.

The initiative encourages the development and manufacturing of local defense equipment, minimizing dependency on imported items.
Strengthened national security: India’s reliance on defense production is viewed as critical to protecting its borders and national security interests.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat promotes R&D, resulting in improvements in Indian defense technologies.
The plan offers a substantial potential for Indian enterprises to join in defense production, helping to grow the domestic defense industry.