PM Narendra Modi says higher educational institutions should draw up courses to suit India’s defence needs

• Follow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22 urged higher educational institutions in the country to design courses that would be relevant for the defence needs of India, arguing for an ecosystem that would turn the country from an import dependent nation to one that can produce defence equipment for exports.

“We have to work with a futuristic vision to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Investments, too, have to be done now. It is necessary that higher educational institutes, universities and research establishments design courses and curriculums to enhance skill and human resource development required for the defence establishment,” said the prime minister speaking at a webinar on effective implementation of budget provisions in defence.

“These courses have to designed to suit Indian needs. This is the demand of the times…. We would need those in research and academic world just as we need jawans in uniform in our traditional defence model,” he said.

Modi also called for a time-bound action plan in which both the private and public sector would have a role.

He made it clear that his target is to hit three birds – building the manufacturing base, reducing India’s import bill and creating jobs for the youth – with one stone.

“We have to shed the importer identity and have to emerge as a major exporter of defence equipment. India is one of the biggest importers of arms and this is not something to be proud of,” remarked the Prime Minister, making a strong pitch for extending his mantra of self-reliance to defence sector as well.

Despite being a big importer of defence hardware, the country has been continuously trying to progress on the export front to countries that includes some of the developed countries as well.

Modi mentioned that India now exports defence equipment to more than 40 countries.

“There is a change in perception of defence many small and poor countries, too, are rethinking their defence needs to face new challenges. It is natural that these countries look towards India for their defence needs since we have the strength to manufacture low-cost yet quality products,” said the prime minister.

“Even for small arms we have to resort to import,” remarked Modi.

Pushing the “Make in India” programme outlined in 2014, PM Modi has been focusing on defence manufacturing in India and involving the private sector in this area traditionally reserved for the public sector.

|Modi mentioned that it is necessary that the small and medium scale industry is also involved in the defence manufacturing sector along with the large sector industry to create a healthy defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Modi also mentioned that startups are also helping the country in this regard. He also said that the collaborative approach among small, medium and big industry would add firepower to the system and labelled it as a “new approach”.

Defence corridors being set up would also help local industry, benefitting both the jawan and naujawan, Modi said.