Congress Demands Strategic Review of Defence Preparedness
INDIAN DEFENCE
India’s defence strategy has come under fresh scrutiny following a high-stakes aerial engagement that revealed cracks in the country’s rapid response and command infrastructure. In response, the Indian National Congress has demanded a full-scale independent strategic review of national defence preparedness. The call focuses on assessing operational inefficiencies, intelligence coordination failures, inter-service disconnects, and gaps in civil-military integration.
While the Chief of Defence Staff’s admission of a tactical error has intensified the opposition's demand, the core objective lies in institutional learning rather than blame allocation. Congress proposes the formation of a neutral, expert-led panel to evaluate the country’s overall preparedness—spanning troop mobilisation, intelligence synergy, threat response timelines, procurement delays, and joint operational planning. They emphasize that such a review must remain independent, incorporate perspectives from former defence leaders and policy advisors, and generate actionable reforms without compromising national security through unnecessary disclosures.
Congress asserts that in an age of evolving warfare—where hybrid conflicts, cyber attacks, and high-speed drone incursions have become routine—India's military planning must be not just reactive but proactively reform-oriented. The review they seek should also inspect how swiftly political and bureaucratic channels respond in real-time crises, whether theatre command models are functioning optimally, and how forces on the ground are supported in terms of morale and logistics. With historical references to the Kargil Review Committee and the need for institutional agility, the Congress party suggests that such a framework will bolster national confidence, modernize military processes, and ensure the armed forces remain adaptive in a high-voltage geopolitical region. While the government remains cautious about airing sensitive deliberations, public calls for accountability, transparency, and reform have grown louder. If conducted thoroughly, this review could transform India’s strategic culture, strengthen civilian-military trust, and ultimately recalibrate the nation’s security doctrine for the challenges ahead.