This compendium of 18 papers attempts to address the important issues concerning Indian defence, with special focus on the imperatives for reforms. It puts together the perceptions, views and recommendations of a host of past practitioners at the highest level from the civil and military bureaucracy who have had some unmatched insights into the complex world of Indian Defence and its decision-making structures and procedures.

The issues covered in this volume range from a discussion on India’s security environment and higher defence management to critical aspects of defence reforms like defence planning, jointness, research and development, budgets and defence acquisition policies.