Perspectives on India’s Defence Offset Policy

As one of the largest importers of defence equipment in the world, India's defence procurement affects many domestic and foreign companies, whether or not defence related, owing to its defence offset policy. The policy continues to evolve with as many exceptions as conformities in implementation. This is because of the country's diverse and competing needs for defence, industrialization and economic self-sufficiency. These needs, along with the industry's needs to make profitable investments, are articulated in this book by defence analysts, civil and elected officials, Western original equipment manufacturers and Indian manufacturers, including public sector undertakings. 

According to text released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on behalf of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the CII Make in India for Defence Seminar in Pune, India on 25th Aug 2015:

"In keeping with the theme of Make in India, I am happy to note the recently published book, Perspectives on India's Defence Offset Policy by Professor Manmohan Sodhi and Col. Rajiv Bhargava. The book presents the views of leaders in the Government including the Armed Forces and analysts, the views of the leadership in defence OEMs like Boeing and GE, and the views of promoters and MDs of Indian large and SMEs.

As the book's cover suggests, defence procurement is a complex three-way chess between the government, the defense OEMs and Indian industry. The book presents the motivations of each in their own words. For us to realise "Make in India", all three players must find value in manufacturing in India. As such areas of common ground with win-win-win for all three have to be found. The editors, in summarising the views of all three players indeed outline such areas of common ground and how to achieve these. More than that, the different views show how defence procurement and offset policies have evolved till now and will continue to evolve as the country's priorities change.

The book is the only type of its kind in existence and it will serve our needs well in the future regardless of our perspective as government trying to balance defence needs and economic improvement, or defence OEMs trying to get business now versus developing long term profits, or Indian SMEs finding areas to work with the Indian majors.  Given the illustrious contributors of the book, it is definitely worth reading as we implement Make in India."