No, India, as a nation aspiring for superpower status, cannot afford significant gaps in defense preparedness.

These gaps can undermine its strategic autonomy, limit its ability to project power, and expose it to both conventional and unconventional threats from rivals like China and Pakistan.

The Impact of Gaps in Defense Preparedness-

• Undermining Superpower Aspirations: Superpower status is a direct function of a nation's ability to exert global influence. A strong military is a fundamental pillar of this influence, providing the capability to protect national interests, secure trade routes, and deter aggression. Significant weaknesses in defense preparedness, such as an insufficient number of fighter squadrons or reliance on outdated technology, directly contradict the image and reality of a global power.

• Strategic Vulnerability: India faces a unique dual-front threat from China and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states. Gaps in its military capabilities, particularly in areas like cyber warfare, long-range power projection, and air defense, can be exploited by these adversaries. For example, a shortage of advanced fighter jets or a lack of self-propelled artillery can put India at a tactical disadvantage in a border conflict.

• Economic Consequences: Delays in military modernization and dependence on foreign imports have significant economic costs. A slow procurement process can lead to budget overruns and the acquisition of less-than-optimal equipment. Furthermore, relying on foreign suppliers for critical military hardware creates strategic dependencies and makes India vulnerable to international sanctions or supply chain disruptions.

Addressing the Gaps-

India's government is actively working to address these issues, with a strong focus on indigenization and structural reforms. The "Make in India" initiative for defense is a key strategy to reduce import dependency and build a domestic defense industrial base. The creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Integrated Theatre Commands aims to improve synergy among the different branches of the armed forces and streamline the decision-making process.

While these efforts are promising, challenges remain. Bureaucratic delays, insufficient R&D funding, and the high cost of modernizing a vast military continue to be obstacles.

The country's defense budget, while large, is heavily burdened by personnel costs, leaving limited funds for essential modernization.

For India to truly achieve superpower status, it must accelerate these reforms and prioritize long-term strategic planning over short-term acquisitions.