RAKSHA: India’s 10-year blueprint for defence diplomacy and global strategic partnerships

The 'RAKSHA' blueprint marks a paradigm shift in India's foreign policy, integrating defence diplomacy more deeply with broader strategic and economic objectives. Historically, India's defence engagements were often reactive or limited to immediate regional concerns. The new approach reflects a proactive stance, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where India seeks to counter growing geopolitical competition (implicitly, from China) by acting as a net security provider. The recent agreement to supply the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and Astra Mk-1 missiles to Indonesia exemplifies this strategy of using advanced indigenous technology to build strategic deterrence and interoperability with partner nations. For UPSC, this highlights the evolution of India's role from a non-aligned state to a multi-aligned power actively shaping regional security architecture through targeted capability enhancement of friendly nations.

The framework explicitly links defence diplomacy to India's macroeconomic and industrial goals, particularly the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. The transition from being one of the world's largest arms importers to an emerging exporter requires significant technology transfer, co-development, and supply-chain integration, moving beyond mere buyer-seller relationships. Achieving a record ₹38,424 crore in defence exports for FY 2025-26 demonstrates the growing global acceptance of Indian platforms like artillery systems, patrol vessels, and radars. The strategic use of defence diplomacy facilitates government-to-government (G2G) engagements, which are crucial for navigating the complex international arms market and building confidence among potential buyers. This aspect is critical for GS Paper 3, illustrating how a robust defence industrial base can drive export-led growth, generate employment, and improve the balance of trade.

Implementing 'RAKSHA' requires complex inter-ministerial coordination, primarily between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The success of this 10-year blueprint depends on a unified approach to long-term strategic planning, ensuring that military cooperation, capacity building, and defence manufacturing are synchronized with India's diplomatic outreach. The emphasis on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations further projects India as a reliable 'first responder', a critical component of its soft power diplomacy underpinned by hard power capabilities. For UPSC, this demonstrates the necessity of 'whole-of-government' approaches in modern statecraft, where distinct domains like industrial policy, foreign affairs, and military strategy must converge to achieve overarching national security objectives.