Assam's defence corridor: From vision to strategic necessity

For decades, India has aspired to achieve self-reliance in defense manufacturing, but dependence on imports has remained stubbornly high.

- PROSENJIT NATH

For decades, India has aspired to achieve self-reliance in defense manufacturing, but dependence on imports has remained stubbornly high. As geopolitical uncertainties mount and security threats diversify, the urgency to indigenize defense production has never been greater.

Against this backdrop, the proposal to establish a defense industrial corridor in Assam is not just timely; it is strategically imperative. The Northeast's unique geography and vulnerabilities make it a natural choice for this initiative. Surrounded by international borders and facing difficult terrain, the region has long been dependent on logistical supply chains from distant centers of production. This not only slows down operational readiness but also increases costs.

By hosting a robust defense corridor, Assam could reduce this vulnerability, ensuring that critical equipment maintenance, production, and supply are closer to the theaters of deployment. The corridor's value, however, extends beyond immediate military requirements. It can position Assam as a hub of high-technology industries, with spillover benefits into civilian sectors.

Defense manufacturing demands precision engineering, advanced materials, electronics, and skilled manpower. Once these ecosystems take root, they often fuel broader industrial growth, generating employment and driving innovation. For a region like the Northeast, which has historically lagged in industrialization, this could be transformational.