Opinion After Operation Sindoor, a national duty
Its success sets the tone for a shift towards technological self-reliance and state-led innovation
The Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Sindoor in the intervening night between May 6 and May 7, targeting terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and POK. (File Photo) Operation Sindoor, which struck at the heart of the enemy’s terror camp, infrastructure and psyche, was a remarkable military success. India’s response to the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam was decisive and swift. It reflected India’s resolve and growing ability to exploit modern, indigenous technology. Operation Sindoor marked a turning point in India’s policy on terror – an act of terror is an act of war.
Providing safety and security is the paramount responsibility of the state. If acts of terror threaten the survival and unity of the state by causing social and communal disharmony, then it reserves the right to strike its enemy with all its might, which is what India did and is duty bound to do so in the future. Operation Sindoor was also a major political success. The all-party delegations from different political, social and communal backgrounds showcased India’s unique unity in diversity, and on questions of security and sovereignty, showed that we are Indians first.
I wish to focus on the economic implications of Operation Sindoor.
First and foremost, there is no substitute for modern technology. However, modernisation and technological innovation should not be limited to the armed forces alone, but should be pervasive across all sectors of the economy. Standard economic theory highlights that sustained long-term economic growth and development require technological innovation which enhances the productivity of the workforce. In the new global order, technology transfer across the world will become increasingly challenging, therefore leaving us with no choice but to be self-reliant. Developing indigenous technology and laying the foundation for an innovative society, however, requires a change in mindset that the government and society should be willing to embrace and perhaps celebrate, rather than avoiding failures and setbacks.
Research has shown that while we cannot plan to pick technologies that will succeed, the government and society can plan strategically to create conditions where trial and error become a mantra for innovation. This requires a strategic and complementary partnership between the government, academic institutes and the private sector. The common purpose should be to create conditions where trial and error is encouraged and celebrated.
Second, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”. This statement from the Constitution is a reminder that when we embrace the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat in 2047, the states and the Union Territories have an equal responsibility to fulfil this national vision. Modernisation and development are no longer a matter of choice but an imperative to preserve the security and sovereignty of Bharat. Given the socio-economic and cultural diversity of the states and Union Territories, different states and UTs are at varying stages of economic development. An important implication of this is that each state should have a blueprint for economic development tailored to its comparative advantage in terms of resources and human capital. Therefore, it is futile to talk about growth and development models at the all-India level.
On the contrary, we should have a distinct growth model for each state. For example, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu could have an economic growth model driven by manufacturing and industry, while Kerala’s growth model could be services-based. The northern states, on the other hand, could be driven by innovation in agriculture and the agro-processing sector. The northeastern states, with its rich flora and fauna, could become a hub for tourism. Modernisation and technological innovation must become a state policy. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, state chief ministers (particularly from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh) demonstrated that with smart policies and determined effort, it is possible to transform the lives of ordinary people through innovation and modernisation.
Third, we must recognise the role of the private sector. Economic policy has so far primarily prioritised or protected either size or sector. We must now direct economic policy to promote and encourage modernisation and innovation. It is essential to remind ourselves that it is practically impossible to cherry-pick winners. Therefore, the role of economic policy should be to create conditions and institutions where, through trial and error, people and ideas that are most suited to the task are selected through a “spontaneous order”.
Over the last decade, Bharat has made tremendous progress by lifting more than 250 million people out of extreme poverty. It has successfully reformed and modernised its public infrastructure, the banking sector, the taxation regime, and digital public infrastructure, which delivers government welfare schemes at an unprecedented scale to more than a billion people. It has demonstrated that even during the most challenging of political times, it has the resolve and resilience to move forward. While democratic institutions are backsliding in the
Western world, India remains committed to upholding democratic principles, ensuring last-mile development and delivery, regardless of gender, caste, or religion. This is not a slogan but a lived reality for the billions of people whose lives have been transformed.
As we march forward, there will be a few elements for whom the rise of Bharat will not be palatable. Some powers would do anything to disrupt the progress and cause social and communal disharmony. The primary safeguard against such nefarious designs would be to modernise and innovate continuously, which should become the national duty of the Centre, the states/UTs, and the private sector.
The writer is member, EAC to PM
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