Introduction
Kautilya, in Arthashastra, has stated that “The king, the minister, the country, the fort, the treasury, the army, and the friend are the elements of a sovereign state, in this, a prosperous treasury and a strong army bring strength to the sovereignty”. A strong army, besides the personnel, needs a constant supply of good quality weapons, war like equipment to be able to keep the state safe and secure. Defence production is thus intrinsically linked to the safety and security of a nation, and since ancient times, India has had a civilisational continuity in demonstrating technological ingenuity in metallurgy, war machines and an organised military industrial system. Medieval India saw mastery in Ship Building, advanced steel production and rocketry, with Indian raw material for gunpowder reaching as far as the shores of North America. This paper brings about the core of defence production in India from the Ancient times till today. For those interested in history, it will expand the knowledge of how India’s defence production fared through different times, while for those who are interested in the resurgence of the Indian defence industry, it will open eyes to what is happening in the current era that will shape India’s future. This paper, in essence, tries to situate defence production as a historical legacy and a strategic imperative for modern India.
