Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan has addressed critical issues within India’s defense production ecosystem, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of delays and overpromising by private manufacturers. He urged companies to present honest assessments of their indigenous capabilities, especially concerning national security implications, and highlighted instances where firms claimed high levels of indigenization that were later found to be misleading. Speaking at various forums, Gen. Chauhan called for a culture of accountability within the defense industry, stressing that timely delivery is essential for operational readiness and that the armed forces expect a degree of patriotism from manufacturers. He criticized the existing procurement processes for being overly complex and called for better coordination between defense research and development agencies and manufacturers. This push for improved efficiency is timely, given the rapidly evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and the need for India to bolster its defense capabilities through indigenous production. The Chief of Defence Staff underscored that the success of initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat hinges on trust, transparency, and performance, urging the industry to align with the strategic objectives of national security and combat readiness while also ensuring economic competitiveness in the global market.