Political regimes and self-reliance in the Indian arms industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assesses the effectiveness of government initiatives and explores the impact of a shift in political regimes in reducing arms imports. We employ an Interrupted Time Series design using the Prais-Winsten Regression to assess the impact of India’s increased focus on achieving self-reliance in arms manufacturing with the change in political regimes in 2014. The time period analyzed is from 2004 to 2022. Our findings suggest that policies associated with the change in political regimes have succeeded in curbing arms imports. This paper offers insights into the broader implications of political regime changes on a nation’s quest for self-reliance in arms manufacturing, making it valuable for defense analysts and scholars specializing in international relations and arms trade.