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Modi’s meeting with GOI secys underlines the critical need for supply chain management in these times
India launched Op Sindoor as a measured crackdown on Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, but if Pakistan wants a long conflict, India is comfortably placed economically and logistically. Forex reserves are enough to cover about 30 months of oil and gas imports – or a year of all imports. They are also roughly twice as much as Pakistan’s GDP. On the food front, wheat and paddy stocks are way above govt’s comfort level. There’s a strong and diversified manufacturing base. Growth rate remains high, inflation is under control. Altogether, India is in a good place.
But this is no time to be complacent. India’s air defences proved their worth on Thursday by intercepting almost all incoming Pakistani drones and missiles. But we should budget for all eventualities in a conflict. That means keeping a close eye on critical infra. So, contingency plans are important. Underlining the importance of supply chain management, Modi reviewed national preparedness in a meeting with secretaries of various ministries on Thursday. He asked them to work together, not in departmental silos, to ensure there are no disruptions in case of a larger conflict.
This is something govt will need to monitor continuously. Since the private sector mainly runs supply lines, coordination with it will be key. Indians are not short of a sense of national purpose, but channelling it can be a challenge. That’s why govt did well to start with mock drills on Wednesday. Besides physical supply chains, the security of digital systems also needs to be ensured. Cyberattacks have increased since the Pahalgam attack on April 22, and BSE and NSE have already curbed website access for foreign entities. Cert-In and other agencies must ensure Indian telecoms and payment systems remain safe. There should be no weak link in India’s chain fence.
