"A combined military doctrine is the first need," Rasgotra maintained at the launch of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) new initiative "Building India's Defence Capabilities" here Thursday night. Rasgotra is also the president of ORF's Centre for International Affairs.

Stressing that "hard power" is the key to become even a soft power, Rasgotra said it is necessary for India to be a major military power with requisite deterrence capability or sufficient defence capability in case of aggression.

Rasgotra also suggested that the Chiefs of Staff Committee needs to be strengthened by the addition of a Chief of Defence Staff and a Vice Chief of Defence Staff.

The institution would provide single-point military advice to the government, would help exercise administrative control over the country's strategic forces, enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of the planning process through intra and inter-service prioritization and above all, ensure the required "jointness" in the armed forces.

Noting that the army, the navy and the air force were largely dependent on imports for fighting platforms and weapons, Rasgotra said India could not become or be rated a great power in these circumstances.

"Domestic manufacturing of weapon system is a vital need", he said stressing the need to streamline domestic defence capabilities.

Rasgotra also underlined the need to set up formal processes to educate military and civilian policy-makers through teaching and research in matters relating to national security, military and resource strategies and the role of technology.

"A National Defence University (NDU) is long overdue, and an Institute of Defence Technology Studies as part of the NDU," the expert maintained.