Lt General (Dr) Prakash Menon, AVSM, PVSM, VSM

Lt. Gen. (Retd) Prakash Menon is Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. He is also  is the Director of the Strategic Studies Programme, Takshashila Institution and Professor Emeritus at Trans Disciplinary University (TDU), Bangalore. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses.

Lt Gen Menon joined the Indian Army in 1972. He has extensive operational experience in commanding counter-insurgency operations in Central, North and South Kashmir. He was the Major General Staff of the army’s Northern Command responsible for operations in J&K and the Commandant of the National Defence College, New Delhi. After his retirement in 2011, he continued in government as the Military Advisor and Secretary to Government of India and from 2015 to 2017 as Officer on Special Duty in the National Security Council Secretariat.

Lt Gen Menon has a two post-graduate degrees and a PhD from Madras University for his thesis “Limited War and Nuclear Deterrence in the Indo-Pak context”. He was appointed by the Union Cabinet as a member of an expert group for the creation of the Indian National Defence University. Post-retirement, he continues to teach and research, with a special focus on the role of force in statecraft. In 2014 he was a Visiting Fellow at Nanyang Technology University, Singapore.

Lt Gen Menon is the author of ‘Strategy Trap: India and Pakistan Under the Nuclear Shadow’, Wisdom Tree, Delhi, 2018 and Co-author of NonAlignment 2.0, Penguin, Delhi, 2013.

 

Articles

    1. CDS was needed. But Modi govt also creating Department of Military Affairs is a big bonus
    2. Narendra Modi’s ‘free hand’ to armed forces is misleading and problematic
    3. Rajnath and No First Use: Tainting India’s Image as a Responsible Nuclear Power
    4. After Mission Shakti, declare a ‘No First Use’ policy in space as well
    5. Dealing with Adverse Impact of Covid 19 on India’s Military Planning
    6. Covid-19 and Geo-political Implications
    7. Covid-19 Operations: Role of the Armed Forces
    8. COVID-19 Is a Unique Test of National Decision Making the Modi Govt Can’t Afford to Fail
    9. States Must Be Given More Ownership of India’s COVID-19 Containment Strategy
    10. Kautilya Can Help to Resolve a Basic Policy Dilemma During COVID-19
    11. The CO is dead. Long live the CO
    12. Arms Import and the GSQR Problem  
    13. Covid-19 and Inter-Services Cooperation
    14. Joint/Theatre Command
    15. China has definitely crossed India’s Lakshman rekha but it won’t lead to 1962 again
    16. Role of Political Guidance for Self-Reliance in Defence 
    17. Time for Modi to take political stand on China. Military talks won’t deter the bully
    18. Reimaging the Mountain Strike Corps   
    19. Modi govt’s silence on China gave ‘satellite warriors’ a free run. India will rue the damages
    20. India’s Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Crossroads
    21. Political will and military power
    22. India-China relations on thin ice: Stand tough, stand tall
    23. Evolving India’s Military Strategy
    24. India’s Australia Signal| Delhi’s horizontal escalation
    25. Reversing China’s Ascendancy
    26. Providing Political Guidance to India’s Strategic Rudder
    27. Ladakh row: A cautionary lesson for India for the 2020s
    28. Defence Allocation: Shrinking budget, rising threats
    29. The Post Ladakh Challenges of Strategic Options
    30. Chinese Communist Party has goals. India needs to have its own, not just respond to aggression
    31. India must be smart in supporting Myanmar, if Quad won’t measure up
    32. Ladakh didn’t work out for China. It will now drive a wedge between Quad partners
    33. India dives into Quad Waters
    34. Chinese Communist Party has goals. India needs to have its own, not just respond to aggression
    35. India’s recognition of Taliban should just be tactical, not let it rule Afghanistan again
    36. Gender parity in the Indian Army
    37. Time to depoliticise Indian police. It can be Modi’s Sudarshan Chakra
    38. Don’t just game the system, return to Kautilya’s goal of happiness in Covid 2nd wave
    39. Reminder for our leaders
    40. A defence minister with military background — a risk India needs to take
    41. India’s military is apolitical. But hold up the mirror before it starts fraying
    42. A top Army doctor transferred in middle of pandemic says a lot about India’s civil-military ties
    43. India’s gamble on China failed in Ladakh. But there’s a new risk worth taking
    44. US shifting its Tibet stance. When will India end its silence?
    45. Don’t rush into Sainik School public-private partnership. It can dilute and corrupt
    46. Govt owes Indians an explanation. Or its gag order & pension rule can be seen as blackmail
    47. High time Indian foreign policy jettisons ‘don’t annoy China’ notion & supports virus probe
    48. Cyber threats now sit alongside nuclear ones – India needs a formal national strategy
    49. PMO can help theatre command take off by finding a politician with defence background
    50. Is Pakistan back in action?
    51. India must strike to deter, any other policy for drone attacks will play into Pakistan’s hands
    52. MoD and IDSA no longer separate. How Manohar Parrikar’s name was added to the think tank
    53. Deniability is Pegasus scandal’s strongest suit. And national security is the biggest price
    54. J&K as a separate theatre questionable. It should come under western continental command
    55. Stop negotiated peace settlement with Taliban right away, it’s still a terrorist group
    56. Quality of India’s military leadership under test. Moral fibre can overcome political bias
    57. India’s domestic politics makes China-Pakistan nexus more potent in Taliban era
    58. NDA, military can learn from US how to tweak standards for women without sacrificinvg fitness
    59. Afghanistan and Pakistan are in a strategic embrace that cannot have a happy ending
    60. Gen Rawat’s ‘clash of civilisation’ row shows military should be seen but not heard in press
    61. Australia may have opened the door for India. Like Rafale, a submarine deal is critical
    62. Make public India’s doctrine on use of force, it’ll dispel notion that we are non-committal
    63. Neither MoD nor MHA can resolve the unacceptable state of affairs on Indo-Tibetan Border
    64. China’s hypersonic missile test got US, India racing. It exposes BMD vulnerability
    65. India’s coal stance at COP26 was about money—party politics poses danger to long-term goals
    66. Farm laws episode lays bare India’s internal disunity. It’s time to fix it
    67. Delay in appointing new CDS after Gen. Rawat—Is it about passing the loyalty test?
    68. India’s new CDS will have to decide: Where does the loyalty of the military lie
    69. Here’s why the P5 joint statement on ‘Preventing Nuclear War’ makes all the right noises
    70. Defence ministry’s PMA policy is protectionism. Indian-made arms need export market
    71. India’s 73rd Republic Day parade will have grand airpower that hides its strategic weakness
    72. Defence innovation will cost money, private control. Else be happy with drone light shows
    73. Stay neutral in Russia’s war. India’s caution follows principle of international relations
    74. Only India has relatively good relations with NATO states, Russia, Ukraine. Ask for ceasefire
    75. War in Ukraine is getting worse. A China-India initiative to bring peace is a good idea
    76. Ukraine has given an opening. Ancient civilisations India & China can now help end the war
    77. A nuclear threat hangs over the world until the Russian invasion is rolled back
    78. Merit must be the benchmark for armed forces’ hiring, not Recruitable Male Population Index
    79. ‘Agnipath’ scheme for military has good intentions. But Modi govt should conduct trials first
    80. Should India insist on large warships after sinking of Russia’s Moskva? The lesson not to take
    81. China’s threat won’t wait for India to get better technology. Army must use more brainpower
    82. Denying Parliament info citing ‘national security’ undemocratic. Govt moves need oversight
    83. The West is tired of China’s power games. India could take advantage
    84. MoD ’empire’ has struck back on PM Modi’s CDS reform. But he must stay his course
    85. Quad wants to stop illegal fishing in Indo-Pacific. But the net is actually for one shark
    86. Only dialogue, not Army, can stop targeting of Kashmiri Pandits. But make J&K a state first
    87. Choice pool for CDS shouldn’t have been expanded. Unless it’s about finding a loyal follower
    88. Agnipath is directed correctly. But Modi govt needs Amit Shah to budge
    89. Politicians won’t save Agniveers, but Army can. Effective management is key
    90. India has interests on both sides of US-China divide. Cold War holds clues for path ahead
    91. Raising air power violation is China’s mind game. India’s challenge is to call the bluff
    92. India must look China in the eye at Vostok 2022. Retain presence, but signal distance
    93. BrahMos, INS Vikrant have immense capability but also expose India’s short-sightedness
    94. After INS Vikrant, India’s next steps should be new carrier, submarines
    95. China lowered the gun for Modi-Xi Uzbekistan meet. India can’t take its eyes off the barrel yet
    96. Modi-Xi ‘cold war’ at SCO proves member relationships strained. India must stand on its own
    97. Scrubbing India’s colonial military legacy
    98. Who should control Assam Rifles—MoD or MHA? Resolving that will truly end Army’s role in Northeast
    99. Indian Armed Forces can’t turn a blind eye to religious politics anymore
    100. As Ukraine-Russia heats up, India can call parties to pledge No First Use on nuclear weapons
    101. Launch of missile from Arihant a milestone. But India’s nuclear triad isn’t complete yet
    102. Modi govt’s self-reliance goals for Army forcing India to attempt an impossible task
    103. Gujarat is India’s economic hub. But basing key military infrastructure makes us vulnerable
    104. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s biggest strength lies in its weakness. That’s tempting for army
    105. Indian military leaders must speak with caution, media twisting Army’s PoK remark
    106. Akhand Bharat shouldn’t enter Indian military gates. Army can’t afford to lose focus
    107. Theatre commands to defence university, why Indian security interests need a political push
    108. Yangtse showed Army capability but it’s Navy that can shift balance of power in India’s favour
    109. India’s civil-military fusion order of the day but not at the cost of military identity
    110. Army’s most potent weapon against China on Indian borders—human force
    111. Galwan to Leh police report—Modi govt’s censoring information, China-style
    112. US-China balloon war points to troubling polarisation trend. But India can help ease tension
    113. New IAF doctrine advertises aerospace power too much. It overshadows focus on core beliefs
    114. Armed forces: Coping with changing social norms
    115. Agnipath scheme holds the key to a stronger army. The only hurdle is selection process
    116. MHA push for 7 new ITBP battalions is playing into China’s hands. India is wasting assets
    117. India’s rapid digitisation has one major casualty—cybersecurity
    118. Why Theatre Commands must be accompanied by a Uniform Military Code
    119. Resolve HR issues in Navy, Army, Air Force on 3 levels. Then bring in Theatre Command System
    120. Should India make tactical nukes to counter China? Delhi’s no-first-use rule has no room for it
    121. India needs quick transition ability from ‘No War No Peace’ to ‘limited war’. Is CDS ready?
    122. MoD protecting Army in Nagaland killings gratifying. SIT acted as handmaiden of state govt
    123. Poonch ambush had unmistakable Pakistani hand. But here’s why Indian govt is downplaying it
    124. Are We Theatrising 
    125. Converting cantonments like Yol can reap benefits – only if govt is transparent in its dealings
    126. India should declare that AI will not be used to autonomously launch nuclear weapons
    127. India’s defence sector is not Aatmanirbhar. Govt is exaggerating progress
    128. Rajnath Singh wants Indian military to boost R&D. But defence finance is complex territory
    129. General Electric jet deal will be a test of India-US trust. Critical tech at stake
    130. Defence PSUs are headless. Struggle for power hurting national security
    131. Modi has signed the defence deals with US. Now DRDO, private sectors must deliver
    132. Why is Indian Army keeping the martial race theory alive? The British left 76 years agov
    133. CDS to DMA, Modi govt raised Indian military’s hope for a theatre command. It’s been 4 yrs
    134. Why Assam Rifles’ vilification is a calculated, conniving move for revenge
    135. At LAC, China is not settling ‘disputed’ borders. It’s containing India
    136. Delhi Declaration first step to global no-first-use treaty. India should take the lead
    137. Canada blinded by its absolutist human rights values. Sikh hardliners will bite it back
    138. India joined the information warfare on Gaza. Now it must prepare for tougher times
    139. Military is being politicised by selfie points, social work. But don’t dismiss Project Udbhav
    140. Ex-service chiefs have no place at Ram Temple inauguration. They must guard military values
    141. Poonch incident should encourage military justice review. Bring one law for three Services
    142. Army promotions must be based on capabilities, not lineage. Turf protection is main mischief
    143. India can be a major drone hub—if it learns to take risks, accept losses
    144. Why some Navy veterans are opposed to the introduction of kurta-pyjama in the dress code
    145. Indian Navy is opening submarine doors to women, but it must navigate crewing challenges
    146. Successful Agni-5 test just one step. India needs to prepare an airborne command post
    147. MIRV tech entry in nuclear arsenal must not lead India away from ‘No First Use’ policy
    148. What are China’s intentions in building Shaksgam Valley road? Not security, look to politics
    149. Army caught between religious & constitutional values. Defend secular, apolitical nature

 

Research Papers

  1. India’s Nuclear Journey Post Kargil
  2. Human Capital for the Department of Military Affairs
  3. Indian Military Leadership for the 2020s
  4. A Review of Roles: ITBP and Indian Coast Guard
  5. Emerging Paradigms of National Security: Threats & Responses
  6. The China–India–Pakistan Nuclear Trilemma and Accidental War

 

Conference Presentation

  1. Limited Conflicts Under Nuclear Overhang 
  2. India’s Strategy Trap
  3. Reimagining Safety In A World With Nuclear Weapons
  4. External Threats to India
  5. Indian Defence Policies: A Primer
  6. Interpreting China’s Strategy on the Northern Borders

 

Issue Brief

  1. Managing Fault Lines 

Books