The state and the soldier: Coup-proofing of India’s civil–military relations

Civil–military relations (CMR) in India represent the ideal case of Samuel Huntington’s “objective civilian control” which makes it an exception in contrast to other post-colonial countries in South Asia. Since its independence in 1947, India has maintained civilian control over the military, making it “coup-proof” against both external and domestic crises. The paper examines India’s CMR from three perspectives: understanding its colonial legacy, analyzing Jawaharlal Nehru’s role in setting the precedent of “objective civilian control” in India’s CMR, and assessing the challenges and reforms to maintain civilian control over the military.