More interesting is how India is using this defense build-up as a means to build up their domestic defense industrial base. Their "Made in India" campaign serves a dual purpose of reducing their dependence on foreign suppliers, and making their industry competitive with other major arms suppliers. It's not unlike how the Chinese built up their defense industry, albeit with a lot less centralized control.
India talks up a good game on domestic industry while China doesn't, that doesn't necessarily translate into reality for either. India's efforts to build up their own defense industry has borne little real fruit so far, hobbled by a stifling bureaucracy and corruption. While China has numerous shortcomings their domestic industry has started to bear a little fruit. Two of many examples are their 'light' combat aircraft;
India's Light Combat Aircraft whose first squadron is finally 'operational' this year ~31 years after the program started and 15 after the first prototype flew:
China's F-10, operational ~7 years after the first prototype flew and now in wide frontline service:
And their main heavy-lift aircraft;
China's Y-20:
India's:
