Following the release of the report by a daily which cited a Defence Ministry that stated “such parallel discussions by the PMO has weakened the negotiating position of MoD and Indian Negotiating Team” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the conduct of the publishing saying, “If a newspaper publishes a noting[Read More…]
Tag: Defence Ministry
Rafale row: Report claims MoD raised strong objections to “parallel negotiations” by PMO
In 2015, the Defence Ministry had raised it’s objections to “parallel negotiations” conducted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) with the French side, the Hindu reported on Friday. According to a note by Defence Minister dated November 24, 2015, shared in the report, it was stated that “such parallel discussions[Read More…]
Soldier injured by landmine near LoC
Jammu, A soldier was injured on Wednesday when he accidentally stepped on a landmine near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. Defence Ministry sources said Rifleman Lakshman Limphu was injured when the mine exploded in Balakote sector during a routine patrol. He has been shifted[Read More…]
Defence Ministry spokesperson sent on leave after this controversial tweet against military
The Defence Ministry spokesperson, Swarnashree Rao Rajashekar, was sent on a two week leave just few hours after a tweet was posted from the official account handle of Defence Spokesperson, criticising former Indian Navy Chief Arun Prakash over military officers abusing their privileges. “What about misuse of jawans in your[Read More…]
BC Khanduri removed as Defence panel chairman after critical report
In what is being speculated as preparation for Lok Sabha elections 2019, Bharatiya Janata Party removes MP and former Minister Major General BC Khanduri from the chairman of the standing committee on Defence on Tuesday. The latest round of reshuffle in Parliamentary panels witnesses removal of two important BJP’s Member[Read More…]
Indian soldier killed in Pakistan firing on LoC
Jammu, Sep 15 (IANS) An Indian Army soldier was killed on Saturday in Pakistani firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Ministry sources said. The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire in Laam area of Nowshera sector earlier in the day. “A soldier of Gorkha Rifles was fatally[Read More…]
Defence Acquisition Council approves procurement for services amounting to nearly Rs 46,000 crores
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in a landmark decision today, approved procurement of 111 Utility Helicopters for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs. 21,000 crores. This is the first project under the MoD’s prestigious Strategic Partnership (SP) Model that aims at providing a significant fillip to the[Read More…]
Clarification from Defence Ministry says, ‘pariwar’ referred to ex-servicemen
In an attempt to clarify Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s stance on ‘Pariwar visit’ Ministry of Defence has issued a clarification through a press release. Calling it a gross misrepresentation, the MoD writes, one of the four departments of the Ministry of Defence is the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and in[Read More…]
India successfully tests smart anti-airfield weapon
India has successfully test-fired indigenously designed and developed long-range precision-guided anti-airfield bomb that was dropped from an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. The Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) system was successfully tested at the Chandan firing range in Rajasthan. A total of three tests with[Read More…]
Karnataka asks PM Modi to ensure Bengaluru hosts Aero India air show
Karnataka on Monday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the biennial Aero India air show is held in this tech hub in February 2019, as over the past two decades. “I seek your indulgence for conducting the 12th edition of Aero India-2019 in Bengaluru, where the mega event[Read More…]
Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K
Jammu: After a lull of ten days, Indian and Pakistan army traded fire on the line of control (LoC) in Poonch district on late Tuesday. A Defence Ministry official said the Pakistan army started shelling and firing at Indian positions in Khari Karmara area of the LoC in Poonch district.[Read More…]
Education fee cap for martyrs’ children removed
New Delhi: A Rs 10,000 cap on the education fee paid to the children of military personnel killed in the line of duty has been removed, the government announced on Thursday. An order dated September 13, 2017, by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare of the Defence Ministry had capped the[Read More…]
IAS officer Ajay Kumar appointed as new Defence Production Secretary
Senior IAS officer Ajay Kumar was on Tuesday appointed as the new Secretary, Defence Production, in the Defence Ministry, a government order said. A 1985-batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Kumar is at present Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He has been appointed to the[Read More…]
Pokharan: Barrel of newly-procured M777 Howitzer gun bursts during test
In what may come as an embarrassment to the Indian government, the barrel of a newly acquired M777 Howitzer gun burst during a test in Pokharan on Tuesday. The defence ministry has ordered an enquiry. Acquisition of M777 Howitzer was pitched as a prized defence deal between India and US. The[Read More…]
Defence ministry confirms private investment policy in military platforms
On Saturday, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) confirmed the much-anticipated policy under which selected private firms will be included to build military platforms like submarines and fighter jets in India in partnership with foreign entities. This decision is viewed as a major initiative that aims to create a better defence manufacturing[Read More…]
India fifth largest military spender in 2016, says report
India was the fifth largest military spender in 2016. India’s military expenditure for 2016-17 was $55.9 billion, according to a report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). For 2017-18, the Union Budget allocated a defence budget of Rs. 3,59,854.12 crore (US$ 53.5 billion) to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).[Read More…]
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley given additional charge of Defence Ministry
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was given the additional charge of Defence Ministry on Monday, as per Rashtrapati Bhavan. The move comes in the wake of resignation of Manohar Parrikar as the defence minister. Parrikar will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Goa on Tuesday heading the BJP-led[Read More…]
Need about 200-250 Rafale jets: Air chief Arup Raha
Outgoing air force chief, Arup Raha on Wednesday said the 36 Rafale warplanes ordered from France for $8.7 billion were not enough and India needed to buy around 200-250 such fighter jets to sharpen its military edge. The Air Chief Marshal, who is set to retire on December 31, also[Read More…]
Defence Ministry asks for CBI probe into Embraer deal
After the major embarrassment caused due to the Embraer deal, the Defence Ministry has now asked for a CBI probe into the allegations. Brazilian aviation company, Embraer was accused of hiring a UK-based agent to flow kickbacks to land the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircrafts. Defence Minister Manohar[Read More…]