REFORMS IN ARMED FORCES
Reforms in armed forces should be continuous to maintain supremacy during wars: President Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the government's efforts to boost domestic defence production. She claimed that nearly 70 per cent of defence procurement was sourced from Indian manufacturers in the last year, and reforms resulting in India manufacturing over Rs one lakh crore of defence equipment. She emphasised upon modernisation of the armed forces, the importance of continuous reforms for military supremacy, and India's increasing defence exports, including the BrahMos missile deal with the Philippines.
Rajnath Singh retains Defence Minister portfolio with major reforms on the horizon, here are some key issues that are expected to be addressed
Rajnath Singh will continue as India's Defense Minister, focusing on self-reliance in defense and boosting women's roles in the armed forces. Amidst tensions with China, India is increasing defense imports from the US. The Agnipath recruitment scheme, criticized for job security, is under review. Theater command unification aims to enhance joint operations, with progress made. Indigenous military production is a priority to reduce reliance on imports. Singh faces the immediate task of appointing a new Army Chief, influencing future military reforms.
Modi 3.0 takes aim: Blueprint to make the Indian armed forces future ready
India faces growing security challenges from China and Pakistan, prompting calls for a robust and integrated defence strategy. This includes bolstering nuclear deterrence, enhancing military capabilities, and pushing for systemic reforms in defence production and organization. The new government must prioritize these measures to ensure national security and strategic autonomy in the coming years.
DRDO reforms, export boost and Army Chief naming on Defence Minister plate
The incoming defence minister faces major reforms, including selecting the next Army Chief and reforming DRDO. Addressing concerns on the Agnipath scheme and setting up a new defence export promotion body are key tasks.
Infra sector going to be challenged; time to take a pause: Rupal Bhansali
Ironically, I actually think it is a very healthy development. I know the market reacted quite negatively. Obviously, vis-a-vis expectations, it was certainly an upset loss.
Modi slams INDIA bloc, accuses it of making Army as ' weapon of politics'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the INDIA bloc of politicizing the Army during his last poll rally. He criticized the opposition, particularly the Congress and INDI alliance, for weakening the armed forces.
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Taiwan president pledges to stand with military, safeguard nation despite Chinese 'external threats'
China's military drills near Taiwan prompted President Lai Ching-te to pledge to stand with the military and protect Taiwan's freedom and democracy. He visited a Marine base, emphasizing the need to defend against external threats and ensure national security. While not directly addressing China's exercises, Lai expressed confidence in the military's ability to maintain security. The Chinese PLA's drills included fighter jets conducting mock strikes, with a focus on deterring Taiwan independence and external interference.
Create joint culture: CDS Gen Chauhan to armed forces as govt looks at rolling out theatre commands
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan emphasized the significance of theatre commands, marking a milestone in India's military preparedness and warfighting capabilities. He urged the armed forces to foster a joint culture and embrace "jointness 2.0", aiming for integrated operations and optimal resource utilization amidst evolving security challenges.
France imposes emergency in Pacific territory of New Caledonia as violent unrest turns deadly
France imposes 12-day emergency in New Caledonia to tackle deadly unrest among indigenous people seeking independence. Security forces deployed to quell violence following protests over voting reforms, with armed clashes, looting, arson. Police reinforcements rushed to the island. Residents affected by the unrest as French constitution amendments spark tensions. Curfew extended, schools and main airport closed in New Caledonia.
Two dead, hundreds injured as riots sweep New Caledonia
Two people were killed and hundreds injured in New Caledonia during a second night of rioting, as anger over constitutional reforms from Paris boiled over. The violence began as pro-independence demonstrations and has spiraled into three days of the worst violence seen on the French Pacific archipelago since the 1980s. Despite heavily armed security forces fanning out across the capital Noumea and the ordering of a nighttime curfew, rioting continued overnight virtually unabated.
Need to reform and reinvent civil services: Former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao
Former RBI Governor Subbarao calls for reforming and reinventing Indian civil services, highlighting the need to restore integrity and professionalism. He emphasizes the significance of political neutrality and a cooling-off period for officials entering politics to uphold democracy.
Talks between India and China going on "well": Rajnath Singh on possible resolution of Eastern Ladakh row
Under the theaterisation model, the government seeks to integrate the capabilities of the Army, Air Force and Navy and optimally utilise their resources for wars and operations. "The theaterisation process has started. There has been progress on it. Consensus is emerging on it among the three services as it will ensure better utilisation of resources and enhance the military's overall capabilities," the defence minister said.
Colombia's president says country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over war in Gaza
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the country will break diplomatic ties with Israel over the Israel-Hamas conflict, calling Israel's actions in Gaza "genocide." This move escalates tensions between the two nations, which have cooled since Petro became president in 2022. Colombia historically had close ties with Israel, using Israeli-made warplanes and weapons in its fight against drug cartels and rebel groups. Israel's Foreign Minister criticized Petro's decision, emphasizing Israel's commitment to defending its citizens. Petro made the announcement during an International Workers' Day march in Bogota.
China's PLA undergoes major restructure as it emphasises information capabilities for war
Xi Jinping replaces PLA's Strategic Support Force with Information Support Force in a significant overhaul. The move aims to enhance military efficiency and political oversight, with direct CMC control over the new force. Former SSF's functions, including cyber and space operations, are divided among the four arms, emphasizing centralized command.
'Wars are changing': Army Chief and CDS want Indian forces to adopt de-novo mantra for future warfare
General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, initiated 'Parivartan Chintan' in New Delhi, focusing on developing a joint culture for the Armed Forces. The conference aimed to generate fresh ideas for jointness and integration among the services. Discussions included modernization, procurement, training, and collaboration, with a focus on emerging technologies and national strategic issues. This initiative aligns with the Indian armed forces' transformation towards joint structures, ensuring they are "future ready." The conference highlighted the importance of jointness and integration for theatre commands and broader defence reforms.
View: Defence exports have witnessed a considerable uptick, even as some bottlenecks need removing
Narendra Modi's dialogue on India's defence exports with Vladimir Putin in September 2022 led to a remarkable surge of ₹21,083 crore in 2023-24. This growth, driven by various initiatives and partnerships, underscores the evolving landscape of India's defence industry. 2023-24 has witnessed a big increase, from ₹15,920 crore in 2022-23 to ₹21,083 crore, representing an increase of 32.43%. Notwithstanding the pandemic serving as a dampener, at no stage before the last decade have Indian defence exports experienced such a steep upward trajectory.
Russia and West join forces to tackle trade in 'blood diamonds' despite feud over Moscow's diamonds
US, allies, Russia back Kimberley Process at U.N. Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia's wars led to 2003 certification. Zimbabwe's Albert Chimbindi renews commitment. EU's Clayton Curran condemns Russia. Alexander Repkin criticizes Western countries.
The US struggles to sway Israel on its treatment of Palestinians. Why Netanyahu is unlikely to yield
Despite U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's diplomatic efforts during his fourth Middle East visit, Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remains resistant to U.S. calls for reengagement with Palestinians and potential steps toward their independence. The Biden administration, while emphasizing support for Israel, faces challenges in influencing Israeli policy. The disagreement extends to issues such as civilian casualties, reconstruction efforts, and the creation of a Palestinian state. The complex dynamics, driven by domestic political considerations, may limit the potential for significant shifts in the U.S.-Israel relationship.
With eye on governance reforms, govt asks retiring and retired employees to share work experience
The Centre has launched the 'Anubhav portal' to collect experiences of retiring and retired central government employees. These experiences will serve as the foundation for future governance reforms. The government has also notified the Anubhav awards scheme 2024, which requires retiring employees to submit their write-ups up to one year after retirement. The write-ups will be assessed by ministries/departments and the selected ones will be published on the portal.
Need to reform, rebuild war fighting machinery to make them ready for future battlespace: IAF chief
Future battlespace will be cluttered, congested, contested and complex, said Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari on Thursday, underscoring the need to reimagine, reform, redesign and rebuild the traditional war fighting machinery to adapt to this emerging paradigm. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) was delivering the General BC Joshi Memorial Lecture on 'Transformation of IAF into a Contemporary and Future Ready Aerospace Force' here at the Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Expect the unexpected and prepare accordingly: Rajnath to Army commanders
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the Army for its high operational readiness and emphasized the need for continuous war preparedness. He expressed confidence in the force's ability to confront any contingency in eastern Ladakh and acknowledged the ongoing talks for a peaceful resolution with China. Singh praised the Border Roads Organisation for improving road networks under challenging conditions. He also highlighted the importance of unconventional warfare, modernization of weapons, and self-reliance. The Army Commanders' conference is addressing combat capabilities and national security challenges, including the border with China. Singh praised the Army's response to cross-border terrorism and called for continued synergy among security forces.
"Evolution important for Armed Forces" says CDS General Anil Chauhan
Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, believes that India will become a global leader in the south, pointing to the successful conduct of the G20 as evidence. He emphasized the importance of change and adaptation for survival, stating that the armed forces must also evolve. General Chauhan highlighted the challenges of unpredictability and the need to anticipate opportunities. He discussed the state of flux in the global geopolitical environment, with the old order fading and the new world order yet to stabilize. He also mentioned a more assertive China and potential alliances between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
Home Ministry conducts special campaign for reducing pending matters
The Ministry of Home Affairs has conducted a special campaign to reduce pending matters, including cleanliness drives, from November 2022 to August 2023. The ministry has conducted 3,438 cleanliness campaigns at various sites, with a focus on field and outstation offices. They have also disposed of several parliamentary and government references, as well as public grievances.
PM Modi says borders "far more secure", calls for young, battle-ready armed forces
Indian troops thwarted a similar alleged misadventure by the Chinese forces at Yang Tse near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh in December 2022. Before addressing fellow countrymen on the 77th Independence Day, PM Modi paid floral tributes at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
India gained new strategic strength in recent years: PM Modi
The prime minister also emphasised that the people of the country feel safe today as there has been a drastic decline in the number of terrorist attacks. When the country is peaceful and secure, new goals of development are achieved, he said.
Military reforms undertaken to modernise armed forces: PM Modi
India has gained new strategic strength in recent years and its borders are now more secure than ever, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday even as he highlighted efforts to modernise the military and make it "young and battle ready" to confront future challenges. In his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort, Modi also reiterated his government's unwavering resolve to ensure national security amid the current global security scenario.
View: CDS, not a super general or super bureaucrat, but a team player
India's restructuring of its armed forces into Theatre Commands appears to be moving forward. It is believed that three commands will be created — an Eastern Command to defend against China; a Western Command to defend against Pakistan, and a Maritime Command to cover the Western and Eastern coasts. However, it may be counterintuitive to have a single Theatre command to cover such a vast area, and the command structure of the Theatre commands needs to be carefully thought out.
Common annual confidential reports for senior armed forces officers soon
India's defence and security establishment has decided to introduce common annual confidential reports (CR) for all senior armed forces officers within the country. The decision comes as the government aims to achieve jointness among the three services as part of the ongoing theatreisation process. The new approach will assist in the identification and selection of officers for tri-services appointments in command, staff or instructional positions while promoting better outcomes and improving the integration of joint structures and organisations.
India is fighting a war with its defence imports. Is it winning?
In the last few years, India has been trying to indigenise its military supplies at a maddening pace. The government released a few days ago a fresh list of 928 components and subsystems that will only be procured from domestic firms once import bans on them kick in, over a period of five-and-a-half years.
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