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Indian Military
The United States is looking forward to continue to develop and foster its relationship with the Indian military, the Pentagon has said. The US and India enjoy a good partnership. We look forward to continuing to develop and foster our relationship with the Indian military, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig Gen Pat Ryder told reporters at a news conference here on Friday. In 1997, defence trade between India and the US was almost negligible, today it stands above USD 20 billion. Last month during a press conference, Ryder said that India is a "great example" of countries who are choosing security assistance from the US, underlining that it was ready for any response to wean them away from Russia. India has faced flak from US lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, for choosing to abstain from a UN vote to rebuke Russia's invasion of Ukraine. US officials have expressed concern over India's purchase of the S-400 missile systems by Russia. In October 2018, India signed a U
The government on Monday said that it has accorded approval to 163 proposals worth Rs 2,46,989 crore under various categories of capital procurement for the armed forces in the last three years. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, also said the share of procurement from domestic firms has been on an upward trajectory. "The government, in the last three years that is from 2019-20 to 2021-22 and current year (2022-23 up to September 2022), has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to 163 proposals worth Rs 2,46,989.38 crore approximately, under various categories of capital procurement which promote domestic manufacturing as per DAP-2020," he said. The AoN is the initial approval for any defence project. Procurement is done under the framework of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP). Bhatt said the share of domestic firms in the total procurement was at 54 per cent in 2018-19. It jumped to 59 per cent in 2019-20 and to 64 per cent in .
The Indian Navy is looking at opening all its branches for women from next year, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference a day ahead of the Navy Day, Admiral Kumar also said that the first batch of around 3,000 'Agniveers' has been inducted and it included 341 women. In December last year, Navy officials said 28 women officers were deployed on board around 15 frontline warships, including aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and the number is set to go up. "The first batch of Agniveers have already reported. About 3,000 Agniveers have joined out of which 341 are women. This is a landmark event for us because for the first time, the Navy is inducting women sailors. We have been inducting women officers for about the last 16-17 years, but this is for the first time that we are inducting women sailors," Admiral Kumar said. He said the Navy will open all its branches to women officers from next year. "Come next year, we are looking at wo
India stands for peace and has always considered war as not the first but last resort, but its armed forces have the strength and strategies to give a befitting reply to anyone who casts an evil eye on the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday. Addressing soldiers here on Diwali, Modi said India is against war but also underscored the need for strength to ensure peace and asserted that its growing power boosts the chances of global peace and prosperity. The whole world is looking at India which is a "balancing force", he told soldiers at the site of the armed forces' heroic feats in the Kargil war in 1999 as India beat back Pakistani forces. Modi invoked the epics of Ramayan and Mahabharat to assert that it is in Indian tradition to avoid war be it in Lanka or Kurukshetra and the country stands for world peace. The prime minister highlighted numerous measures taken by his government to boost economy and development, saying a country is safe only when its borders are secu
State-run power giant NTPC has inked a pact to supply electricity generated from renewable sources to Military Engineering Services. This is the first ever agreement by the Indian armed forces for getting power supply from renewable energy sources, NTPC said in a statement. This will go towards the gradual decarbonization of the armed forces. Power Purchase Agreement for RE power from the NTPC Solapur and Power Uses Agreement for RE power from upcoming NTPC Khavda, was signed to this effect at Chandigarh by A K Srivastava, General Manager (Commercial), NTPC, Sunit Kumar, AGM (Commercial), NTPC REL and Maj Gen Ashok Kumar, DGW, the statement said.