Page 7 - Defence Ministry

Congress' Venugopal demands meeting of Parl panel over 'Agnipath' scheme

The Congress leader, who is also a member of the Standing Committee, also requested the Chairman to invite all major stakeholders and defence experts for their opinions on the scheme

One killed, trains torched as Agnipath protests spread across India

At least 200 trains were affected, 35 cancelled and 13 short-terminated, railway officials said

Army to start formal recruitment process under Agnipath scheme in two days

The officials said the Army has set its target of starting the training of new recruits under the Agnipath scheme by December

Govt relaxes upper age limit for 'Agnipath' recruitment to 23 yrs for 2022

The government had unveiled the scheme on Tuesday that will overhaul the decades-old selection process to bring in fitter and younger troops to tackle future security challenges facing the nation

Short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II successfully tested from Odisha

The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision: Defence ministry

Process for appointment of new CDS underway: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Staff will be made soon and that the process for it is underway

Tour of Duty: With Agnipath scheme, a chance for youth to join armed forces

Under the 'Agnipath' scheme, 17.5 to 21-year-olds will be recruited for four years as 'Agniveers' and will get an opportunity to join the regular cadre at the end of this period

Military life without joining armed force: What is the Tour of Duty scheme?

Army has branded the Tour of Duty (ToD) as an opportunity for India's youth to experience military life without having to join the armed forces -- Army, Navy, and the Air Force -- on a long-term basis

CDS: Unsettled questions

New eligibility conditions are surprising

Defence Ministry's tech development fund cap raised five-fold to Rs 50 cr

The TDF scheme supports indigenous development of components, products, systems and technologies by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and start-ups

Rajnath-headed DAC clears projects worth Rs 76,390 crore for armed forces

"The focus (will be) on enhancing indigenisation, particularly on indigenising aero-engine material," said the DAC

Govt gives one-year validity to telcos for laying undersea cables

"In the interest of ease of doing business, DoT took up the case with MoD (Ministry of Defence) to extend period of their clearance from the present six months to one year.

Rajnath Singh urges stakeholders to be self-reliant in defence tech

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked stakeholders in the sector to focus on being "self-reliant in defence technology while keeping pace with technology outside". During his visit to Nagpur in Maharashtra, Singh also asked defence commanders to follow the correct maintenance and operational practices with the safety of personnel in mind, a release from a defence spokesperson said. Air Marshal Shashiker Chaudhary, AOC-in-C Maintenance Command, and other dignitaries from civil and military establishments received Singh on his arrival at the airport here. Singh interacted with some defence sector stakeholders at the airport, the release said. He was briefed about various activities undertaken by defence establishments, including the Army, the Air Force & defence PSUs, in this region, it said. While addressing the defence sector stakeholders, Singh advised them to focus on being "atmanirbhar (self-reliant) in defence technology while keeping pace with technology outside".

Rajnath Singh to launch two India-made warships in Mumbai on Tuesday

The navy's internal design house, the DND, has designed the four destroyers being built under Project 15B and seven frigates under Project 17A

Providing facilities to those guarding borders top priority: Rajnath

"Our top priority is to provide maximum facilities to those who are working day and night for our security, who are the guards of the border of this country," Singh said

Priority is ensuring high standards of operational preparedness: Army chief

Newly-appointed Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Sunday said his "utmost and foremost" priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness

Defence ministry's procurement via e-market portal recorded at Rs 15,047 cr

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Saturday said its procurement orders using the government e-Market (GeM) portal reached an all-time high of Rs 15,047 crore in 2021-22. It said the amount is a jump of more than 250 per cent compared to last year's procurement through the portal. "Procurement orders by the MoD through Government e-Market (GeM) portal have reached an all-time high of Rs 15,047.98 crore for the financial year 2021-22," the ministry said in a statement. The GeM was started in August 2016 to revamp the old tender process and bring greater probity and transparency in government procurement through digitisation. In a short span since its inception, the defence ministry has embraced the digital drive and embarked on this path with absolute resoluteness, the ministry said. "Despite multiple challenges on the ground, the results have been astounding," the ministry noted. "The MoD is committed to contributing significantly to the Government's vision of promoting digitisatio

6 of 7 defence firms carved out of OFB report profits in first six months

Six out of the seven defence companies, which were carved out of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), have reported provisional profits during the initial six months, according to the defence ministry.

Need to prepare for intense, small duration operations: IAF Chief

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said that there would be a need for the force to prepare for "short swift wars" and be ready for long drawn standoff akin to what has been seen in eastern Ladakh

Rajnath Singh holds discussion with UK's defence procurement minister

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held talks with British Minister of Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin, focusing on bilateral cooperation in areas such as aviation and shipbuilding. "Had a wonderful meeting with the UK Minister of Defence Procurement, Mr. Jeremy Quin. We discussed the opportunities available in areas pertaining to aviation, ship building and other defence industrial programmes for both the countries," Singh tweeted. The talks between Singh and Quin took place days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence partnership. During his visit to India last week, Johnson announced that the UK is creating an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) for India to "reduce bureaucracy and slashing delivery times" for defence procurement and that London will help New Delhi in the co-development of military hardware including indigenous production of fighter jets.