Page 2 - Indian Army

Indian Army's capital budget should be increased: Parliament panel

The capital budget of the Indian Army should be increased to facilitate enhancing its deterrent capacity to ward off challenges from the two "hostile" neighbours, a parliamentary panel has said in an apparent reference to Pakistan and China. The committee appreciated the efforts made by the Defence Ministry towards the indigenisation of military platforms and hoped that the country would see "100 per cent contract value" going to Indian vendors in the years ahead. Referring to the challenges before the Army, the parliamentary standing committee cited proxy wars, in an apparent reference to Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The committee was of the view that funds slated for modernisation of the armed forces should always be incremental. "The committee also desired that there should be a separate allocation for committed liabilities and new schemes, under the modernisation/capital budget," it said. The report of the panel was tabled in the Lok Sabha on ..

Over 7,000 women personnel serving in Indian Army, says Government

Over 7,000 women personnel are serving in the Indian Army at present followed by 1,636 in the Indian Air Force and 748 in the Navy, according to details provided by the government in Lok Sabha on Friday. Replying to a question, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said 7,093 women are in the Army, which included 6,993 in the Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service (MNS). Hundred women are serving in other ranks. Bhatt said, currently women are serving in officer's cadre only in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and their strength as on March 1 (excluding medical and dental branches) is 1,636. "As on date, women are employed in the Navy in the officer's rank. The strength of women officers in the Indian Navy, as on March 9 is 748, including medical and dental officers," he said Bhatt said employment in the Indian armed forces is gender neutral. "There is no distinction in the deployment and working conditions of male and female soldiers in the arms and servic

Army rescues over 1,000 stranded tourists in East Sikkim following snowfall

The Army has rescued more than 1,000 tourists, including women and children, who were stranded at Chhangu in the upper reaches of East Sikkim, following heavy snowfall, officals said. Severe snowfall in Natu La, Tsomgo (Chhangu) Lake and adjoining areas on Wednesday afternoon brought down the temperature to sub-zero levels and impacted the movement of travellers, they said. Due to the snow accumulation, driving became dangerous, resulting in over 1,000 tourists along with 200 vehicles getting stranded over a stretch of 15 km, they added. The Army personnel deployed in the area launched a rescue effort, and the tourists were shifted to safety following an over eight-hour operation, an official release said. "All the tourists were provided with accommodation, hot meals, warm clothing and critical medical support," it said.

Army's Cheetah chopper crashes in Arunachal during operational sortie

A Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army has crashed near Mandala, west of Bomdila, in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, a defence spokesperson said here. The chopper, which was flying an operational sortie near Bomdila, lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) around 9.15 am, Lt Col. Mahendra Rawat said. "It crashed near Mandala, west of Bomdila. Search parties have been sent to the spot," he said, adding that more details were awaited.

Defence start-up Hyper Stealth Technologies bags first order under iDEX

Hyderabad-based HSTPL has got an order from Indian Army for Integrated Mobile Camouflage System

India and Australia plan military drills to boost defence ties over cricket

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new military exercises to be held with Indian forces in a speech on board the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier on Thursday

Col Geeta Rana becomes first woman to command EME unit near China border

The officer has taken over the command of the EME independent workshop after the Army cleared 108 vacancies for women officers for taking command of independent units in the Corps of Engineers

Why the Dakota DC-3 is important to aviation history in India and the world

As Naveen Patnaik unveils a restored Dakota, here's a look back at the aircraft's legacy

Mehbooba welcomes Army court suggestion in Amshipura encounter case

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Monday welcomed an Army court's decision to recommend life imprisonment for a captain of the force in connection with the killing of three labourers in a "staged" encounter in Amshipura area of Shopian district in 2020. She expressed hope that an impartial probe would also be ordered into the Lawaypora and Hyderpora encounters that took place in 2021. Retweeting a news report on the development, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "Recommended punishment of life imprisonment for Captain involved in Amshipora fake encounter is a welcome step towards creating accountability in such cases. Hope an impartial probe is also ordered in Lawapora and Hyderpora encounters to prevent the repetition of such ghastly incidents (sic)." Completing general court-martial proceedings in less than a year, an Army court has recommended life imprisonment for a captain in connection with the killing of three men in a "staged" encounter in Amshipura in south Kashm

Indian Army to get jetpack suits for efficient surveillance along borders

The Army had issued a request for the purchase of 44 jetpack suits through the fast-track procedure

Indian Army organises Agniveer recruitment drive for youth in Kashmir

All unmarried eligible male and female candidates born between October 1, 2002, to April 1, 2006, with requisite educational qualifications can apply to become Agniveer

Prayer for policy

The advantages India enjoys in dealing with the Chinese are heavily dependent on the 14th Dalai Lama and his inspirational leadership, but there is no long-term strategy

Indian Army testing armed drone variants that won recent wars

Coming week will see trials of an 'aerial targeting system' for the artillery directorate

'Army job aspirants can apply only once a year for recruitment rallies'

Army job aspirants can apply only once a year for recruitment rallies with a common entrance exam held first, an Army official said. Briefing reporters about various stages involved in the new recruitment scheme, Brigadier Jagdeep Chauhan Deputy Director General Recruiting (Rajasthan) said that the common entrance exam will be held first and the physical and medical exam of the qualified candidates will be held later. In the earlier pattern of recruitment, the entrance exam used to be held after the physical test. He emphasized that aspirants should apply between February 16 and March 15 this year and they apply only once a year for recruitment rallies. The first phase of the new recruitment system includes recruitment notification, online registration, issue of admit cards, the conduct of the online Common Entrance Exam, publication of results and call-up. The second phase involves admit card and biometric verification, physical fitness test, physical measurement test, medical .

No reason to interfere with Agnipath scheme, says Delhi HC quashing pleas

A Delhi High Court bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad had on December 15 last year reserved its verdict on the matter.

SC to hear plea by ex-servicemen for payment of OROP arrears in one go

A group of ex-servicemen moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre that arrears of the One Rank-One Pension scheme be paid to all eligible pensioners in one installment instead of four installments. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala is scheduled to take up the application filed by Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) through advocate Balaji Srinivasan for hearing on February 27. The military veterans association has also sought the setting aside of the Centre's communication dated January 20, 2023 issued by the Ministry of Defence. The communication had said that "arrears on account of revision of pension from July 1, 2019 till date of its implementation shall be paid by the Pension Disbursing Agencies in four yearly installments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of special/liberalized family pension and all gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment". The ex-servicem

Looking forward to continue to foster ties with Indian military: Pentagon

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

Congress calls Jaishankar 'failed' foreign minister on his china remark

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, dubbing him as a "failed" minister and alleging that his remarks on China are demeaning the valour of India's armed forces and lowering their morale. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said by saying that "we are the smaller economy and China is the bigger economy and we cannot go and pick a fight with them", Jaishankar has made a "blasphemous" statement. She also accused the external affairs minister of reducing foreign policy to photo-ops and a chest-thumping exercise, alleging that it is being used to secure contracts for a businessman. "What exactly does he mean by saying so. Is he telling us that we are not capable of protecting our territorial sovereignty," she asked, alleging that Jaishankar is a "failed foreign minister". "What he is trying to do by saying this is break and shake the confidence of our Indian Army and demean the valour of our armed forces. This is one of the most blasphemous ...

Field hospital mobilisation in short time in Turkiye shows our preparedness

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said the force is proud of its medical team for rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to quake-hit Turkiye, and asserted that the mobilisation of a field hospital in short time indicates the team's excellent operational preparedness. He said this after interacting with members of the Indian Army's medical team that has returned to the country after rendering extensive services to a large number of earthquake-hit people in Turkiye's Iskenderun region. The event was hosted at Nalanda Auditorium on the premises of the Army Base Hospital at Delhi Cantonment. "We are proud of our medical team for rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to quake-hit people in Turkiye," Gen Pande said. The field hospital treated about 3,600 people, conducted numerous major and minor surgeries, including one amputated and life-saving surgery, he said. "The hospital was mobilised at a short notice of six hours, and they moved to Turkiye, a

Timely decision ensured India among early responders in Turkey: Army Chief

Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Tuesday felicitated 60 Para Field Hospital