Seen as a mega boost for the Indian Navy and surveillance capabilities of the defence forces, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the major deals for building two nuclear submarines indigenously and buying 31 Predator drones from the US.<o:p></o:p>

According to a detailed report by ANI, the Indian Navy will get two nuclear-powered attack submarines which will help boost its capabilities manifold in the Indian Ocean Region.

The report elaborated further, that the deal for building the two submarines at the Ship Building Centre in Vishakhapatnam will be around Rs 45,000 crores and will see a major involvement of private sector firms like Larsen and Toubro. The Indian Navy was keen for the deal as it was a critical requirement for cushioning&nbsp;the underwater capability gaps.

Long term objectives<o:p></o:p>

India has plans of having six such boats in the long run as part of its submarine induction plans.

These boats which are going to be built under the ambitious Project Advanced Technology Vessel project, are separate from the five nuclear submarines being built under the Arihant class at the same location.

The other major deal cleared today by the Cabinet Committee on Security is for the acquisition of 31 Predator drones from American General Atomics under a Foreign Military Sales contract between the governments of the two nations.

The deal had to be cleared before October 31 as the validity of the American proposal was till that time and now it is expected to be signed in the next few days only.&nbsp; As per the contract, the defence forces will start getting the drones over four years after signing the deal. 

The Indian Navy will get 15 of the 31 drones while the Army and the Indian Air Force will get eight each and also deploy them together at two bases in Uttar Pradesh. Indian equipment made by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private sector firm Solar Industries may be used as the Make in India element on the 31 drones which are expected to be game changers in peacetime surveillance.

Seen as a mega boost for the Indian Navy and surveillance capabilities of the defence forces, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the major deals for building two nuclear submarines indigenously and buying 31 Predator drones from the US.

Seen as a mega boost for the Indian Navy and surveillance capabilities of the defence forces, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the major deals for building two nuclear submarines indigenously and buying 31 Predator drones from the US. According to a detailed report by ANI, the Indian Navy will get two nuclear-powered attack submarines which will help boost its capabilities manifold in the Indian Ocean Region. The report elaborated further, that the deal for building the two submarines at the Ship Building Centre in Vishakhapatnam will be around Rs 45,000 crores and will see a major involvement of private sector firms like Larsen and Toubro. The Indian Navy was keen for the deal as it was a critical requirement for cushioning the underwater capability gaps. Long term objectives India has plans of having six such boats in the long run as part of its submarine induction plans. These boats which are going to be built under the ambitious Project Advanced Technology Vessel project, are separate from the five nuclear submarines being built under the Arihant class at the same location. The other major deal cleared today by the Cabinet Committee on Security is for the acquisition of 31 Predator drones from American General Atomics under a Foreign Military Sales contract between the governments of the two nations. The deal had to be cleared before October 31 as the validity of the American proposal was till that time and now it is expected to be signed in the next few days only. As per the contract, the defence forces will start getting the drones over four years after signing the deal. The Indian Navy will get 15 of the 31 drones while the Army and the Indian Air Force will get eight each and also deploy them together at two bases in Uttar Pradesh. Indian equipment made by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and private sector firm Solar Industries may be used as the Make in India element on the 31 drones which are expected to be game changers in peacetime surveillance.

India approves mega defence deals worth Rs 80,000 crore for nuclear submarines and predator drones

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal.&nbsp;

In the same vein, it’s imperative to point out that India is among the top three countries in the world, vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In the year 2019, there were nearly four lakh cyber incidents and there was a colossal financial loss to the tune of 1.24 lakh crores. To put things in perspective, such cyber breaches are perpetrated by intercontinental devices and networks. Further, such risks are heightened by Internet Of Things (IOT) devices, adversely affecting the Telecom Network.

To meet these security-related challenges in the Telecom Sector, and to be in sync with the ‘Atmanirbhar’ policy of the government, for the first time, a bold decision was taken by issuing the National Security Directive on Telecom Sector. In this regard, the government is slated to declare a list of trusted sources / trusted products for the benefits of the Telecom Service Providers. The list of to be covered under this Directive and the dynamics are expected to be designed by the designated competent authority who is earmarked as the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC).

Under the new decision, the Deputy National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), will head the committee which will be known as the National Security Committee on Telecom (NSCT). Importantly, the new Directive will not affect the ongoing Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC). The designated Authority will put in a place a portal for easy upload of applications by TSPS and equivalent vendors. Also, the Department of Telecommunications will make appropriate modifications in the License conditions towards the implementation of the provisions of the Directive. The policy is expected to be operationally effective from the date of approval. They will facilitate the desired incentives for Atmanirbhar Bharat as has been envisaged.

Meanwhile, this National Directive on Security has been described as a landmark decision by the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (TEMA) welcome the bold step hoping for healthy development in the domestic industries’ sector as well. The move has also been hailed as a forward-looking development. Articulating favourable and positive reaction to the new Directive, Chairman of the TEMA Council on digital empowerment, and former Secretary DoT, Shri Chandrashekhar IAS (Retd) assured that it was in readiness to work with the government. He also averred that the latest decision was timely and worth an appreciation. Similarly, Shri Ajai Shankar, another retired civil servant and currently Chairman TEMA Council on Industrial Policy found this as a welcome step to safeguard national security. On the whole, the new move is full of hope aimed at plugging all the loopholes in the system and providing a full proof security architecture in the sphere of telecommunications.

(Writer is a retired IPS officer and a security analyst. He is the former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. &nbsp;Views are personal.) 
 
(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal.

In an unprecedented and historic step, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) very recently approved a robust and sound security proposal to reinforce the security safeguards towards our National Telecom vulnerabilities awaiting since long for an effective redressal. In the same vein, it’s imperative to point out that India is among the top three countries in the world, vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In the year 2019, there were nearly four lakh cyber incidents and there was a colossal financial loss to the tune of 1.24 lakh crores. To put things in perspective, such cyber breaches are perpetrated by intercontinental devices and networks. Further, such risks are heightened by Internet Of Things (IOT) devices, adversely affecting the Telecom Network. To meet these security-related challenges in the Telecom Sector, and to be in sync with the ‘Atmanirbhar’ policy of the government, for the first time, a bold decision was taken by issuing the National Security Directive on Telecom Sector. In this regard, the government is slated to declare a list of trusted sources / trusted products for the benefits of the Telecom Service Providers. The list of to be covered under this Directive and the dynamics are expected to be designed by the designated competent authority who is earmarked as the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC). Under the new decision, the Deputy National Security Advisor (Dy NSA) of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), will head the committee which will be known as the National Security Committee on Telecom (NSCT). Importantly, the new Directive will not affect the ongoing Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC). The designated Authority will put in a place a portal for easy upload of applications by TSPS and equivalent vendors. Also, the Department of Telecommunications will make appropriate modifications in the License conditions towards the implementation of the provisions of the Directive. The policy is expected to be operationally effective from the date of approval. They will facilitate the desired incentives for Atmanirbhar Bharat as has been envisaged. Meanwhile, this National Directive on Security has been described as a landmark decision by the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (TEMA) welcome the bold step hoping for healthy development in the domestic industries’ sector as well. The move has also been hailed as a forward-looking development. Articulating favourable and positive reaction to the new Directive, Chairman of the TEMA Council on digital empowerment, and former Secretary DoT, Shri Chandrashekhar IAS (Retd) assured that it was in readiness to work with the government. He also averred that the latest decision was timely and worth an appreciation. Similarly, Shri Ajai Shankar, another retired civil servant and currently Chairman TEMA Council on Industrial Policy found this as a welcome step to safeguard national security. On the whole, the new move is full of hope aimed at plugging all the loopholes in the system and providing a full proof security architecture in the sphere of telecommunications. (Writer is a retired IPS officer and a security analyst. He is the former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. Views are personal.) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Opinion: Dynamic measures to strengthen national security on telecom

India's Home minister Amit Shah arrived in PM Modi's residence on Monday morning to address the situation in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/section-144-imposed-in-jk-internet-services-suspended-240701">Jammu and Kashmir(J&amp;K) </a>after section 144 was imposed in the state.

A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) is underway at PM Modi's residence in New Delhi which will be followed by a cabinet meeting later in the day.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh and finance minister&nbsp;Nirmala Sitharaman including NSA chief Ajit Doval are present at&nbsp;the CCS meeting which is being chaired by PM Modi.

The development occurs&nbsp;amid reports of house arrest of former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. Security was tightened in Srinagar after the imposition of section 144 CrPC from midnight.

Meanwhile, the Congress moved an adjournment motion in both the lower and upper houses&nbsp;ahead of the opening of the Parliament session today.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in the state and all educational institutes have been shut in Srinagar until further orders. However, schools will reopen normally today in Ladakh region after summer vacations with classes resuming normally in colleges and other educational institutions.

Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC has&nbsp;not been imposed in the Ladakh region.

On Friday, the Army had said that Pakistani terrorists were plotting to carry out an attack on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and that the security forces had recovered a Pakistan Ordnance Factory anti-personnel mine from a terror cache.

In a joint press conference, the forces displayed an M-24 sniper rifle, anti-personnel landmines recovered from the Pakistani Army along with a telescope from a terror cache along the Amarnath route.

Subsequently, the Amarnath yatra was cancelled and tourists were ordered to leave.

India's Home minister Amit Shah arrived in PM Modi's residence on Monday morning to address the situation in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) after section 144 was imposed in the state.

India's Home minister Amit Shah arrived in PM Modi's residence on Monday morning to address the situation in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) after section 144 was imposed in the state. A meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS) is underway at PM Modi's residence in New Delhi which will be followed by a cabinet meeting later in the day. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman including NSA chief Ajit Doval are present at the CCS meeting which is being chaired by PM Modi. The development occurs amid reports of house arrest of former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. Security was tightened in Srinagar after the imposition of section 144 CrPC from midnight. Meanwhile, the Congress moved an adjournment motion in both the lower and upper houses ahead of the opening of the Parliament session today. Mobile internet services have been suspended in the state and all educational institutes have been shut in Srinagar until further orders. However, schools will reopen normally today in Ladakh region after summer vacations with classes resuming normally in colleges and other educational institutions. Restrictions under Section 144 CrPC has not been imposed in the Ladakh region. On Friday, the Army had said that Pakistani terrorists were plotting to carry out an attack on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and that the security forces had recovered a Pakistan Ordnance Factory anti-personnel mine from a terror cache. In a joint press conference, the forces displayed an M-24 sniper rifle, anti-personnel landmines recovered from the Pakistani Army along with a telescope from a terror cache along the Amarnath route. Subsequently, the Amarnath yatra was cancelled and tourists were ordered to leave.

PM Modi chairs CCS meeting on J&K; Congress moves adjournment motion in Parliament

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was added in only two key cabinet committees initially, will now chair the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/home-minister-amit-shah-emerges-as-clear-no-2-224821">Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary</a> Affairs and be a part of the all-important panel on political affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs takes all important political decisions in the ruling dispensation.&nbsp;

Singh was made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier and he is now a part of six key panels of the government.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads various committees except the one on Parliamentary Affairs.&nbsp;

While the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has only Prime Minister Modi and Shah in it, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has Modi, Shah and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, besides Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Modi, has Singh, Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sitharaman as its members.

The panel looks after issues related to national security and foreign affairs.

Shah will head the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Sitharaman and Goyal are its members.

Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri are special invitees of the&nbsp; 
accommodation committee.

The key Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will have Singh, Shah, Gadkari, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, Sitharaman, Tomar, Prasad and Badal among its members.

The others in the CCEA include Jaishankar, Goyal and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which recommends dates for holding parliament sessions, will be headed by Singh and will have Shah, Sitharaman, Paswan, Tomar, Prasad, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi as its members.

Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan are special invitees.

Shah was to head the committee according to a government order earlier, which has since been amended.

The cabinet committees are constituted or reconstituted when a new government takes over or the cabinet undergoes a reshuffle.&nbsp;

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was added in only two key cabinet committees initially, will now chair the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and be a part of the all-important panel on political affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was added in only two key cabinet committees initially, will now chair the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and be a part of the all-important panel on political affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs takes all important political decisions in the ruling dispensation. Singh was made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier and he is now a part of six key panels of the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads various committees except the one on Parliamentary Affairs. While the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has only Prime Minister Modi and Shah in it, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has Modi, Shah and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, besides Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Modi, has Singh, Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sitharaman as its members. The panel looks after issues related to national security and foreign affairs. Shah will head the Cabinet Committee on Accommodation. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Sitharaman and Goyal are its members. Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and Housing and Urban Affairs and Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri are special invitees of the accommodation committee. The key Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will have Singh, Shah, Gadkari, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, Sitharaman, Tomar, Prasad and Badal among its members. The others in the CCEA include Jaishankar, Goyal and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which recommends dates for holding parliament sessions, will be headed by Singh and will have Shah, Sitharaman, Paswan, Tomar, Prasad, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi as its members. Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan are special invitees. Shah was to head the committee according to a government order earlier, which has since been amended. The cabinet committees are constituted or reconstituted when a new government takes over or the cabinet undergoes a reshuffle.

Initially left out, Rajnath Singh included in all important Cabinet Committees

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)&nbsp; about the Indian Air Force's targeted air strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The CCS meeting was held at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other top officials of the prime minister's office and the security apparatus were present at the meeting, official sources said.

This was the second such meeting after the Pulwama attack at prime minister's residence in Lok Kalyan Marg.

India revoked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-withdraws-most-favoured-nation-status-accorded-to-pakistan-after-pulwama-attack-197540">Most Favoured Nation (MFN)</a> status to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-claims-indian-air-force-violated-loc-199740">Pakistan</a> after the first CCS meeting.

India is believed to have carried out air strike&nbsp;inside Pakistan early Tuesday and targeted terror camps, sources said.

The strikes involving several fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the sources said.&nbsp;

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) about the Indian Air Force's targeted air strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday morning.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval briefed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) about the Indian Air Force's targeted air strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday morning. The CCS meeting was held at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes in Pakistan. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other top officials of the prime minister's office and the security apparatus were present at the meeting, official sources said. This was the second such meeting after the Pulwama attack at prime minister's residence in Lok Kalyan Marg. India revoked Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan after the first CCS meeting. India is believed to have carried out air strike inside Pakistan early Tuesday and targeted terror camps, sources said. The strikes involving several fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully destroyed camps belonging to Pakistan-based terror outfits in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the sources said.

NSA briefs CCS about air strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting is underway to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir against the backdrop of the Pulwama terror attack that claimed lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel.

The meeting began at 9:15 am on Friday, according to ANI.

The CCS is headed by the prime minister, defence minister, home minister, external affairs minister and the finance minister.&nbsp;

The CCS takes decisions on matters related to security and strategic affairs.&nbsp;

At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, one of the worst terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.&nbsp;

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting is underway to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir against the backdrop of the Pulwama terror attack that claimed lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting is underway to discuss the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir against the backdrop of the Pulwama terror attack that claimed lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel. The meeting began at 9:15 am on Friday, according to ANI. The CCS is headed by the prime minister, defence minister, home minister, external affairs minister and the finance minister. The CCS takes decisions on matters related to security and strategic affairs. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the bus they were travelling in, one of the worst terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.

Pulwama attack: CCS meet gets underway, to discuss security situation in J&K