Amid tensions along&nbsp;the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China's state media reported that the PLA had conducted live-fire drills along the border with India.

The report said the Chinese army had conducted training with equipment specifically designed for high-altitude operations. The PLA reportedly conducted "precision strike drills" in the Karakoram mountains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-dogfight-over-himalayas-between-indias-rafale-vs-chinas-j-20-stealth-fighter-who-wins-326656">Also Read:&nbsp;In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins?</a>

Reports had claimed earlier that China has been revamping its infrastructure along the border with India.&nbsp;

A report had claimed China had moved its H-6K bomber along India's border. The bomber was reportedly posted at Kashgar near Xinjiang which belongs to PLA's Western Theatre Command.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/agni-5-vs-chinas-df-17-missile-indias-nuclear-capable-missile-is-a-gamechanger-424757">Also Read:&nbsp;Agni-5 vs China's DF-17 missile: India's nuclear-capable missile is a gamechanger</a>

Foreign minister Jaishankar had pointed out that India-China relations were going through a "bad patch". &nbsp;&nbsp;

China had decided to de-escalate along the border in eastern Ladakh earlier this year, however, Indian army officials have repeatedly said China has been fortifying its border positions along the LAC.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/india-china-standoff-how-india-intends-to-combat-chinas-gj-1-and-gj-2-armed-drones-along-lac-in-eastern-ladakh-368110">Also Read:&nbsp;How India intends to combat China's GJ-1 and GJ-2 armed drones along LAC in eastern Ladakh</a>

Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a clash at Galwan Valley in June last year in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed including four&nbsp;Chinese troops, however, reports claimed the casualties on the Chinese side was much higher.

A US Department of Defence(DOD) report had said despite the pandemic and border clashes with India, the "PLA&nbsp;accelerated its training and fielding of equipment from the already fast pace of recent years."

China's Western Theater Command which oversees India "is geographically the largest theatre command" the DOD report informed.

Army chief General MM Naravane had insisted that there can be "no de-escalation without complete disengagement" even as the Indian forces were handling China in a "firm" and "non-escalatory" manner.&nbsp;

India's Army chief had said the forces were braced "for all contingencies" while asserting that it won't allow any "loss of territory or unilateral change in status quo".

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China's state media reported that the PLA had conducted live-fire drills along the border with India. The report said the Chinese army had conducted training with equipment specifically designed for high-altitude operations.

Amid tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China's state media reported that the PLA had conducted live-fire drills along the border with India. The report said the Chinese army had conducted training with equipment specifically designed for high-altitude operations. The PLA reportedly conducted "precision strike drills" in the Karakoram mountains. Also Read: In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins? Reports had claimed earlier that China has been revamping its infrastructure along the border with India. A report had claimed China had moved its H-6K bomber along India's border. The bomber was reportedly posted at Kashgar near Xinjiang which belongs to PLA's Western Theatre Command. Also Read: Agni-5 vs China's DF-17 missile: India's nuclear-capable missile is a gamechanger Foreign minister Jaishankar had pointed out that India-China relations were going through a "bad patch". China had decided to de-escalate along the border in eastern Ladakh earlier this year, however, Indian army officials have repeatedly said China has been fortifying its border positions along the LAC. Also Read: How India intends to combat China's GJ-1 and GJ-2 armed drones along LAC in eastern Ladakh Indian and Chinese troops were involved in a clash at Galwan Valley in June last year in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed including four Chinese troops, however, reports claimed the casualties on the Chinese side was much higher. A US Department of Defence(DOD) report had said despite the pandemic and border clashes with India, the "PLA accelerated its training and fielding of equipment from the already fast pace of recent years." China's Western Theater Command which oversees India "is geographically the largest theatre command" the DOD report informed. Army chief General MM Naravane had insisted that there can be "no de-escalation without complete disengagement" even as the Indian forces were handling China in a "firm" and "non-escalatory" manner. India's Army chief had said the forces were braced "for all contingencies" while asserting that it won't allow any "loss of territory or unilateral change in status quo". (With inputs from Agencies)

Chinese Army conducts live-fire drills with high-altitude weapons near India's border

How India is converting the Kiran MK-II into an unmanned combat aircraft

According to China's state-run Global Times newspaper, PLA's Xinjiang military command has received a "new type of all-terrain vehicle".

The Chinese newspaper said the new vehicle is expected to "ensure logistics support to plateau border defence troops as winter draws close and as China-India border tensions again risk rising".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-dogfight-over-himalayas-between-indias-rafale-vs-chinas-j-20-stealth-fighter-who-wins-326656">Also Read |&nbsp;In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins?</a>

The report added that the PLA unit is stationed in a "high-altitude, snowy border region" where transportation is difficult.

The newspaper informed that the "vehicle was tailored to suit the needs of the troops" and can carry heavy load and is able to "traverse freely in river banks, deserts, mountains and snowfields even under bad weather conditions."

The report pointed out that the delivery comes as "China and India failed to reach an agreement during the 13th round of corps commander-level talks."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-india-wants-status-quo-ante-in-ladakh-says-indias-cds-to-wion-390895">Also Read:&nbsp;India wants status quo ante in Ladakh, says India's CDS to WION</a>

The report comes as the Indian Army said recently that Chinese activities have increased marginally along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) as the PLA has conducted drills.

The Indian Army has enhanced surveillance along the border, the Army informed as it stated that&nbsp;"villages have come up near the border".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-air-force-still-deployed-at-three-airbases-facing-ladakh-air-chief-marshal-v-r-chaudhari-418589">Also Read:&nbsp;Chinese Air Force still deployed at three airbases facing Ladakh, says&nbsp;IAF</a>

The Indian army added that it has inducted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), radars, night-vision systems in order to keep a close&nbsp;eye on Chinese activities along the border.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

According to China's state-run Global Times newspaper, PLA's Xinjiang military command has received a "new type of all-terrain vehicle". The Chinese newspaper said the new vehicle is expected to "ensure logistics support to plateau border defence troops as winter draws close and as China-India border tensions again risk rising".

According to China's state-run Global Times newspaper, PLA's Xinjiang military command has received a "new type of all-terrain vehicle". The Chinese newspaper said the new vehicle is expected to "ensure logistics support to plateau border defence troops as winter draws close and as China-India border tensions again risk rising". Also Read | In dogfight over Himalayas between India's Rafale vs China's J-20 stealth fighter, who wins? The report added that the PLA unit is stationed in a "high-altitude, snowy border region" where transportation is difficult. The newspaper informed that the "vehicle was tailored to suit the needs of the troops" and can carry heavy load and is able to "traverse freely in river banks, deserts, mountains and snowfields even under bad weather conditions." The report pointed out that the delivery comes as "China and India failed to reach an agreement during the 13th round of corps commander-level talks." Also Read: India wants status quo ante in Ladakh, says India's CDS to WION The report comes as the Indian Army said recently that Chinese activities have increased marginally along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) as the PLA has conducted drills. The Indian Army has enhanced surveillance along the border, the Army informed as it stated that "villages have come up near the border". Also Read: Chinese Air Force still deployed at three airbases facing Ladakh, says IAF The Indian army added that it has inducted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), radars, night-vision systems in order to keep a close eye on Chinese activities along the border. (With inputs from Agencies)

China's PLA border troops receive 'all-terrain vehicle': Report

According to reports, China has stepped up night drills near the Himalayan border with India in order to familiarise troops with its new equipment.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly wants "higher standards" from troops stationed at high altitudes.&nbsp;

China's state-run Global Times had reported last month that the PLA's Tibet military command had conducted large-scale joint exercises in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/model-battalion-chinese-president-xi-encourages-pla-troops-at-india-china-border-in-tibet-413200">Tibet</a>&nbsp;plateau region.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-us-must-come-together-to-stop-chinese-expansionism-geshe-dorji-damdul-director-tibet-house-401777/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The exercise known as "Snowfield Duty-2021" involved ten brigades and regiments affiliated with the PLA Tibet military command. The drill included the latest weapons and equipment as PLA troops held the exercise at an elevation of 4,500 meters.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/china-building-30-airports-near-indias-border-in-tibet-xinjiang-report-413459" hreflang="en">China building 30 airports near India’s border in Tibet, Xinjiang: Report</a>

The night and day exercise was conducted with howitzers, multiple rocket launcher systems including anti-aircraft batteries.

Reports claimed the PLA also used attack helicopters and Type 15 light tanks during the exercise.

PLA daily claimed forces in the Xinjiang military district have been carrying out night drills at an altitude of around 5,000 metres.

Earlier, senior military commanders linked to PLA had conducted an exercise at Zhurihe training base. The military exercise was reportedly conducted to ensure "combat readiness".&nbsp;

There were at least 200 military commanders from three theatres during the exercise including from Tibet and Xinjiang.

The heightened Chinese military exercises come as President Xi Jinping visited Tibet in July. During the visit, Xi reportedly also visited the Nyingchi railway station to plan the Sichuan-Tibet railway line.

The Chinese president reportedly met locals and spoke in front of Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama.&nbsp;Xi had last visited the region in 2011 when he was vice-president.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to reports, China has stepped up night drills near the Himalayan border with India in order to familiarise troops with its new equipment. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly wants "higher standards" from troops stationed at high altitudes.

According to reports, China has stepped up night drills near the Himalayan border with India in order to familiarise troops with its new equipment. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly wants "higher standards" from troops stationed at high altitudes. China's state-run Global Times had reported last month that the PLA's Tibet military command had conducted large-scale joint exercises in the Tibet plateau region. Watch: The exercise known as "Snowfield Duty-2021" involved ten brigades and regiments affiliated with the PLA Tibet military command. The drill included the latest weapons and equipment as PLA troops held the exercise at an elevation of 4,500 meters. Also Read: China building 30 airports near India’s border in Tibet, Xinjiang: Report The night and day exercise was conducted with howitzers, multiple rocket launcher systems including anti-aircraft batteries. Reports claimed the PLA also used attack helicopters and Type 15 light tanks during the exercise. PLA daily claimed forces in the Xinjiang military district have been carrying out night drills at an altitude of around 5,000 metres. Earlier, senior military commanders linked to PLA had conducted an exercise at Zhurihe training base. The military exercise was reportedly conducted to ensure "combat readiness". There were at least 200 military commanders from three theatres during the exercise including from Tibet and Xinjiang. The heightened Chinese military exercises come as President Xi Jinping visited Tibet in July. During the visit, Xi reportedly also visited the Nyingchi railway station to plan the Sichuan-Tibet railway line. The Chinese president reportedly met locals and spoke in front of Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama. Xi had last visited the region in 2011 when he was vice-president. (With inputs from Agencies)

Chinese military conducts drill along India border with advanced equipment: Report

India-China standoff: How India intends to combat China's GJ-1 and GJ-2 armed drones along LAC in eastern Ladakh

The Indian Army’s Dakshin Bharat Area recognized and felicitated the 1971 Bangladesh-liberation war veterans and their families, who are based out of Tamil Nadu.

According to the Army, 1,670 men and women from Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state, served with India’s Armed Forces during the Bangladesh-liberation war.

In 1670, 42 soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and 37 were wounded. Among those from Tamil Nadu are 3 Vir Chakra Awardees, 1 Mahavir Chakra Awardee, and 1 Sena Medal Awardee. Nine war heroes and three Veernaris(women who lost their husbands in combat) ) were honored at the event here.&nbsp;

Among those who were honored here by the Army and the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, were three living legends who played a significant role in Pakistan’s defeat.

Commodore Gopal Rao, under whose leadership a Pakistani Navy Destroyer was sunk and Karachi Port was paralyzed, Rear Admiral S Ram Sagar, a Naval Aviator who prevented the enemy from operating their airfields, bombarded their troop-carrying ships and Col Krishnaswamy who led his men to inflict severe casualty, damage on Pakistani tank formations.&nbsp;

Speaking at the event, Lt. Gen. A.Arun, General-Officer-in-Command(GOC) Dakshin Bharat Area&nbsp;profusely thanked and conveyed his respects to the veterans and their families.

He lauded their service and sacrifice for the nation. Recalling the 1971 war, he said that India fought a battle against Pakistan on its east and west, thus giving rise to a new nation called Bangladesh, out of East Pakistan. He emphasized that it was a war that witnessed 3,800 Indian men and women making the supreme sacrifice besides the 9,851 peronnel who were injured.&nbsp;

On the historic significance of the 1971 war, he said that it was the first time since World War 2 that nearly 93,000 soldiers had surrendered with all their arms, ships, rockets, artillery and aircraft.

“Indian Armed Forces captured 15,000square kilometers of Pakistani territory in 1971, which we so graciously returned the next year” he added. The top Army officer also recalled that the iconic Taj Mahal had to be camouflaged, in order to protect the glowing monument from night-time Pakistani Air raids.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Armed forces fraternity and the Governor lauded the role of ‘Veer Naris’ (women who lost their husbands in combat) for their contributions to the nation. They were also among those honored, along with other military families. Lt Gen Arun took the stellar example of a Veernari(martyred Jawan’s wife) from Tamil Nadu, who brought up their kids to become successful IITans. He added that this was the bravery of Tamil Nadu and Chennai.

&nbsp;

The celebrations held in the city are part of the pan-India Swarnim Vijay Varsh (Golden Jubilee of 1971 War). The event included displays by the Military band, Equestrian team, Drill team, Martial arts teams among others. As a part of the Golden jubilee year, four commemorative flames are being paraded across all four directions of the country, since late last year. Soil from the cities and villages of the 1971 Indo-Pak War Heroes are being collected and taken to Delhi to be ensconced with the National War Memorial.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Indian Army’s Dakshin Bharat Area recognized and felicitated the 1971 Bangladesh-liberation war veterans and their families, who are based out of Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Army’s Dakshin Bharat Area recognized and felicitated the 1971 Bangladesh-liberation war veterans and their families, who are based out of Tamil Nadu. According to the Army, 1,670 men and women from Tamil Nadu, the southern Indian state, served with India’s Armed Forces during the Bangladesh-liberation war. In 1670, 42 soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and 37 were wounded. Among those from Tamil Nadu are 3 Vir Chakra Awardees, 1 Mahavir Chakra Awardee, and 1 Sena Medal Awardee. Nine war heroes and three Veernaris(women who lost their husbands in combat) ) were honored at the event here. Among those who were honored here by the Army and the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, were three living legends who played a significant role in Pakistan’s defeat. Commodore Gopal Rao, under whose leadership a Pakistani Navy Destroyer was sunk and Karachi Port was paralyzed, Rear Admiral S Ram Sagar, a Naval Aviator who prevented the enemy from operating their airfields, bombarded their troop-carrying ships and Col Krishnaswamy who led his men to inflict severe casualty, damage on Pakistani tank formations. Speaking at the event, Lt. Gen. A.Arun, General-Officer-in-Command(GOC) Dakshin Bharat Area profusely thanked and conveyed his respects to the veterans and their families. He lauded their service and sacrifice for the nation. Recalling the 1971 war, he said that India fought a battle against Pakistan on its east and west, thus giving rise to a new nation called Bangladesh, out of East Pakistan. He emphasized that it was a war that witnessed 3,800 Indian men and women making the supreme sacrifice besides the 9,851 peronnel who were injured. On the historic significance of the 1971 war, he said that it was the first time since World War 2 that nearly 93,000 soldiers had surrendered with all their arms, ships, rockets, artillery and aircraft. “Indian Armed Forces captured 15,000square kilometers of Pakistani territory in 1971, which we so graciously returned the next year” he added. The top Army officer also recalled that the iconic Taj Mahal had to be camouflaged, in order to protect the glowing monument from night-time Pakistani Air raids. The Armed forces fraternity and the Governor lauded the role of ‘Veer Naris’ (women who lost their husbands in combat) for their contributions to the nation. They were also among those honored, along with other military families. Lt Gen Arun took the stellar example of a Veernari(martyred Jawan’s wife) from Tamil Nadu, who brought up their kids to become successful IITans. He added that this was the bravery of Tamil Nadu and Chennai. The celebrations held in the city are part of the pan-India Swarnim Vijay Varsh (Golden Jubilee of 1971 War). The event included displays by the Military band, Equestrian team, Drill team, Martial arts teams among others. As a part of the Golden jubilee year, four commemorative flames are being paraded across all four directions of the country, since late last year. Soil from the cities and villages of the 1971 Indo-Pak War Heroes are being collected and taken to Delhi to be ensconced with the National War Memorial.

Swarnim Vijay Varsh -1971 War Veterans and Families felicitated by Army

The Indian Coast Guard, the fourth largest in the world, celebrated its 45th Raising Day on Monday. Since its inception, ICG has developed into a formidable force with 156 ships and 62 aircraft in its inventory.

Indian Coast Guard steps into its 45th year, held celebratory event in Chennai

Appealing people to contribute in Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to honour sacrifices made by soldiers in the line of duty, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday announced that `Armed Forces Flag Day` would be celebrated throughout December.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "Centre and States along with Sainik Board will celebrate `Armed Forces Flag Day` throughout December. It`s our national responsibility to support families of our security personnel, who have lost their lives or suffered injuries in the line of duty."

Although December 7 is commemorated as `Armed Forces Flag Day` every year, this year Centre has announced that the whole month would be celebrated as `Armed Forces Flag Day` to honour the sacrifices by armed forces in the line of duty.

"I appeal to everyone to contribute towards the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Let us express our commitment to our country and the Armed Forces," Singh added. The collected fund is used for the welfare of the Armed Forces personnel and ex-servicemen and also to rehabilitate battle causalities.

Small flags are also distributed on this day in return for donations.&nbsp;

Appealing people to contribute in Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to honour sacrifices made by soldiers in the line of duty, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday announced that `Armed Forces Flag Day` would be celebrated throughout December.

Appealing people to contribute in Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) to honour sacrifices made by soldiers in the line of duty, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday announced that `Armed Forces Flag Day` would be celebrated throughout December. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "Centre and States along with Sainik Board will celebrate `Armed Forces Flag Day` throughout December. It`s our national responsibility to support families of our security personnel, who have lost their lives or suffered injuries in the line of duty." Although December 7 is commemorated as `Armed Forces Flag Day` every year, this year Centre has announced that the whole month would be celebrated as `Armed Forces Flag Day` to honour the sacrifices by armed forces in the line of duty. "I appeal to everyone to contribute towards the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Let us express our commitment to our country and the Armed Forces," Singh added. The collected fund is used for the welfare of the Armed Forces personnel and ex-servicemen and also to rehabilitate battle causalities. Small flags are also distributed on this day in return for donations.

'Armed Forces Flag Day' to be celebrated throughout December, says Rajnath Singh

After achieving a 'direct hit' on a pilotless plane earlier, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully tested-fired the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-indian-navys-ins-kora-destroys-target-in-bay-of-bengal-with-anti-ship-missile-339031">Missile</a>(QRSAM) defence system.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile air defence system successfully testfired by DRDO today. The Missile system secured a direct hit on its target during the trial <a href="https://t.co/AKn7J488Wi">pic.twitter.com/AKn7J488Wi</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1328667900597604353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to reports, the missile system achieved direct hit on a target during the trial destroying an unmanned target aircraft at medium range.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-qrsam-system-missile-hits-pilotless-aircraft-343009">Also Read:&nbsp;India successfully test-fires QRSAM system; missile hits pilotless aircraft</a>

"First launch test on November 13 proved the Radar and Missile capabilities with a direct hit. Today’s test demonstrated the warhead performance on proximity detection," defence minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet while congratulating&nbsp;DRDO&nbsp;for "two back-to-back successful test trials" of the QRSAM defence system.

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Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/DRDO_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DRDO_India</a> for two back to back successful test trials of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile. 
 
First launch test on 13th Nov proved the Radar and Missile capabilities with direct hit. 
 
Today’s test demonstrated the warhead performance on proximity detection
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1328655843659706369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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On November 13, DRDO had test targeted a "direct hit" on pilotless aircraft at medium range. The test successfully achieving its objective.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-indian-navys-ins-kora-destroys-target-in-bay-of-bengal-with-anti-ship-missile-339031">In Pics:&nbsp;How Indian Air Force's Apache, Chinook will take on China's attack helicopters along LAC</a>

The missile launch had taken DRDO, ITR, IRDE worked in tandem with each other to achieve the tests.

DRDO along with ITR, IRDE had worked together to achieve the successful tests. The QRSAM system has been designed by DRDO along with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army.

The surface-to-air missile defence system was deployed eastern Ladakh in June this year amid the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control(LAC).

The missiles can track targets on the move and can be launched on mobile launcher capable of carrying six canisterised missiles.

After achieving a 'direct hit' on a pilotless plane earlier, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully tested-fired the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile(QRSAM) defence system.

After achieving a 'direct hit' on a pilotless plane earlier, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday successfully tested-fired the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile(QRSAM) defence system. #WATCH Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile air defence system successfully testfired by DRDO today. The Missile system secured a direct hit on its target during the trial pic.twitter.com/AKn7J488Wi — ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2020 × According to reports, the missile system achieved direct hit on a target during the trial destroying an unmanned target aircraft at medium range. Also Read: India successfully test-fires QRSAM system; missile hits pilotless aircraft "First launch test on November 13 proved the Radar and Missile capabilities with a direct hit. Today’s test demonstrated the warhead performance on proximity detection," defence minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet while congratulating DRDO for "two back-to-back successful test trials" of the QRSAM defence system. Congratulations to @DRDO_India for two back to back successful test trials of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile. First launch test on 13th Nov proved the Radar and Missile capabilities with direct hit. Today’s test demonstrated the warhead performance on proximity detection — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 17, 2020 × On November 13, DRDO had test targeted a "direct hit" on pilotless aircraft at medium range. The test successfully achieving its objective. In Pics: How Indian Air Force's Apache, Chinook will take on China's attack helicopters along LAC The missile launch had taken DRDO, ITR, IRDE worked in tandem with each other to achieve the tests. DRDO along with ITR, IRDE had worked together to achieve the successful tests. The QRSAM system has been designed by DRDO along with Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited for the Indian Army. The surface-to-air missile defence system was deployed eastern Ladakh in June this year amid the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control(LAC). The missiles can track targets on the move and can be launched on mobile launcher capable of carrying six canisterised missiles.

DRDO successfully testfires Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile defence system

Ahead of the Monsoon session of the Indian Parliament, Indian PM Narendra Modi spoke briefly and said that the Parliament unanimously stands firmly behind the Indian Armed Forces.

Indian PM Narendra Modi: 'Soldiers are standing firm at the border'

The first coronavirus case has been confirmed in the Indian armed forces. A 34-year-old jawan from Ladakh Scouts in Leh has tested positive for COVID-19. His father returned from Iran recently. Watch report:

First COVID-19 case confirmed in Indian Army

Military training is about reshaping social norms and obeying commands, irrespective of who the commander is. Military personnel should stand for discipline and not discrimination.

The women officers in the Indian Army aren't making any unrealistic demand. A&nbsp;plea has been filed in the Supreme Court of India by women officers demanding permanent commission. In other words, a career in the Army until they retire.

Currently, women in the Indian Army can only serve up to 14 years. 
 
The world has come a long way since military roles were gender-specific. Today, women officers across the world rub shoulders with their male counterparts.

Months into World War I, the triple alliance and the entente met with an unexpected crisis - the shortage of troops. There were no men to guard the borders or fight the enemy.

So several thousand men had to give up farming and their daily jobs to join combat roles. Women too were rushed to camps, but their task was different.

They were expected to nurse the injured soldiers back to health. That was the early 1900s, an age defined by clear division of labour and gender roles.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Today, women are in the frontline, they are in the cockpit and on the deck. Armed Forces are no-longer a male-exclusive club.

Women comprise nearly 15 per cent of Canada's fighting force, 19 per cent of the French military and 10 per cent of the German military.

In Australia, women make up 14.3 per cent of the Army, the number is 4.5 per cent in China's People Liberation Army, and 3.8 per cent in the Indian Army.

Women also make up 14 per cent of the active-duty Army in the United States of America. At least 16 countries allow women to serve in combat roles.

They have equal rights to military stars, stripes and medals as their male counterparts. 
 
WATCH:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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In 2016, Brazil allowed women to enter combat training. The year before that, United Arab Emirates allowed a female fighter pilot to strike a mission against the Islamic State in Syria. South Korea opened combat positions to women as early as the 1990s.

In China, the first class of female fighter pilots graduated in 2009. Germany opened combat roles to women in 2001. Women make up almost 2 per cent of the French combat infantry.

In 1985, Norway became the first nation to open all combat jobs to women. Israel allowed women in combat roles in 1995.

The Philippines did the same in 2006. A woman officer of the US army once shared her experience of serving in Afghanistan. She said women were integral to combating cultural warfare.

At warzones where local women often hide ammunition, terrorists and critical intel, it's the women officer who play a crucial role in getting the complicit locals to break their silence and confederate.

Women are essential to peace-keeping - at home and outside. It's time more countries rise up the ranks and usher in gender balance in their Armed Forces.

 
&nbsp;

Military training is about reshaping social norms and obeying commands, irrespective of who the commander is. Military personnel should stand for discipline and not discrimination.

Military training is about reshaping social norms and obeying commands, irrespective of who the commander is. Military personnel should stand for discipline and not discrimination. The women officers in the Indian Army aren't making any unrealistic demand. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court of India by women officers demanding permanent commission. In other words, a career in the Army until they retire. Currently, women in the Indian Army can only serve up to 14 years. The world has come a long way since military roles were gender-specific. Today, women officers across the world rub shoulders with their male counterparts. Months into World War I, the triple alliance and the entente met with an unexpected crisis - the shortage of troops. There were no men to guard the borders or fight the enemy. So several thousand men had to give up farming and their daily jobs to join combat roles. Women too were rushed to camps, but their task was different. They were expected to nurse the injured soldiers back to health. That was the early 1900s, an age defined by clear division of labour and gender roles. Today, women are in the frontline, they are in the cockpit and on the deck. Armed Forces are no-longer a male-exclusive club. Women comprise nearly 15 per cent of Canada's fighting force, 19 per cent of the French military and 10 per cent of the German military. In Australia, women make up 14.3 per cent of the Army, the number is 4.5 per cent in China's People Liberation Army, and 3.8 per cent in the Indian Army. Women also make up 14 per cent of the active-duty Army in the United States of America. At least 16 countries allow women to serve in combat roles. They have equal rights to military stars, stripes and medals as their male counterparts. WATCH: × In 2016, Brazil allowed women to enter combat training. The year before that, United Arab Emirates allowed a female fighter pilot to strike a mission against the Islamic State in Syria. South Korea opened combat positions to women as early as the 1990s. In China, the first class of female fighter pilots graduated in 2009. Germany opened combat roles to women in 2001. Women make up almost 2 per cent of the French combat infantry. In 1985, Norway became the first nation to open all combat jobs to women. Israel allowed women in combat roles in 1995. The Philippines did the same in 2006. A woman officer of the US army once shared her experience of serving in Afghanistan. She said women were integral to combating cultural warfare. At warzones where local women often hide ammunition, terrorists and critical intel, it's the women officer who play a crucial role in getting the complicit locals to break their silence and confederate. Women are essential to peace-keeping - at home and outside. It's time more countries rise up the ranks and usher in gender balance in their Armed Forces.

Explained: Rise of women soldiers around the world

India aspires to become a global power and for that, India must have a modern military force, among other things. India buys a bulk of its defence equipment and there is urgent need to make it domestically.

So, there's a market, there's demand, there's a push from the government and India has the technological know-how, then why hasn't Make in India made a difference?

Last year, Former Army Chief General VP Malik - the man who led the Indian Army during the Kargil war spoke about it. And he made a strong case for making defence equipment in India. &nbsp;

He said that unless India becomes adequately self-reliant in defence, our national security remains vulnerable. 
 
So, why has India's domestic arms industry not flourished?&nbsp;&nbsp;

For the longest time, defence manufacturing in India was in the hands of state-owned companies. Private players were allowed only in 2001. A report from 2019 says that even today, bulk of the business goes to the public sector units.&nbsp;

Last year, the annual turnover of private sector companies was close to Rs 15 thousand crores. Public sector units earned more than four times this figure. Their turnover was well over Rs 60 thousand crores.

But, the Armed Forces have not had good experiences working with India's Defence PSUs. They give three reasons:

First, professionalism, or the lack of it. Second, delays in deliveries, and third, overshooting the budget.&nbsp;

Let's take the case of HAL, it had the exclusive rights to manufacture foreign jets in India. Last year, the Indian Air Force told the government that production delays are impacting its combat strength, particularly, when it comes to the Mirage 2000 and Jaguar Fighter fleets that were undergoing upgrades.&nbsp;

The IAF pointed out delays, ranging from two to six years. As a result, costs have also gone up. Furthermore, India lacks the talent to develop futuristic weapons.

Research and Development is still restricted to government agencies like DRDO. So, the Defence Forces have little choice and they have to resort to off the shelf purchases.

All the major contracts the Narendra Modi government has signed have been off the shelf. There has been no transfer of technology, this includes 36 Rafale jets from France, the S400 Missile Defence system from Russia, and the Apache and Chinook from the US.

Although, the government should be given credit where it's due. Some major bottlenecks for the entry of the private sector have been removed under the Modi government, like - increasing the FDI cap, easing licensing conditions and reduced time frame for obtaining defence exports approvals.

Several private players have entered the market - Adani Defence and Aerospace, Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge and Mahindra and Mahindra. They have all tied up with foreign Defence manufacturing firms.

But as of last year, some deals were yet to be finalised, a few have even hit dead ends or have been cancelled.

The private sector hasn't really been able to graduate from making small components to creating full-blown systems.

First of all, finalise the pending deals. Second, invest more in defence research and development. Third, encourage private players and startups to build indigenous offerings. And fourth, push for weapons imports that come with a technology transfer.

This will boost India's know-how in defence manufacturing.&nbsp;

Another major concern is the budget. India might not have enough money to clear big-ticket purchases. This is where the Defence Forces must consider deeper integration of resources and talent and open up some room in the budget.

The appointment of the Chief of Defence staff is a step in that direction. The more immediate concern is the pending defence procurement. Public-private partnerships must be encouraged to complete priority purchases.

Delaying the development of India's defence manufacturing not just makes our imports bills bigger, it even forces the Armed Forces, bureaucrats and the government to make compromises with national security.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

India aspires to become a global power and for that, India must have a modern military force, among other things. India buys a bulk of its defence equipment and there is urgent need to make it domestically.

India aspires to become a global power and for that, India must have a modern military force, among other things. India buys a bulk of its defence equipment and there is urgent need to make it domestically. So, there's a market, there's demand, there's a push from the government and India has the technological know-how, then why hasn't Make in India made a difference? Last year, Former Army Chief General VP Malik - the man who led the Indian Army during the Kargil war spoke about it. And he made a strong case for making defence equipment in India. He said that unless India becomes adequately self-reliant in defence, our national security remains vulnerable. So, why has India's domestic arms industry not flourished? For the longest time, defence manufacturing in India was in the hands of state-owned companies. Private players were allowed only in 2001. A report from 2019 says that even today, bulk of the business goes to the public sector units. Last year, the annual turnover of private sector companies was close to Rs 15 thousand crores. Public sector units earned more than four times this figure. Their turnover was well over Rs 60 thousand crores. But, the Armed Forces have not had good experiences working with India's Defence PSUs. They give three reasons: First, professionalism, or the lack of it. Second, delays in deliveries, and third, overshooting the budget. Let's take the case of HAL, it had the exclusive rights to manufacture foreign jets in India. Last year, the Indian Air Force told the government that production delays are impacting its combat strength, particularly, when it comes to the Mirage 2000 and Jaguar Fighter fleets that were undergoing upgrades. The IAF pointed out delays, ranging from two to six years. As a result, costs have also gone up. Furthermore, India lacks the talent to develop futuristic weapons. Research and Development is still restricted to government agencies like DRDO. So, the Defence Forces have little choice and they have to resort to off the shelf purchases. All the major contracts the Narendra Modi government has signed have been off the shelf. There has been no transfer of technology, this includes 36 Rafale jets from France, the S400 Missile Defence system from Russia, and the Apache and Chinook from the US. Although, the government should be given credit where it's due. Some major bottlenecks for the entry of the private sector have been removed under the Modi government, like - increasing the FDI cap, easing licensing conditions and reduced time frame for obtaining defence exports approvals. Several private players have entered the market - Adani Defence and Aerospace, Tata Advanced Systems, Bharat Forge and Mahindra and Mahindra. They have all tied up with foreign Defence manufacturing firms. But as of last year, some deals were yet to be finalised, a few have even hit dead ends or have been cancelled. The private sector hasn't really been able to graduate from making small components to creating full-blown systems. First of all, finalise the pending deals. Second, invest more in defence research and development. Third, encourage private players and startups to build indigenous offerings. And fourth, push for weapons imports that come with a technology transfer. This will boost India's know-how in defence manufacturing. Another major concern is the budget. India might not have enough money to clear big-ticket purchases. This is where the Defence Forces must consider deeper integration of resources and talent and open up some room in the budget. The appointment of the Chief of Defence staff is a step in that direction. The more immediate concern is the pending defence procurement. Public-private partnerships must be encouraged to complete priority purchases. Delaying the development of India's defence manufacturing not just makes our imports bills bigger, it even forces the Armed Forces, bureaucrats and the government to make compromises with national security. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: India's defence manufacturing gaps

The state of Indian economy reflected in India's GDP to the growth of 4.8 per cent in 2019-20, and its projected GDP growth as per IMF at 5.8 per cent for 2020-21, coupled with the rise in fiscal deficit to 3.8 per cent, has constrained the government from enhancing the allocations for the Ministry of Defence.&nbsp;

The increased allocations to socio-economic sectors for boosting economic growth and on development of infrastructure had a bearing on the defence allocation, with a marginal increase in the defence <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/union-budget-2020-government-has-taken-bold-steps-to-put-economy-back-on-track-278226">budget allocation</a> from Rs 318,000 crores in &nbsp;2019-20 to Rs 337,533 crores for 2020-21.&nbsp;

The allocation for the revenue head continues to be in excess of the capital expenditure. Revenue allocation is essential for the maintenance of the weapons, equipment, transport and ammunition for the smooth functioning of the Armed Forces, apart from repairs, overhauls and procurements for the recoupment of the stores and the reserves. &nbsp;

The revenue allocation saw a marginal increase from Rs 201901.76 in 2019-20 to Rs 209319.00 for 2020-21 (Increase of Rs 7417.24 crores)&nbsp;

On the capital expenditure allocation, there is only an increase of Rs 3340 crores in the budgetary allocation from a RE (Revised Estimates) in 2019-20 of Rs 110,394.31 crores to Rs 113734 crores for 2020-21. &nbsp;

Despite a rationalisation of the requirements carried out by the Navy and IAF, (though the allocation to the Navy has risen from 13 per cent to 18 per cent in the current budget), this allocation with the committed liabilities, of the past will fall short of the requirements for modernisation.&nbsp; 
 
WATCH: Budget 2020: Hits and misses 
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The largest increase in terms of budgetary allocation for capital expenditure is for the IAF of Rs 3979 crores followed by Army at Rs 3531 crores. The Indian Army has committed liabilities for the pending procurements of artillery gun systems, rifles and ammunition. IAF has liabilities for the acquisition of aircraft&nbsp;both from HAL and abroad.&nbsp;

Closer scrutiny of the allocation of the capital expenditure, reveals there is an enhanced share for aircraft and aero engines, for all the 3 services from FY 2019-20 to FY 2020-21 apart from their core acquisitions of weapon systems and naval fleet.&nbsp;

The allocation for aircraft and aero engines, for the Army, is Rs 4000 crores up from Rs 2115 Crores from last FY; Navy from Rs 2400 crores to Rs 4640 crores; and IAF from Rs 24807 to Rs 26909 crores to the FY 2020-21. Much of the increased IAF allocation will go to HAL for funding the contract of 83 LCA Mk-1A.&nbsp;

The Indian Armed Forces need to continue their modernisation to meet the growing challenges in the neighbourhood but the performance on the key economic parameters, will not allow for greater budgetary support in the next financial year(s).&nbsp;

Some long in the pipeline reforms such as enhanced FDI for Defence manufacturing, IPR protection and Defence SEZs will bring in more commitment of investment in defence production.&nbsp;

A two-pronged pragmatic approach could hold the key for meeting our security challenges.&nbsp;

At the strategic level of international relations – by forging alliances with partners who hold a stake in the Indian Sub-continent and the Indian Ocean Region. &nbsp;

The Quad in the Indian Ocean Region is one such welcome move, apart from securing naval berths in the friendly nations from Vietnam and Indonesia in the East to Qatar and Seychelles in the West, to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region buttressed by Chinese investments and OBOR.&nbsp;

The second approach involves a more pragmatic approach to continue modernisation of the Armed Forces by way of greater participation of the private industry through reliance on making in India and also assembling in India. &nbsp;

This initiative has given proven results in terms of faster induction of patrol vessels for Navy, K9 Catapult for the Indian Army and large number of key systems including airframes for LCA being sourced from the private industry – moving forward, the shortlisting of L&amp;T with MDL for the P75I project as a Strategic Partner, displays the growing confidence on the capabilities. &nbsp;

There needs to be more such partnerships of the Public Sector and Private Sector, to meet the shortfalls in the budgetary allocation to fill in the wide gaps of technology, capital and to broad base the defence production in the country.&nbsp;

With the creation of the office of CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) and the enhanced powers of procurement to the services, it is hoped that the three wings of India’s armed forces may operate in synergy in terms of defence spends, both for capital and revenue expenditure. India’s security concerns mandate a strong army, navy and air force where the three wings work cohesively for maximum tactical and operational efficiency.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

*Source for Data: Union Finance Ministry Expenditure Budget Bill FY 2020-21.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The state of Indian economy reflected in India's GDP to the growth of 4.8 per cent in 2019-20, and its projected GDP growth as per IMF at 5.8 per cent for 2020-21, coupled with the rise in fiscal deficit to 3.

The state of Indian economy reflected in India's GDP to the growth of 4.8 per cent in 2019-20, and its projected GDP growth as per IMF at 5.8 per cent for 2020-21, coupled with the rise in fiscal deficit to 3.8 per cent, has constrained the government from enhancing the allocations for the Ministry of Defence. The increased allocations to socio-economic sectors for boosting economic growth and on development of infrastructure had a bearing on the defence allocation, with a marginal increase in the defence budget allocation from Rs 318,000 crores in 2019-20 to Rs 337,533 crores for 2020-21. The allocation for the revenue head continues to be in excess of the capital expenditure. Revenue allocation is essential for the maintenance of the weapons, equipment, transport and ammunition for the smooth functioning of the Armed Forces, apart from repairs, overhauls and procurements for the recoupment of the stores and the reserves. The revenue allocation saw a marginal increase from Rs 201901.76 in 2019-20 to Rs 209319.00 for 2020-21 (Increase of Rs 7417.24 crores) On the capital expenditure allocation, there is only an increase of Rs 3340 crores in the budgetary allocation from a RE (Revised Estimates) in 2019-20 of Rs 110,394.31 crores to Rs 113734 crores for 2020-21. Despite a rationalisation of the requirements carried out by the Navy and IAF, (though the allocation to the Navy has risen from 13 per cent to 18 per cent in the current budget), this allocation with the committed liabilities, of the past will fall short of the requirements for modernisation. WATCH: Budget 2020: Hits and misses × The largest increase in terms of budgetary allocation for capital expenditure is for the IAF of Rs 3979 crores followed by Army at Rs 3531 crores. The Indian Army has committed liabilities for the pending procurements of artillery gun systems, rifles and ammunition. IAF has liabilities for the acquisition of aircraft both from HAL and abroad. Closer scrutiny of the allocation of the capital expenditure, reveals there is an enhanced share for aircraft and aero engines, for all the 3 services from FY 2019-20 to FY 2020-21 apart from their core acquisitions of weapon systems and naval fleet. The allocation for aircraft and aero engines, for the Army, is Rs 4000 crores up from Rs 2115 Crores from last FY; Navy from Rs 2400 crores to Rs 4640 crores; and IAF from Rs 24807 to Rs 26909 crores to the FY 2020-21. Much of the increased IAF allocation will go to HAL for funding the contract of 83 LCA Mk-1A. The Indian Armed Forces need to continue their modernisation to meet the growing challenges in the neighbourhood but the performance on the key economic parameters, will not allow for greater budgetary support in the next financial year(s). Some long in the pipeline reforms such as enhanced FDI for Defence manufacturing, IPR protection and Defence SEZs will bring in more commitment of investment in defence production. A two-pronged pragmatic approach could hold the key for meeting our security challenges. At the strategic level of international relations – by forging alliances with partners who hold a stake in the Indian Sub-continent and the Indian Ocean Region. The Quad in the Indian Ocean Region is one such welcome move, apart from securing naval berths in the friendly nations from Vietnam and Indonesia in the East to Qatar and Seychelles in the West, to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region buttressed by Chinese investments and OBOR. The second approach involves a more pragmatic approach to continue modernisation of the Armed Forces by way of greater participation of the private industry through reliance on making in India and also assembling in India. This initiative has given proven results in terms of faster induction of patrol vessels for Navy, K9 Catapult for the Indian Army and large number of key systems including airframes for LCA being sourced from the private industry – moving forward, the shortlisting of L&T with MDL for the P75I project as a Strategic Partner, displays the growing confidence on the capabilities. There needs to be more such partnerships of the Public Sector and Private Sector, to meet the shortfalls in the budgetary allocation to fill in the wide gaps of technology, capital and to broad base the defence production in the country. With the creation of the office of CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) and the enhanced powers of procurement to the services, it is hoped that the three wings of India’s armed forces may operate in synergy in terms of defence spends, both for capital and revenue expenditure. India’s security concerns mandate a strong army, navy and air force where the three wings work cohesively for maximum tactical and operational efficiency. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) *Source for Data: Union Finance Ministry Expenditure Budget Bill FY 2020-21.

Budget 2020: Here's what's in store for the Defence sector

The Three Service Chiefs of Indian defence services, Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal RKS Bhaduria, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and newly appointed Indian Army chief Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane were course-mates in National Defense Academy (NDA).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terror-camps-continues-to-exist-in-pakistan-army-chief-mm-naravane-to-wion-271729">Also read: Terror camps continue to 'exist in Pakistan', says Army Chief MM Naravane to WION</a> 
 
All three service chiefs on Indian Armed Forces did the 56th course collectively from the National Defense Academy (NDA) in 1976.&nbsp;

This is the second time inside the recorded past of the Indian Army when the heads of the three armed forces are the cadets of the same batch of NDA.

In 1991, the then chiefs of three armed forces Army Chief Sunit Francis Rodriguez, Naval Chief Admiral Laxmi Narayan Ramdas and Air Chief Marshal Nirmal Chandra Suri were the batchmates of same NDA course.

According to the news reports, all three services heads of Indian Armed forces have&nbsp;a common Indian Air Force (IAF) connection as their fathers had served in it.

The National Defense Academy (NDA) is the joint institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the all three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go on to particular assistance foundations for additional pre-commissioning preparing. The NDA is situated in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.

The Three Service Chiefs of Indian defence services, Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal RKS Bhaduria, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and newly appointed Indian Army chief Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane were course-mates in National Defense Academy (NDA).

The Three Service Chiefs of Indian defence services, Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal RKS Bhaduria, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and newly appointed Indian Army chief Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane were course-mates in National Defense Academy (NDA). Also read: Terror camps continue to 'exist in Pakistan', says Army Chief MM Naravane to WION All three service chiefs on Indian Armed Forces did the 56th course collectively from the National Defense Academy (NDA) in 1976. This is the second time inside the recorded past of the Indian Army when the heads of the three armed forces are the cadets of the same batch of NDA. In 1991, the then chiefs of three armed forces Army Chief Sunit Francis Rodriguez, Naval Chief Admiral Laxmi Narayan Ramdas and Air Chief Marshal Nirmal Chandra Suri were the batchmates of same NDA course. According to the news reports, all three services heads of Indian Armed forces have a common Indian Air Force (IAF) connection as their fathers had served in it. The National Defense Academy (NDA) is the joint institute of the Indian Armed Forces, where cadets of the all three services, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force train together before they go on to particular assistance foundations for additional pre-commissioning preparing. The NDA is situated in Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.

From NDA to Defence Chiefs: Common connection between all three heads of Indian Armed Forces

It was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-fire-breaks-out-at-pms-residence-9-fire-tenders-rushed-to-the-spot-271110">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> who broke the news to General Bipin Rawat about his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

"The Prime Minister broke the news to General&nbsp;Rawat during his farewell dinner at the Prime Minister's residence about his appointment," government sources said.

Notably, Modi had announced the creation of the post of CDS in his Independence Day speech on August 15 this year.

General Rawat received a farewell dinner by the Prime Minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi which was attended by senior members of his cabinet and armed forces officers on Monday night.

His appointment was announced by the Defence Ministry around 9 PM&nbsp;(IST) last night after it was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/army-better-prepared-to-take-on-challenges-at-pakistan-china-borders-cds-general-rawat-271188">General Rawat</a> becomes India's first CDS and will have his office in South Block ground floor while 3, Kamraj Marg in the Lutyens zone near Defence Ministry has been earmarked as his house.

The new rank and badges for the CDS have also been created and he will don them from Wednesday.

Also Watch: India General Bipin Rawat: Will form strategy after assuming charge

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It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who broke the news to General Bipin Rawat about his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). "The Prime Minister broke the news to General Rawat during his farewell dinner at the Prime Minister's residence about his appointment," government sources said.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who broke the news to General Bipin Rawat about his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). "The Prime Minister broke the news to General Rawat during his farewell dinner at the Prime Minister's residence about his appointment," government sources said. Notably, Modi had announced the creation of the post of CDS in his Independence Day speech on August 15 this year. General Rawat received a farewell dinner by the Prime Minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi which was attended by senior members of his cabinet and armed forces officers on Monday night. His appointment was announced by the Defence Ministry around 9 PM (IST) last night after it was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. General Rawat becomes India's first CDS and will have his office in South Block ground floor while 3, Kamraj Marg in the Lutyens zone near Defence Ministry has been earmarked as his house. The new rank and badges for the CDS have also been created and he will don them from Wednesday. Also Watch: India General Bipin Rawat: Will form strategy after assuming charge ×

PM Modi broke news to General Rawat about appointment as first CDS

Indian armed forces not only ensure the protection of human rights of our own people but also of adversaries and deal with the prisoners of war as per the Geneva Conventions, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday.

He was addressing the interns and senior officers of the National Human Rights Commission on 'Preserving Human Rights in Times of War and Prisoners of War'.

He said the country's armed forces were disciplined and have the utmost respect for human rights laws.

According to a NHRC release, Army Chief said that the driving ethos of the Indian armed forces is "Insaniyat"( Humanity) and "Sharafat"( Decency) and they are extremely secular.

The Army Chief said there was a challenge of changing warfare tactics with the advent of technology.

He said that unlike the attack by any armed force, the terror attacks remain unaccountable in international law.

"Hence, the counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency operations have to be dealt in a manner of winning the hearts of the people by identifying and alienating the insurgents among them without collateral damage, which becomes very challenging and difficult", he said.

The Army chief said that Army Headquarters had created a human rights cell in 1993, which now is being upgraded to the level of a Directorate to be headed by an Additional Director General.

This will also have police personnel to address the complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces and facilitate related inquiries, he said.

General Rawat said that a new initiative has been taken in October this year by recruiting women jawans in Military Police Force.

He said that the Army takes along with it several police personnel in search operations, but keeping in view the concerns of women during such operations, the army has now decided to deploy the lady jawans of its Military Police force also.

He said that keeping in view provisions of human rights law and the importance of the protection of human rights, a court of inquiry is being held after every anti-insurgency operation and all records are maintained related to such operations.

Referring to the Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Army Chief said that the Act gives almost the same powers to the Army, which are also exercised by police and CRPF in connection with search and inquiry operations.

However, he said that over the years the army itself has diluted its application in its own way under the ten commandments issued by the Chief of Army Staff, which are to be strictly adhered by every soldier, and particularly those deployed for operations in anti-insurgency areas.

The Supreme Court guidelines on this are also being strictly followed by soldiers, who are given special training before their deployment in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, he said.

Earlier, NHRC Member Justice P.C. Pant gave an insight into various laws protecting human rights.&nbsp;

Indian armed forces not only ensure the protection of human rights of our own people but also of adversaries and deal with the prisoners of war as per the Geneva Conventions, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday.

Indian armed forces not only ensure the protection of human rights of our own people but also of adversaries and deal with the prisoners of war as per the Geneva Conventions, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Friday. He was addressing the interns and senior officers of the National Human Rights Commission on 'Preserving Human Rights in Times of War and Prisoners of War'. He said the country's armed forces were disciplined and have the utmost respect for human rights laws. According to a NHRC release, Army Chief said that the driving ethos of the Indian armed forces is "Insaniyat"( Humanity) and "Sharafat"( Decency) and they are extremely secular. The Army Chief said there was a challenge of changing warfare tactics with the advent of technology. He said that unlike the attack by any armed force, the terror attacks remain unaccountable in international law. "Hence, the counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency operations have to be dealt in a manner of winning the hearts of the people by identifying and alienating the insurgents among them without collateral damage, which becomes very challenging and difficult", he said. The Army chief said that Army Headquarters had created a human rights cell in 1993, which now is being upgraded to the level of a Directorate to be headed by an Additional Director General. This will also have police personnel to address the complaints of human rights violations against the armed forces and facilitate related inquiries, he said. General Rawat said that a new initiative has been taken in October this year by recruiting women jawans in Military Police Force. He said that the Army takes along with it several police personnel in search operations, but keeping in view the concerns of women during such operations, the army has now decided to deploy the lady jawans of its Military Police force also. He said that keeping in view provisions of human rights law and the importance of the protection of human rights, a court of inquiry is being held after every anti-insurgency operation and all records are maintained related to such operations. Referring to the Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Army Chief said that the Act gives almost the same powers to the Army, which are also exercised by police and CRPF in connection with search and inquiry operations. However, he said that over the years the army itself has diluted its application in its own way under the ten commandments issued by the Chief of Army Staff, which are to be strictly adhered by every soldier, and particularly those deployed for operations in anti-insurgency areas. The Supreme Court guidelines on this are also being strictly followed by soldiers, who are given special training before their deployment in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, he said. Earlier, NHRC Member Justice P.C. Pant gave an insight into various laws protecting human rights.

Indian armed forces ensure protection of human rights of adversaries also: General Rawat

Pakistan MI, ISI planning to mix poison in ration of forces, J&K CID issues warning

Pandit Nehru, first unfurled the National Flag from the ramparts of Red Fort, on 16 August 1947, a day after his famous &ldquo;Tryst with destiny&rdquo; speech. Ever since then, the political class has worked hard to make Indians believe that it was entirely their efforts that brought about India&rsquo;s independence from Britain. A corollary to this assumption, deeply ingrained over time, was that it was the British Indian Armed Forces which allowed the British Empire to rule the subcontinent for over two hundred years.&nbsp;

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Thus, the officers and men of the post-independence Armed Forces, which had evolved from its British roots, came to be seen as mercenaries as well as chief impediments in India&#39;s struggle for independence. His loathing for the military was reflected in the manner that Prime Minister Nehru and his colleagues treated the military with utter contempt and neglect. This was to a large extent tinged by the fear of being overthrown by his Generals, as had been the case with our neighbouring country and in many other newly independent states. This perception of the military was not only wholly incorrect but also ironical as it conveniently overlooked and even buried a simple yet compelling truth.&nbsp;

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<h5>What made the British to rethink was the military action of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) who launched an attack on eastern India with the help of Japan.</h5>
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While Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress may have ignited the fires for freedom, independence and nationalism among the common people, the tactics of non-violence and Satyagraha had hardly hurt the British intent to rule over its Empire. Rather, what made the British to rethink was the military action of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) who launched an attack on eastern India with the help of Japan. INA was organised by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when thirty thousand odd officers and men of the British Indian Army had willingly forsaken their earlier loyalties and joined Bose. It matters little today that their opposition was in complete contrast to the servility shown by the members of the Civil Services and the police forces towards their British masters.

The impact of the Red Fort trials of the RIN Mutineers and increasing incidents of indiscipline as well as the refusal to obey British Commanders within the Forces cannot be underestimated. For example, in February 1946 a soldier, Joginder Singh, was brought to Lahore Jail to begin a life sentence because, as the newspaper The Hindu of 22 Feb 1946 reported, &ldquo;Joginder Singh and some other Indians protested against the exhibition by the British military authorities of a film entitled &lsquo;Ganga Din&rsquo; at a cinema hall in Greece. When no notice was taken of their protest, Joginder Singh visited the cinema hall and attempted to disturb the show&rdquo;. &nbsp;As a matter of fact, he did much more; in his attempt to smash the projector he killed a British guard who tried to stop him. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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<h5>One is unaware as to what motivated Mr Nehru to declare this as India&#39;s Independence Day, since the Indian National Congress, in its Lahore Session in 1929, had actually declared 26 January as Independence Day and celebrated it from 1930 to 1946.</h5>
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Incidents such as these made it clear that the British Indian Army, the sword arm of the Empire, could no longer be trusted to do the bidding of its masters. It forced them to unceremoniously bail out while they still could. Thus, the British Government announced on 3rd June 1947 that it had accepted the idea of partitioning British India into two states and their Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The new Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, chose the second anniversary of Japan&#39;s surrender in World War II, 15 August, as the date of power transfer. One is unaware as to what motivated Mr Nehru to declare this as India&#39;s Independence Day, since the Indian National Congress, in its Lahore Session in 1929, had actually declared 26 January as Independence Day and celebrated it from 1930 to 1946.&nbsp;

This has, however, not stopped subsequent generations of politicians, with the assistance of a willing bureaucracy, from systematically cutting the military down to size by impinging on its powers, lowering its status and prestige while neglecting its requirements. The upshot, as is to be expected, has been an inability to get suitable volunteers, especially in the officer corps. This has led to a perceptible decline in standards, demoralisation within the rank and file, increasing distrust of the senior hierarchy, which is seen to be compromised and self-serving.&nbsp;

The dysfunctional relationship with the civilian bureaucracy that has interposed itself between the military and the political leadership has not helped either. Due to this, the Services continue to be held hostage by a moribund system with archaic processes that represent a suffocating straitjacket, disallowing it to deal freely with the complexities of modern warfare. This has led to deliberate neglect over the years, resulting in obsolete inventories, colossal shortages of critical equipment and ammunition. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Thus, as we celebrate our 70th Independence Day this month there is much to ponder over. Not only do we have an intractable and hostile neighbour in Pakistan, but more worrying is the sabre-rattling and relentless pinpricks from a risen and hostile China that, with the assistance of its &ldquo;all weather&rdquo; friend, is determined to keep India restricted to its immediate neighbourhood. It has also lost little time in fuelling and funding a host of insurgencies that have afflicted our North-Eastern States as well as Maoist insurgents who whittle away from within our heartland. There can be little doubt that our internal and external security environment today is both fragile and fraught with possibilities of events that can impact our territorial integrity and way of life.

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<h5>This has forced the military to take on a responsibility that is rightfully not theirs, and for which they are constantly exposed to uninformed scrutiny and a barrage of allegations.</h5>
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In all of this, the Indian Armed Forces find itself in an extremely precarious situation. As events have repeatedly shown, the paramilitary and Central Armed Police Forces are far from achieving the necessary levels of competence required to handle the insurgencies that have been inflicted upon us. This has forced the military to take on a responsibility that is rightfully not theirs, and for which they are constantly exposed to uninformed scrutiny and a barrage of allegations. The Courts too, in their enthusiasm to uphold a skewed version of human rights, have forced the military to confront terrorists and insurgents from within and without while the soldiers have their hands tied behind their backs.

As Prime Minister Modi stands on the ramparts of Red Fort for the third time, it is unlikely that he will have a change of heart towards the military. But he would do well to remember that it is much easier to unfurl the flag than to defend it. The latter calls for more than just empty promises, it calls for focus, resolves and visible action.

Defending the nation requires more than just empty promises, it calls for focus, resolve and visible action.

Pandit Nehru, first unfurled the National Flag from the ramparts of Red Fort, on 16 August 1947, a day after his famous “Tryst with destiny” speech. Ever since then, the political class has worked hard to make Indians believe that it was entirely their efforts that brought about India’s independence from Britain. A corollary to this assumption, deeply ingrained over time, was that it was the British Indian Armed Forces which allowed the British Empire to rule the subcontinent for over two hundred years. His loathing for the military was reflected in the manner that Prime Minister Nehru and his colleagues treated the military with utter contempt and neglect. × Thus, the officers and men of the post-independence Armed Forces, which had evolved from its British roots, came to be seen as mercenaries as well as chief impediments in India's struggle for independence. His loathing for the military was reflected in the manner that Prime Minister Nehru and his colleagues treated the military with utter contempt and neglect. This was to a large extent tinged by the fear of being overthrown by his Generals, as had been the case with our neighbouring country and in many other newly independent states. This perception of the military was not only wholly incorrect but also ironical as it conveniently overlooked and even buried a simple yet compelling truth. What made the British to rethink was the military action of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) who launched an attack on eastern India with the help of Japan. × While Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress may have ignited the fires for freedom, independence and nationalism among the common people, the tactics of non-violence and Satyagraha had hardly hurt the British intent to rule over its Empire. Rather, what made the British to rethink was the military action of the Azad Hind Fauj (INA) who launched an attack on eastern India with the help of Japan. INA was organised by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose when thirty thousand odd officers and men of the British Indian Army had willingly forsaken their earlier loyalties and joined Bose. It matters little today that their opposition was in complete contrast to the servility shown by the members of the Civil Services and the police forces towards their British masters. The impact of the Red Fort trials of the RIN Mutineers and increasing incidents of indiscipline as well as the refusal to obey British Commanders within the Forces cannot be underestimated. For example, in February 1946 a soldier, Joginder Singh, was brought to Lahore Jail to begin a life sentence because, as the newspaper The Hindu of 22 Feb 1946 reported, “Joginder Singh and some other Indians protested against the exhibition by the British military authorities of a film entitled ‘Ganga Din’ at a cinema hall in Greece. When no notice was taken of their protest, Joginder Singh visited the cinema hall and attempted to disturb the show”. As a matter of fact, he did much more; in his attempt to smash the projector he killed a British guard who tried to stop him. One is unaware as to what motivated Mr Nehru to declare this as India's Independence Day, since the Indian National Congress, in its Lahore Session in 1929, had actually declared 26 January as Independence Day and celebrated it from 1930 to 1946. × Incidents such as these made it clear that the British Indian Army, the sword arm of the Empire, could no longer be trusted to do the bidding of its masters. It forced them to unceremoniously bail out while they still could. Thus, the British Government announced on 3rd June 1947 that it had accepted the idea of partitioning British India into two states and their Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act of 1947. The new Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, chose the second anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, 15 August, as the date of power transfer. One is unaware as to what motivated Mr Nehru to declare this as India's Independence Day, since the Indian National Congress, in its Lahore Session in 1929, had actually declared 26 January as Independence Day and celebrated it from 1930 to 1946. This has, however, not stopped subsequent generations of politicians, with the assistance of a willing bureaucracy, from systematically cutting the military down to size by impinging on its powers, lowering its status and prestige while neglecting its requirements. The upshot, as is to be expected, has been an inability to get suitable volunteers, especially in the officer corps. This has led to a perceptible decline in standards, demoralisation within the rank and file, increasing distrust of the senior hierarchy, which is seen to be compromised and self-serving. The dysfunctional relationship with the civilian bureaucracy that has interposed itself between the military and the political leadership has not helped either. Due to this, the Services continue to be held hostage by a moribund system with archaic processes that represent a suffocating straitjacket, disallowing it to deal freely with the complexities of modern warfare. This has led to deliberate neglect over the years, resulting in obsolete inventories, colossal shortages of critical equipment and ammunition. Thus, as we celebrate our 70th Independence Day this month there is much to ponder over. Not only do we have an intractable and hostile neighbour in Pakistan, but more worrying is the sabre-rattling and relentless pinpricks from a risen and hostile China that, with the assistance of its “all weather” friend, is determined to keep India restricted to its immediate neighbourhood. It has also lost little time in fuelling and funding a host of insurgencies that have afflicted our North-Eastern States as well as Maoist insurgents who whittle away from within our heartland. There can be little doubt that our internal and external security environment today is both fragile and fraught with possibilities of events that can impact our territorial integrity and way of life. This has forced the military to take on a responsibility that is rightfully not theirs, and for which they are constantly exposed to uninformed scrutiny and a barrage of allegations. × In all of this, the Indian Armed Forces find itself in an extremely precarious situation. As events have repeatedly shown, the paramilitary and Central Armed Police Forces are far from achieving the necessary levels of competence required to handle the insurgencies that have been inflicted upon us. This has forced the military to take on a responsibility that is rightfully not theirs, and for which they are constantly exposed to uninformed scrutiny and a barrage of allegations. The Courts too, in their enthusiasm to uphold a skewed version of human rights, have forced the military to confront terrorists and insurgents from within and without while the soldiers have their hands tied behind their backs. As Prime Minister Modi stands on the ramparts of Red Fort for the third time, it is unlikely that he will have a change of heart towards the military. But he would do well to remember that it is much easier to unfurl the flag than to defend it. The latter calls for more than just empty promises, it calls for focus, resolves and visible action.

Indian Armed Forces and 70 years of independence

The killing of a militant commander by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir four months ago led to a curfew in the Valley and a spurt of hatred towards the Indian armed forces in the region. The violence that ensued once again put to fore the &ldquo;Kashmir issue&rdquo;, India&rsquo;s bone of contention with Pakistan.

The attack by militants on an army base in the region&rsquo;s Uri sector resulted in a scaled-up cross-border shelling, leading to Indian Army&#39;s &ldquo;surgical strikes&rdquo; in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The sentiment against the Indian defence and armed forces was cast aside by a sudden &ldquo;patriotic&rdquo; fervour in their support. But while the nation was busy judging&nbsp;patriotism based on whether one backed the move by the Indian Army or was against it, and hailed the personnel killed in Uri as &ldquo;martyrs&rdquo; and &ldquo;bravehearts&rdquo;, the recent suicide of an ex-army soldier over the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) has yet again fuelled the love-hate relationship India has with its forces.

What is One Rank One Pension?

Last year, army veterans took to the streets, organised massive protests and hunger strikes in the national capital. They were calling for One Rank One Pension. Simply put, they demanded the same pension for the same rank and the same length of service.

Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, who was among those spearheading the protests, explains: &ldquo;Look at it this way. A colonel retiring in 1980s draws lesser pension than one retiring in 2014. Both have retired on the same rank and have served for the same number of years. The only difference is the latter has seen several pay reviews.&rdquo;

Following the protests, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the One Rank One Pension scheme on September 6, 2015 but the ex-serviceman said that it did not address their concerns and called it a &ldquo;diluted&rdquo; version.

Close to 2,000 medals were collected in a &ldquo;Medal Wapsi&rdquo; drive and given to the collector&rsquo;s office in the national capital on the 149th day of protest.

The OROP was implemented after 40 years, yet protests continue.

In a statement given last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the first installment of Rs 5,500 ($82) was paid towards OROP. So why are the ex-servicemen still unhappy?

&ldquo;What has been implemented is not the actual OROP. It is at best an enhancement of the pension system. It is one rank five pensions and not one pension. The anomalies still hold;&nbsp;senior personnel will get lesser pension than their juniors. This kind of a system is legally wrong, unfair and constitutionally unacceptable. It&rsquo;s authoritarian,&rdquo; says Singh.

The government said that the scheme is effective July 1, 2014, with 2013 as the base year, but ex-servicemen demand OROP from April 1, 2014 and 2015 as the base year. The government called for a review every five years, but the veterans demand an annual review.

However, what has angered veterans the most is&nbsp;the proposal by the government to keep those who took &ldquo;voluntary retirement&rdquo; out of the scheme.

&ldquo;A good 40 per cent of our serviceman retire early because the army demands a young force. Other countries like the&nbsp;US, Ukraine have acts for the defence services where the post-retirement needs of soldiers are taken care of. In India, most of those who join the army are from the villages. They get deployed for about 23 to 25 years and then are sent back to fend for themselves. They start farming or become security guards. If this is not arrogance and apathy towards the Indian soldier, what is it? We don&rsquo;t protest for money but for justice and respect,&rdquo;&nbsp;says&nbsp;Singh.

A serving Indian Air Force officer, not wanting to be named, says that the &quot;political mileage parties try to gain&rdquo; and &ldquo;the government&rsquo;s favouritism to bureaucracy&rdquo; is the reason behind the skewed pension system.

&ldquo;Much politics has been done around OROP. Sonia Gandhi favoured the demand but it was not implemented in the 12 years her party was in power. Same is with Narendra Modi, who promised OROP when he was campaigning to be prime minister. But under his government veterans were on the streets, demanding their rights. Everyone wants to keep bureaucrats thriving and defence under their thumb,&rdquo; he says referring to the 1973 decision to increase the pension of civilian government employees from 33 per cent to 50 per cent and decrease that of the armed forces from 70 per cent to 50 per cent of the last pay drawn.

There are other armed forces too

The demand for OROP has also been raised by the paramilitary forces. But unlike India&#39;s army, navy and air force, these forces that include the Central Reserve Police force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) and the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) were denied pension from &nbsp;2004 and get a contributory pension instead.

There are over 1,300,000&nbsp;paramiltary personnel&nbsp;embroiled in a larger debate.&nbsp;The government fails to recognise them as &ldquo;armed force&rdquo; and calls them &ldquo;armed police forces&rdquo;, and thus they do not receive several post-retirement benefits that the defence forces receive. There is also refusal to list these forces under the group of &ldquo;organised forces&rdquo;, a case set to be heard in India&#39;s Supreme Court in January 2017.

&ldquo;We were always referred to as the paramilitary forces. The change in nomenclature done by the previous home minister P Chidambaram by passing an overnight rule is unconstitutional. As per article 246 of the Indian Constitution, our genesis is the same as that of the defence forces. The individual acts of paramilitary forces also prove our armed forces status. These are all acts in the constitution and a rule cannot surpass an act. The police is state subject and we are listed under the union,&rdquo; says inspector-general (retd) of CRPF and chairman of National Coordination Committee of Ex-Central Paramilitary Forces Personnel Welfare Association, VPS Panwar.

The paramilitary forces do not receive special pensions like the Military Service Pay&nbsp;given to the army for conditions serving in adverse conditions.

&ldquo;The BSF and ITBP are deployed in border areas with army cut-off from family and a social life in difficult terrain but while the army has perks of a military service pay, BSF and ITBP don&rsquo;t,&rdquo; says Panwar.

According to data provided by the National Coordination Committee of Ex-Central Paramilitary Forces Personnel Welfare Association, from the year 2009 to 2014, a total of 6,342 personnel have died in deaths attributable to working conditions, which includes 447 cases of suicide and 57 killed in cases of fratricide.

Though they have their own cadre, these forces are headed by Indian Police Services (IPS) officers. Many ex-paramilitary personnel say that the IPS officers fail to project the grievances of the forces they command and cite bureaucratic intervention as a problem.

According to data, in the last decade, 940 paramilitary personnel have been killed in action while 7,475 have received severe injuries.

&ldquo;The central paramilitary forces should be granted the status and benefits of ex-servicemen, martyrs and war widows, which is currently denied. We fight the enemy from within and on borders, our call of duty should not be overlooked.&rdquo;&nbsp;says Panwar.

(WION)

The government recently announced what ex-servicemen call a 'diluted version' of the One Rank One Pension scheme, WION's Dharvi Vaid reports

The killing of a militant commander by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir four months ago led to a curfew in the Valley and a spurt of hatred towards the Indian armed forces in the region. The violence that ensued once again put to fore the “Kashmir issue”, India’s bone of contention with Pakistan. The attack by militants on an army base in the region’s Uri sector resulted in a scaled-up cross-border shelling, leading to Indian Army's “surgical strikes” in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The sentiment against the Indian defence and armed forces was cast aside by a sudden “patriotic” fervour in their support. But while the nation was busy judging patriotism based on whether one backed the move by the Indian Army or was against it, and hailed the personnel killed in Uri as “martyrs” and “bravehearts”, the recent suicide of an ex-army soldier over the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) has yet again fuelled the love-hate relationship India has with its forces. What is One Rank One Pension? Last year, army veterans took to the streets, organised massive protests and hunger strikes in the national capital. They were calling for One Rank One Pension. Simply put, they demanded the same pension for the same rank and the same length of service. Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, who was among those spearheading the protests, explains: “Look at it this way. A colonel retiring in 1980s draws lesser pension than one retiring in 2014. Both have retired on the same rank and have served for the same number of years. The only difference is the latter has seen several pay reviews.” Following the protests, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the One Rank One Pension scheme on September 6, 2015 but the ex-serviceman said that it did not address their concerns and called it a “diluted” version. Close to 2,000 medals were collected in a “Medal Wapsi” drive and given to the collector’s office in the national capital on the 149th day of protest. The OROP was implemented after 40 years, yet protests continue. In a statement given last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the first installment of Rs 5,500 ($82) was paid towards OROP. So why are the ex-servicemen still unhappy? “What has been implemented is not the actual OROP. It is at best an enhancement of the pension system. It is one rank five pensions and not one pension. The anomalies still hold; senior personnel will get lesser pension than their juniors. This kind of a system is legally wrong, unfair and constitutionally unacceptable. It’s authoritarian,” says Singh. The government said that the scheme is effective July 1, 2014, with 2013 as the base year, but ex-servicemen demand OROP from April 1, 2014 and 2015 as the base year. The government called for a review every five years, but the veterans demand an annual review. However, what has angered veterans the most is the proposal by the government to keep those who took “voluntary retirement” out of the scheme. “A good 40 per cent of our serviceman retire early because the army demands a young force. Other countries like the US, Ukraine have acts for the defence services where the post-retirement needs of soldiers are taken care of. In India, most of those who join the army are from the villages. They get deployed for about 23 to 25 years and then are sent back to fend for themselves. They start farming or become security guards. If this is not arrogance and apathy towards the Indian soldier, what is it? We don’t protest for money but for justice and respect,” says Singh. A serving Indian Air Force officer, not wanting to be named, says that the "political mileage parties try to gain” and “the government’s favouritism to bureaucracy” is the reason behind the skewed pension system. “Much politics has been done around OROP. Sonia Gandhi favoured the demand but it was not implemented in the 12 years her party was in power. Same is with Narendra Modi, who promised OROP when he was campaigning to be prime minister. But under his government veterans were on the streets, demanding their rights. Everyone wants to keep bureaucrats thriving and defence under their thumb,” he says referring to the 1973 decision to increase the pension of civilian government employees from 33 per cent to 50 per cent and decrease that of the armed forces from 70 per cent to 50 per cent of the last pay drawn. There are other armed forces too The demand for OROP has also been raised by the paramilitary forces. But unlike India's army, navy and air force, these forces that include the Central Reserve Police force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) and the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) were denied pension from 2004 and get a contributory pension instead. There are over 1,300,000 paramiltary personnel embroiled in a larger debate. The government fails to recognise them as “armed force” and calls them “armed police forces”, and thus they do not receive several post-retirement benefits that the defence forces receive. There is also refusal to list these forces under the group of “organised forces”, a case set to be heard in India's Supreme Court in January 2017. “We were always referred to as the paramilitary forces. The change in nomenclature done by the previous home minister P Chidambaram by passing an overnight rule is unconstitutional. As per article 246 of the Indian Constitution, our genesis is the same as that of the defence forces. The individual acts of paramilitary forces also prove our armed forces status. These are all acts in the constitution and a rule cannot surpass an act. The police is state subject and we are listed under the union,” says inspector-general (retd) of CRPF and chairman of National Coordination Committee of Ex-Central Paramilitary Forces Personnel Welfare Association, VPS Panwar. The paramilitary forces do not receive special pensions like the Military Service Pay given to the army for conditions serving in adverse conditions. “The BSF and ITBP are deployed in border areas with army cut-off from family and a social life in difficult terrain but while the army has perks of a military service pay, BSF and ITBP don’t,” says Panwar. According to data provided by the National Coordination Committee of Ex-Central Paramilitary Forces Personnel Welfare Association, from the year 2009 to 2014, a total of 6,342 personnel have died in deaths attributable to working conditions, which includes 447 cases of suicide and 57 killed in cases of fratricide. Though they have their own cadre, these forces are headed by Indian Police Services (IPS) officers. Many ex-paramilitary personnel say that the IPS officers fail to project the grievances of the forces they command and cite bureaucratic intervention as a problem. According to data, in the last decade, 940 paramilitary personnel have been killed in action while 7,475 have received severe injuries. “The central paramilitary forces should be granted the status and benefits of ex-servicemen, martyrs and war widows, which is currently denied. We fight the enemy from within and on borders, our call of duty should not be overlooked.” says Panwar. (WION)

Pension for Indian armed forces: The politics and bureaucracy

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