Rajanth Singh on Saturday took charge as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnath-singh-moves-to-south-block-gets-defence-ministry-223127">defence minister</a> and immediately held a meeting with the top military brass.

Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and top officials of the ministry accorded a warm welcome to Singh.

After taking charge, the former home minister held a meeting with Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and newly appointed Navy chief Karambir Singh.

The defence secretary and several other senior officials of the ministry were also present at the meeting.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday announced portfolios for 24 cabinet ministers, 9 ministers of state with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State (MoS) in Union Cabinet for the 17th Lok Sabha.

Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, incursion attempts by Pakistan, and the emergence of Islamic State were among the top challenges faced by Singh as Home Minister.

As India's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnath-singh-moves-to-south-block-gets-defence-ministry-223127">&nbsp;new defence minister, Rajnath Singh</a>'s most crucial challenge will be to speed up the long-delayed modernisation of the three services besides ensuring overall coherence in their combat readiness.&nbsp;

His another challenge will be to ensure peace and tranquillity along the frontier with China while developing required military infrastructure to deal with any possible Chinese hostility.&nbsp;

Rajanth Singh on Saturday took charge as the defence minister and immediately held a meeting with the top military brass. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and top officials of the ministry accorded a warm welcome to Singh.

Rajanth Singh on Saturday took charge as the defence minister and immediately held a meeting with the top military brass. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and top officials of the ministry accorded a warm welcome to Singh. After taking charge, the former home minister held a meeting with Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and newly appointed Navy chief Karambir Singh. The defence secretary and several other senior officials of the ministry were also present at the meeting. The Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday announced portfolios for 24 cabinet ministers, 9 ministers of state with independent charge and 24 Ministers of State (MoS) in Union Cabinet for the 17th Lok Sabha. Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, incursion attempts by Pakistan, and the emergence of Islamic State were among the top challenges faced by Singh as Home Minister. As India's new defence minister, Rajnath Singh's most crucial challenge will be to speed up the long-delayed modernisation of the three services besides ensuring overall coherence in their combat readiness. His another challenge will be to ensure peace and tranquillity along the frontier with China while developing required military infrastructure to deal with any possible Chinese hostility.

Rajnath Singh takes charge as defence minister

India and Sri Lanka Monday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including training Sri Lankan military personnel, as foreign secretary Sanjay Mitra called on President Maithripala Sirisena.

Mitra arrived on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday during which he will participate in several high-level defence cooperation meetings.

He will also meet his counterpart Hemasiri Fernando and chief of defence staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, besides visiting the central town of Kandy and the north-central town of Anuradhapura.

India and Sri Lanka have agreed for enhanced cooperation in the areas of security and defence including regional security, said a statement from the president Sirisena's office.

The statement came after Sirisena's meeting with Mitra here this morning, it said.

India has agreed to train Sri Lankan defence personnel, it added.

Training of Sri Lankan defence personnel in India became an explosive issue during former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha's time.

She had demanded the expulsion of two Sri Lankan officers from the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington in the State.

India and Sri Lanka Monday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including training Sri Lankan military personnel, as foreign secretary Sanjay Mitra called on President Maithripala Sirisena.

India and Sri Lanka Monday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, including training Sri Lankan military personnel, as foreign secretary Sanjay Mitra called on President Maithripala Sirisena. Mitra arrived on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Sunday during which he will participate in several high-level defence cooperation meetings. He will also meet his counterpart Hemasiri Fernando and chief of defence staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, besides visiting the central town of Kandy and the north-central town of Anuradhapura. India and Sri Lanka have agreed for enhanced cooperation in the areas of security and defence including regional security, said a statement from the president Sirisena's office. The statement came after Sirisena's meeting with Mitra here this morning, it said. India has agreed to train Sri Lankan defence personnel, it added. Training of Sri Lankan defence personnel in India became an explosive issue during former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha's time. She had demanded the expulsion of two Sri Lankan officers from the Defence Staff Services College in Wellington in the State.

India, Sri Lanka agree for greater defence cooperation

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Rajnath Singh takes charge as defence minister

India, Sri Lanka agree for greater defence cooperation