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Rs3600 crore spent but ‘Made in India’Akash missiles fail tests, not installed even 7 years after signing of contract : CAG

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Rs3600 crore spent but ‘Made in India’Akash missiles fail tests, not installed even 7 years after signing of contract : CAG

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Deficiencies in the surface-to-air missiles pose an operational risk during hostilities, says the national auditor

In a major setback to India’s defence preparedness at a time when the country is facing rising tensions on its borders with Pakistan and China, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) tabled in Parliament on Friday claims that at least a third of the ‘Made in India’ Akash surface-to-air missiles have failed basic tests and are unreliable, unusable and untested.

“Based on the threat perception, Government of India in 2010 had envisaged induction of strategic missile system for the IAF in the ‘S’ sector to create deterrence. This deterrence capability was planned to be put in place between June 2013 and December 2015 in a phased manner,” the report said, adding, “but till date, even after four years this urgently needed capability has not been created and the strategic objective remains unachieved.”

Although the CAG does not expressly name the indigenously made surface-to-air missile, all references to the weapon point towards the Akash missles that were developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) produced by the state-run Bharat Electronics. The damning report states: “the missiles fell short of the target, had lower than the required velocity, and there was malfunctioning of critical unit” and that though Rs 3,600 crores have been paid to the manufacturer, none of the missile systems are installed at the six designated sites even though it has been seven years since the contract was signed.

The Army had ordered two regiments of the missile comprising six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles for Rs 14,180 crore.

The report said that as many as a third of the missiles failed the basic tests. Of the 20 missiles tested, six failed, putting the failure ratio at around 30%. The quality issues found in the test were:

The missiles fell short of the target

Had lower than required velocity

Critical units malfunctioned

Short lifespan

Apart from the quality perspective, the report also flagged prolonged delay in its installation along the India-China border because of non-completion of related infrastructure projects. The projects include storage facilities, workshops and ramp structures. Although work was nearly complete at two bases, the Indian Air Force had not taken over these buildings because of defects in construction. In the remaining four sites progress was below 45 per cent as of October 2016.

According to reports, Army has made it clear that it does not want any more Akash regiment after it gets the ordered ones as the missile does not meet its operational requirements. Instead, the Indian Army this year showed interest in Israel’s quick reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cricket news

T20 World Cup: Co-host West Indies receives terror threat from Pakistan

Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Jonny Graves said that the safety and security of everyone at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 is their number one priority.

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North Pakistan had issued a terror threat against the West Indies, who are co-hosting the T20 World Cup today, May 6. However, West Indies (CWI) assured the public that every safety measure has been done.

The Caribbean islands have received warnings about possible terror threats coming from North Pakistan, according to a trustworthy source with firsthand knowledge of the circumstances. From June 1 to June 29, the US and the West Indies will host the T20 World Cup.

World Cup matches in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago will take place in the West Indies. In addition, there are matches in the US cities of Florida, New York, and Texas; however, there appears to be no danger to the games in the US. Barbados will host the final after the two semifinals are held in Trinidad and Guyana.

A source said that they are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining close communication with relevant authorities. Continuous evaluation of security measures is underway to ensure appropriate plans are in place to mitigate any identified risks, they added.

The severity of the problem has increased with the assignment of blame for the danger to IS Khorasan. Trinidad Prime Minister Keith Rowley said that security forces have protocols in place to handle any threats to matches.

As per the report, the Barbados regional security officials are monitoring potential threats to the ICC event in addition to the fact that intelligence of a potential threat to the World Cup has been received through Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) through the media group Nashir Pakistan.

Regarding India, the Men in Blue will face off against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York in their season-opening match. On June 9, they will play their next game at the same location against their bitter rivals, Pakistan. The team captained by Rohit Sharma will play the United States in their subsequent game in New York, and then they will play Canada in their last group-stage encounter at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

PM Modi says expiry date of BJD government in Odisha is June 4

The prime minister was addressing an election rally in Odisha’s Behrampur. The state of Odisha is going to Assembly as well as general elections simultaneously starting May 13.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that 2 Yagya are taking place together in Odisha – one to form a government in India and the other in the state. He was confident that the BJP will form the double-engine government in Odisha for the first time. The prime minister was addressing an election rally in Odisha’s Behrampur. The state of Odisha is going to Assembly as well as general elections simultaneously starting May 13. The counting of votes of both elections is going to take place on June 4.

PM Modi added that enthusiasm of the people shows that the double-engine government is going to be formed in Odisha for the first time. He further asserted that BJP does what it says. Therefore, after forming the government here, they will implement the declarations made in the manifesto with full force and this is Modi’s guarantee.

The prime minister further added that the expiry date of the BJD government in Odisha is written as June 4.  He said the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate for Odisha will be decided on 6th June. PM Modi predicted that the swearing-in ceremony of the BJP Chief Minister will be held in Bhubaneswar on June 10. He said today he had come to invite the people of Odisha to the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister of the BJP government in the state.

PM Modi attacked Congress and Naveen Patnaik’s BJD and said that the people of the rich state have remained poor and both the parties are responsible for it. He said in Odisha, it was Congress for around 50 years, and BJD for around 25 years. The prime minister said everyone has seen the result. He added Odisha has a fertile land, mineral resources, sea coasts, a trade centre like that of Berhampur, culture, heritage and still, the people of this rich Odisha have remained poor. He asked who is responsible for this sin? The answer is Congress and BJD.

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India News

ED raids Jharkhand minister’s secretary, recovers Rs 20 crore from house help

Jharkhand minister’s secretary raided by ED, huge amount of cash recovered.

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The Enforcement Directorate on Monday, May 6, started conducting raids at several Ranchi sites, including the home of Sanjiv Lal, the minister for Jharkhand Alamgir Alam’s personal secretary. A substantial sum of money, estimated to be between Rs 20 to Rs 30 crore, was taken from Sanjiv Lal’s house help.

The majority of the money is in notes worth Rs 500, and authorities have also found some jewellery with it.

Alamgir Alam who is the minister for Rural Development in Jharkhand. The 70-year-old Congress leader serves as the legislator for the Pakur seat in Jharkhand.

Video captured officers from the central investigation unit removing bundles of banknotes from suitcases in a room.

In its investigation into reported corruption in Jharkhand’s rural development department, the ED has made headway. The chief engineer of the department, Virendra Ram, was taken into custody in February 2023 in relation to a money laundering case involving possible anomalies in the execution of government projects.

In November 2019, the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed a formal complaint after apprehending junior engineer Suresh Prasad Verma for receiving a bribe. A substantial quantity of cash was found in a Verma-owned home that his cousin Alok Ranjan, who is connected to Virendra Ram, was occupying during the ACB’s investigation.

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