India News
Modi govt unveils Army reforms blueprint with redeployment of 57000 officers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The committee headed by Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar had given 99 recommendations to the central government in its report on December 2016, out of which the Union Ministry of Defence has decided to implement 65 suggestions
At a time when India’s defence capabilities against an aggressive China and a perennially problematic Pakistan have attracted increased scrutiny, the Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved reforms within the Indian Army to enhance combat capability of the forces.
“Restructuring of the Indian Army is aimed at enhancing combat capability in a manner that the officers will be used for improving operational preparedness and civilians will be redeployed in different wings of the armed forces for improving efficiency,” stated a press release issued after the Cabinet meet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The first phase of the “far reaching reforms” involves redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers and rebalancing defence expenditure in a phased manner by December 2019 based on the Lt Gen Shekatkar committee.
The committee headed by Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar had given 99 recommendations to the central government in its report on December 2016, out of which the Union Ministry of Defence has decided to implement 65 suggestions, according to a statement issued by the high-powered Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, who also holds the additional charge of the defence portfolio, told reporters after the CCS meeting that the reforms process should not be linked to the Doklam standoff with China as the groundwork for it had begun much before the Chinese transgression. “A committee led by Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (retd) was formed much before this (Doklam stand-off) and its recommendations were under consideration for long,” Jaitley said.
Under the first phase of the reforms process, the government will do away with 39 military farms and several Army postal departments in peace locations. There will be optimisation of signal establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger of Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.
A statement released by the Union defence ministry also noted: “Restructuring by the Indian Army is aimed at enhancing combat capability in a manner that the officers/JCOs/ORs will be used for improving operational preparedness and civilians will be redeployed in different wings of the armed forces for improving efficiency.”
Further, the government will also undertake restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include base workshops, advance base workshops and station workshops in the field Army. There will also be redeployment of ordnance echelons to include vehicle depots, ordnance depots and central ordnance depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.
The reforms will also aim for better utilisation of supply and transport echelons and animal transport units. Quality of clerical staff and drivers engaged with the Army will also be improved along with the efficiency of National Cadet Corps.
The Lt Gen Shekatkar committee was given the mandate to recommend measures for enhancing the Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure of the Armed Forces with an aim to increase “teeth to tail ratio”, stated the Cabinet press release. The “teeth-to-tail” ratio refers to the amount of supply and support personnel (termed as tail) for each combat soldier (tooth).
While addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference in 2015, Narendra Modi had expressed concerns about a large, lumbering military. “At a time when major powers are reducing their forces and rely more on technology, we are still constantly seeking to expand the size of our forces. Modernisation and expansion of forces at the same time is a difficult and unnecessary goal,” the Prime Minister had said.
It is pertinent to note that with over 38,000 officers and 11.38 lakh soldiers, the Indian Army is the third largest in the world.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Congress accuses PM Modi of communal campaigning, questions his silence on key issues like caste census, reservations
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh’s attack came over Modi’s remarks in an interview to the media in which he had said that he has never uttered a word against minorities, and the BJP has not just today but never acted against them.
The Congress on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been indulging in polarisation throughout the election and has prepared a communal pitch, but Congress refused to play on that and pursued its paach nyay agenda. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh’s attack came over Modi’s remarks in an interview to the media in which he had said that he has never uttered a word against minorities, and the BJP has not just today but never acted against them.
Jairam Ramesh said that PM Modi’s entire campaign from April 19 has been based on communalisation with the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric throughout and has not talked about Viksit Bharat, issues of the farmers, Modi ki guarantee, women, youth workers, SCs, STs and OBCs.
Speaking about the remarks made by PM Modi on minorities, Ramesh said what nonsense was he talking about? He further added the prime minister is fast losing his memory and he has never had any adherence to truth. Ramesh called PM Modi a jhoothjeevi and said PM Modi does not remember what he said the day before and then claims that he never said it.
Ramesh said the prime minister had raised the issue of Muslim League imprint on the Congress manifesto, the mangalsutra remarks and the allegation that the Congress will give reservations on the basis of religion, which are all bogus statements.
He said this is the prime minister who, when asked some years ago whether he had any remorse at the killings during the Gujarat riots, said even when a small puppy comes under a car, one feels bad. This is the language that he had been using. Ramesh claimed that when Atal Bihari Vajapayee became the prime minister, L K Advani and company wanted a committee to review the basic structure of the Constitution. Ramesh said Congress boycotted that commission and this has always been the objective of the BJP and the RSS.
India News
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal criticises Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark on AAP
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks, where he allegedly claimed that maximum supporters of the Chief Minister are from Pakistan. The AAP national convenor asked the Union Home Minister not to abuse the people of the country and instead abuse him.
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said there were less than 500 people at the meeting held by Amit in Delhi yesterday. Mentioning that people of Delhi voted for AAP with 62 seats, Arvind Kejriwal questioned if all the people from Delhi are Pakistanis.
He added that in Punjab, people voted AAP to power in 92 out of 117 seats. He also mentioned that the people of Gujarat have given us 14 per cent votes. He then questioned whether all these people are Pakistanis?
Furthermore, he also stated that in Panchayat and Municipality elections in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and in several parts of the country, the Aam Aadmi Party has got elected as Panch, Sarpanch, Municipal Mayor, Councillors.
Sharing a video on social media, Arvind Kejriwal argued that Amit Shah’s behavior was unacceptable. Despite BJP’s refusal, the Delhi CM said that the Prime Minister has chosen Amit Shah as his successor, but he has turned so arrogant at this that he has started abusing and threatening people.
Arvind Kejriwal added that Amit Shah will not be the Prime Minister because the Bharatiya Janata Party will be losing the Lok Sabha elections. He asserted that Amit Shah will not become PM because, on June 4, people are not voting for the BJP. The BJP is on its way out, and it should stop being so arrogant and stop abusing people, he continued.
Arvind Kejriwal further asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who also came to Delhi, that he should focus on the enemies within his party instead of abusing him.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections
UP CM Yogi Adityanath says INDIA bloc is planning to loot country by dividing people on caste, religion
The chief minister said that people have come to know about the intentions of the INDIA bloc, as a result they are saying together in one voice — Phir ek baar Modi sarkaar, ab ki baar, 400 paar.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attacked the opposition on Tuesday and said that the INDIAlliance is planning to loot the country by dividing the people on the basis of caste and religion. Adityanath was addressing an election rally in Gaisdi where he was seeking votes for the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Shravasti Saket Mishra and the party’s nominee for by-elections in Gaisdi Lok Sabha seat Shailesh Kumar Singh Shailu.
He said the BJP is serving the public under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they do not practice discrimination and are working with the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. At the same time, INDI alliance wants to loot the country by dividing the country’s people on the basis of caste and religion, which BJP will not allow to happen.
The chief minister said that people have come to know about the intentions of the INDIA bloc, as a result they are saying together in one voice — Phir ek baar Modi sarkaar, ab ki baar, 400 paar. The UP CM said the people are replying to them (INDIA bloc) and saying that they will bring back those who have brought Ram.
He added that the INDIA Bloc is making malicious attempts to encroach on the rights of people in Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Backward Castes categories. He said everyone should remain cautious and all alert about the conspiracy being hatched by INDIAlliance. Adityanath sharpened his attack on the INDIA bloc and said the opposition parties are using all kinds of tricks to come back to power.
Adityanath pointed out that the deeds of the opposition parties are not hidden from the public. They are planning to conduct a survey of the property of people for the removal of poverty from the country. He said everyone should remain cautious and alert as the opposition parties are planning to implement inheritance tax which is similar to Jaziya imposed by Mughal emperor Aurengzeb.
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