ID :
108030
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/108030
The shortlink copeid
Highest priority to modernisation of armed forces: President
New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Indian Government Monday said
it would accord the highest priority to modernisation of the
country's defence by providing its armed forces with the
latest weaponry, equipment and platforms.
"Government is fully committed to the modernisation of
the armed forces. We will accord the highest priority to
modernisation programmes to equip our armed forces with the
required weaponry, equipment and platforms," President of
India Pratibha Patil told Parliament.
In her customary address to the joint sitting of the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the two Houses of the Indian
Parliament, to mark the beginning of the Budget session, she
hailed the recent successful test of Agni-III missile and the
induction of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank into the
Army as examples of capability demonstration and
self-reliance.
"The successful launch of the Agni-III missile is a
shining example of the capabilities of our scientists and
engineers who deserve full praise.
"Efforts to enhance our technological self-reliance
received a new impetus with the commencement of the handing
over of the main battle tank, Arjun to the Indian Army," she
added.
Declaring that the nation was proud of its armed forces,
she said they had distinguished themselves in preserving the
country’s unity and territorial integrity and in defending the
borders.
On the issue of welfare of personnel, Patil cited the
establishment of an Armed Forces Tribunal for adjudication of
complaints and disputes regarding service matters and other
appeals.
"The government has accepted the recommendations
regarding substantial improvements in the pensionary benefits
of personnel below officers rank and commissioned officers,"
she noted.
The Indian government's commitment to the armed forces
modernisation comes at a time when the country's Army, Navy
and the Air Force's plan to induct latest weapons have been
delayed.
While the Army has been waiting for modern towed,
self-propelled and light artillery guns for the last two
decades, the Indian government had agreed to the trials of
these weapons systems only recently.
The nod for the trials came after the country's Law
Ministry agreed to a company, blacklisted following the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) naming it in a
corruption case against former Ordnance Factories Board chief
Sudipto Ghosh, being part of the tests, pending contract
awarding.
The Indian Navy's plans to have Admiral Gorshkov aircraft
carrier has now been rescheduled to 2012 due to slow pace of
work at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia, which has been
demanding USD 2.9 billion instead of the originally contracted
USD 974 million for the warship. It is also facing a delay in
construction of second line of diesel-powered submarines.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is awaiting a decision on the
126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) which has only
reached the flight trails stage and is now likely to be
inducted only by 2015. PTI NCB
RDM
it would accord the highest priority to modernisation of the
country's defence by providing its armed forces with the
latest weaponry, equipment and platforms.
"Government is fully committed to the modernisation of
the armed forces. We will accord the highest priority to
modernisation programmes to equip our armed forces with the
required weaponry, equipment and platforms," President of
India Pratibha Patil told Parliament.
In her customary address to the joint sitting of the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the two Houses of the Indian
Parliament, to mark the beginning of the Budget session, she
hailed the recent successful test of Agni-III missile and the
induction of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank into the
Army as examples of capability demonstration and
self-reliance.
"The successful launch of the Agni-III missile is a
shining example of the capabilities of our scientists and
engineers who deserve full praise.
"Efforts to enhance our technological self-reliance
received a new impetus with the commencement of the handing
over of the main battle tank, Arjun to the Indian Army," she
added.
Declaring that the nation was proud of its armed forces,
she said they had distinguished themselves in preserving the
country’s unity and territorial integrity and in defending the
borders.
On the issue of welfare of personnel, Patil cited the
establishment of an Armed Forces Tribunal for adjudication of
complaints and disputes regarding service matters and other
appeals.
"The government has accepted the recommendations
regarding substantial improvements in the pensionary benefits
of personnel below officers rank and commissioned officers,"
she noted.
The Indian government's commitment to the armed forces
modernisation comes at a time when the country's Army, Navy
and the Air Force's plan to induct latest weapons have been
delayed.
While the Army has been waiting for modern towed,
self-propelled and light artillery guns for the last two
decades, the Indian government had agreed to the trials of
these weapons systems only recently.
The nod for the trials came after the country's Law
Ministry agreed to a company, blacklisted following the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) naming it in a
corruption case against former Ordnance Factories Board chief
Sudipto Ghosh, being part of the tests, pending contract
awarding.
The Indian Navy's plans to have Admiral Gorshkov aircraft
carrier has now been rescheduled to 2012 due to slow pace of
work at the Sevmash shipyard in Russia, which has been
demanding USD 2.9 billion instead of the originally contracted
USD 974 million for the warship. It is also facing a delay in
construction of second line of diesel-powered submarines.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is awaiting a decision on the
126 medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) which has only
reached the flight trails stage and is now likely to be
inducted only by 2015. PTI NCB
RDM
