Indian Army: News and Discussion

[12arya]

by hindustan times written by rahul singh...........don't know how much of this is fake or real but here it goes anyway.

In rare criticism, Navy officer blames IAF for ‘trust deficit’ between forces
There is stiff resistance from the Indian Air Force to theaterisation, or setting up of integrated commands where the assets of all three defence arms would come under the operational control of a three-star officer from any of the three services.

• 
  The Indian Air Force has harmed itself by opposing ‘theaterisation’ and this has resulted in weakening of trust between it and the army and the navy, a top navy officer wrote in a new paper published by defence think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (Cenjows) on Friday in a rare criticism of one service by a serving senior officer in another.
  
  The paper, titled ‘The IAF and Theaterisation — Misplaced Apprehensions,’ is a deep dive into the military’s approach towards enhancing so-called jointmanship and its progression tow-ard theaterisation. Jointmanship refers to a degree of co-ordination and integration in terms of both strategy and execution across the three services. Theaterisation refers to placing under a Theatre Commander, specific units of the army, the navy, and the air force.
  
  There is stiff resistance from the IAF to theaterisation, or setting up of integrated commands where the assets of all three defence arms would come under the operational control of a three-star officer from any of the three services, depending on the function assigned to that command.
  
  “By continuing to stress on a ‘do it alone’ command structure, the IAF has only harmed itself. It has resulted in a weakening of trust with the other two services who have attempted to resolve the issue by investing into integral air power,” rear admiral Monty Khanna wrote.
  
  Cenjows was set up by the defence ministry over a decade ago.
  
  The two-star admiral is currently posted at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he is the navy’s chief instructor.
  
  Citing the examples of the navy and army deploying air assets, Khanna notes in the paper, “This chipping away of IAF roles will continue until the fundamental issue of trust is addressed. For doing so, the IAF would need to embrace the deepening of its integration with the other two services rather than back-pedal on this relationship.”
  
  The principle of “one front, one commander” would require the cutting down the number of existing commands from 14 to around four. While all the three services would be impacted, the IAF could get the short end of the stick with the most to lose, the paper states.
  
  “This is the 800 pound gorilla in the room which often unites the three services in opposing theaterisation. Understandably, opposition from the IAF is the most vehement.” Khanna wrote. This is an issue that the three services have to resolve among themselves and thereafter take up with the government.
  
  Cenjows director, lieutenant general Vinod Bhatia (retd), described the paper as “very significant” as it made a strong case for theaterisation at a time it is “very much required” and being pushed by the government.
  
  “We are opposed to the idea of theater commands and have articulated our stand to the government,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), who heads the Centre for Air Power Studies.
  
  While a navy official refused to comment, saying that the admiral had authored the paper for a think tank, defence ministry officials declined to react, saying they hadn’t read the paper.
  

 

[Adioz]

by hindustan times written by rahul singh...........don't know how much of this is fake or real but here it goes anyway.

In rare criticism, Navy officer blames IAF for ‘trust deficit’ between forces
There is stiff resistance from the Indian Air Force to theaterisation, or setting up of integrated commands where the assets of all three defence arms would come under the operational control of a three-star officer from any of the three services.

• 
  The Indian Air Force has harmed itself by opposing ‘theaterisation’ and this has resulted in weakening of trust between it and the army and the navy, a top navy officer wrote in a new paper published by defence think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (Cenjows) on Friday in a rare criticism of one service by a serving senior officer in another.
  
  The paper, titled ‘The IAF and Theaterisation — Misplaced Apprehensions,’ is a deep dive into the military’s approach towards enhancing so-called jointmanship and its progression tow-ard theaterisation. Jointmanship refers to a degree of co-ordination and integration in terms of both strategy and execution across the three services. Theaterisation refers to placing under a Theatre Commander, specific units of the army, the navy, and the air force.
  
  There is stiff resistance from the IAF to theaterisation, or setting up of integrated commands where the assets of all three defence arms would come under the operational control of a three-star officer from any of the three services, depending on the function assigned to that command.
  
  “By continuing to stress on a ‘do it alone’ command structure, the IAF has only harmed itself. It has resulted in a weakening of trust with the other two services who have attempted to resolve the issue by investing into integral air power,” rear admiral Monty Khanna wrote.
  
  Cenjows was set up by the defence ministry over a decade ago.
  
  The two-star admiral is currently posted at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he is the navy’s chief instructor.
  
  Citing the examples of the navy and army deploying air assets, Khanna notes in the paper, “This chipping away of IAF roles will continue until the fundamental issue of trust is addressed. For doing so, the IAF would need to embrace the deepening of its integration with the other two services rather than back-pedal on this relationship.”
  
  The principle of “one front, one commander” would require the cutting down the number of existing commands from 14 to around four. While all the three services would be impacted, the IAF could get the short end of the stick with the most to lose, the paper states.
  
  “This is the 800 pound gorilla in the room which often unites the three services in opposing theaterisation. Understandably, opposition from the IAF is the most vehement.” Khanna wrote. This is an issue that the three services have to resolve among themselves and thereafter take up with the government.
  
  Cenjows director, lieutenant general Vinod Bhatia (retd), described the paper as “very significant” as it made a strong case for theaterisation at a time it is “very much required” and being pushed by the government.
  
  “We are opposed to the idea of theater commands and have articulated our stand to the government,” said Air Marshal KK Nohwar (retd), who heads the Centre for Air Power Studies.
  
  While a navy official refused to comment, saying that the admiral had authored the paper for a think tank, defence ministry officials declined to react, saying they hadn’t read the paper.

Why am I not surprised. Air forces have a very different set of priorities when compared to the Army. Hence they have very different ways of fighting and a drastically different perception of what enemy asset should be targeted first. Its understandable that the Air Force would not like their air campaign to be dictated by an Army officer who does not have a deep understanding of how an air campaign is to be conducted.

Perhaps the way forward is to prepare a tri-services course where techniques to maintain inter-services coordination and the strategies of each service are taught to any officer who is expected to rise to the level of a theater commander in peacetime or wartime. This institution should also have a cadre of retired defence officers trying to figure out a set of mechanisms for inter-service cooperation and future course material for this program.

Maybe they can start this institute at an ad-hoc location now, and then move the institute to the Defence University in Binola after the civil works there are complete.

As far as I can see, this is the best way to resolve this impasse and create a strong framework for inter-service cooperation.

Is there already a course that teaches officers the methods of their sister services and how to best align wartime goals with them?

 

[sthf]

In rare criticism, Navy officer blames IAF for ‘trust deficit’ between forces

Finally!!! I was waiting for this to happen.

IAF will end up with nothing if the theaterization takes place. Army will take up the plains and the hills and Navy will take up the peninsula and islands. Even if the periodical rotations of Theater CO among services takes place, IAF will be placed on equal footing with the much smaller IN. Their personal fiefdom of "anything that flies should belong to us" will be lost.

While not much can be done about it, I believe a compromise could be reached where IA gives up it's rotary wing to IAF, making sure that IAF is sole authority on "anything that flies", atleast overland. In return, IAF can play the musical chairs of CO theater command.

Here IA will only be the partial loser, since IA makes up 85% of manpower and 50% of the budget (which is not going to change anytime soon) and IAF's ego wouldn't be bruised.

 

[12arya]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-with-brigadier-rank/articleshow/65016582.cms

Officer cadre restructuring: Army mulls doing away with Brigadier rank
The Army, as part of its ongoing exercise to restructure its officer cadre after a long wait of 35 years, is mulling the radical step of doing away with the rank of Brigadier to ensure better career prospects and parity with the civil services as well as arrest its greying profile of commanders.

As per the internal paper drafted for the cadre review in the over 12-lakh strong Army, which has a little over 42,000 officers at present, the force would like to cut down the number of its ranks from nine to six or seven. In effect, this would mean Colonels who are approved for promotions directly become Major-Generals instead of Brigadiers in-between.

"The civil services have just six designations or ranks. While armed forces have stuck to their old rank structures, the civil services and the IPS have proliferated their higher ranks with impunity to meet aspirations of their cadres. Relatively, this has led to systematic degradation of the ranks in armed forces as well as lower pay scales," said an officer.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat had last month ordered a high-level committee headed by the Military Secretary, a Lt-General rank officer, to study all aspects of the officer cadre restructuring and submit a report by November-end.
"The proposal to abolish the Brigadier rank is just a proposal as of now. It requires comprehensive analysis before a final decision is taken. All modern armies routinely undertake such studies to remain dynamic and effective," said an Army spokesperson.

But the Army's internal paper, accessed by TOI, suggests drastic measures. It says the rank of Lieutenant should be assigned to its "gentlemen cadets" in their last year of training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. Consequently, officers on being commissioned into the Army should directly get the rank of Captain instead of first becoming Lieutenants.

With the rank of Brigadier being abolished, the paper says the Colonels who are approved for the next rank should become Major-Generals and command brigades (which have three battalions of 800-1,000 soldiers each). Senior Major-Generals, in turn, will command divisions (each has three brigades).

This is in line with the existing practice of junior Lt-Generals commanding a corps (which include three divisions), while senior ones command the six regional and one training commands. Apart from the seven commands, the Army currently has 14 corps, 49 divisions and over 240 brigades.

"This will also help in restoring the status of a brigade commander, who is higher in the warrant of precedence than an inspector-general of police. But police IGs have been made equivalent to joint-secretaries and enjoy a higher pay grade than Brigadiers," said the officer.

The Army contends an officer in the civil services reaches the joint secretary level with just 18 years of service, while it takes 32-33 years for a military officer to reach the equivalent rank of a Major-General in the steeply pyramidical promotion structure of the armed forces. "Almost 80 out of 100 IAS officers become joint secretaries. Only five to six of military officers out of 100 become Major-Generals," said another officer.

 

[12arya]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-on-graft-waste/articleshowprint/64938918.cms

Army chief declares war on graft, waste and sycophancy

From preventing misuse of CSD liquor and curbing ostentatious functions and sycophancy to removing orderlies deployed for retired senior officers and awarding exemplary punishment for moral turpitude, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has issued a series of directives for strict implementation to his over 12-lakh strong force.

Uploaded as "a summary of directions" on the internal Army Wide Area Network that connects all formations, units and establishments across the country, Gen Rawat's directives have created waves down the ranks in the force as well as the larger veteran community.

Some argue the measures are required to improve the "internal health" of the Army, even though the force is justifiably proud of its high standards of discipline as well as far lesser corruption and wastage of resources than their civilian counterparts.

But others contend the "not-so-new directives" come at a time when Gen Rawat is facing flak from many in the military community for "succumbing to government pressure" on several fronts, ranging from opening of closed roads in 62 cantonments for civilian traffic to soldiers being deployed for all and sundry tasks like building bridges in cities and cleaning waste left behind by tourists in high-altitude areas.

Though such directives in some shape or the other have existed for decades, a senior officer said Gen Rawat was trying to "shake" the entire Army hierarchy out of its "chalta hai" (lackadaisical) attitude with hardly any money being left for new weapon systems due to the ballooning revenue expenditure of day-to-day running costs, pay and allowances as well as the high pension bills. Gen Rawat, in the summary, himself stresses the need for "right-sizing" the Army because the "less liability we have under the salary head, more budget we would have for modernization".

The chief goes on to warn that all those indulging in "corrupt practices" will be "weeded out" irrespective of their rank and stature. "Rising cases of moral turpitude are a matter of concern. Strict punishment, including dismissal without pension, is being given to the offenders," says Gen Rawat.

All regimental and station functions "must be military like without being ostentatious", while officers indulging in "sycophancy with an eye on their careers" need to be identified and those "conducting themselves with dignity" given their due. Soldiers, in turn, must not be tasked for "menial jobs" to maintain their "dignity" at all times.

"Misuse of CSD liquor and groceries to encourage profits must be curbed. CSD facility is meant only for authorized persons but even minor units are indulging in profiteering through inflated sales," says another directive.

 

[12arya]

Army chief Bipin Rawat visits Akhnoor sector in Jammu

(Express Photo)

Bipin Rawat also reviewed the measures and standard operating procedures instituted and being followed by the units and formations, Lt Col Anand said.

He said the officers briefed the Chief of Army Staff on the operational preparedness, prevailing security situation and actions being undertaken to ensure a robust and effective counter infiltration grid.
Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat Saturday visited the Akhnoor sector and commended the field commanders for ably confronting the challenges posed by “inimical elements” and exhorted all ranks to continue working with dedication.

Accompanied by Northern Army commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the army chief visited the Akhnoor sector and was briefed by General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Saranjeet Singh, GOC Crossed Swords Division Maj Gen M K Mago and other formation commanders, Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand said in a statement.

He said the officers briefed the Chief of Army Staff on the operational preparedness, prevailing security situation and actions being undertaken to ensure a robust and effective counter infiltration grid.

General Rawat also reviewed the measures and standard operating procedures instituted and being followed by the units and formations, Lt Col Anand said.

 

[12arya]

ok, guys the golfing ban seems real; the presstitute had twisted the COAS' views on golfing as: "seniors were playing golf while a soldier's body was brought in"! and the real version below.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...oc-line-of-control-general-bipin-rawat/250709

Golf banned in Srinagar: Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat says can't play golf when troops are at LoC

In a show of solidarity with the jawans on the border, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat has banned officers from playing golf in Srinagar. "Golf should not be an activity the Army officers should be involved in," cleared General Rawat.

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Friday banned officers from playing golf in Srinagar, saying the activity cannot be done when the troops are exchanging fire across the Line of Control. In a significant statement, Gen Rawat made it clear that officers cannot play golf when the young officers are facing fire at the LoC on a day-to-day basis.

According to National Affairs Editor, Times Now, Srinjoy Chowdhury, during the Army Chief's recent visit to Srinagar, an encounter was going on at the border and a game of golf was being played in Srinagar. At that time, General Rawat said golf should not be an activity the Army officers should be involved in.

Notably, the Army, as per a report published in The Indian Express in 2015, operates around 100 luxury golf courses and sports clubs on approximately 8,000 acres of the government property. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament had in 2013 said that golf could not be taken into consideration as a “military activity”. In 2004, the then Army Chief had listed golf as a 'sport'.

 

[Adioz]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-with-brigadier-rank/articleshow/65016582.cms

Officer cadre restructuring: Army mulls doing away with Brigadier rank
The Army, as part of its ongoing exercise to restructure its officer cadre after a long wait of 35 years, is mulling the radical step of doing away with the rank of Brigadier to ensure better career prospects and parity with the civil services as well as arrest its greying profile of commanders.

As per the internal paper drafted for the cadre review in the over 12-lakh strong Army, which has a little over 42,000 officers at present, the force would like to cut down the number of its ranks from nine to six or seven. In effect, this would mean Colonels who are approved for promotions directly become Major-Generals instead of Brigadiers in-between.

"The civil services have just six designations or ranks. While armed forces have stuck to their old rank structures, the civil services and the IPS have proliferated their higher ranks with impunity to meet aspirations of their cadres. Relatively, this has led to systematic degradation of the ranks in armed forces as well as lower pay scales," said an officer.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat had last month ordered a high-level committee headed by the Military Secretary, a Lt-General rank officer, to study all aspects of the officer cadre restructuring and submit a report by November-end.
"The proposal to abolish the Brigadier rank is just a proposal as of now. It requires comprehensive analysis before a final decision is taken. All modern armies routinely undertake such studies to remain dynamic and effective," said an Army spokesperson.

But the Army's internal paper, accessed by TOI, suggests drastic measures. It says the rank of Lieutenant should be assigned to its "gentlemen cadets" in their last year of training at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. Consequently, officers on being commissioned into the Army should directly get the rank of Captain instead of first becoming Lieutenants.

With the rank of Brigadier being abolished, the paper says the Colonels who are approved for the next rank should become Major-Generals and command brigades (which have three battalions of 800-1,000 soldiers each). Senior Major-Generals, in turn, will command divisions (each has three brigades).

This is in line with the existing practice of junior Lt-Generals commanding a corps (which include three divisions), while senior ones command the six regional and one training commands. Apart from the seven commands, the Army currently has 14 corps, 49 divisions and over 240 brigades.

"This will also help in restoring the status of a brigade commander, who is higher in the warrant of precedence than an inspector-general of police. But police IGs have been made equivalent to joint-secretaries and enjoy a higher pay grade than Brigadiers," said the officer.

The Army contends an officer in the civil services reaches the joint secretary level with just 18 years of service, while it takes 32-33 years for a military officer to reach the equivalent rank of a Major-General in the steeply pyramidical promotion structure of the armed forces. "Almost 80 out of 100 IAS officers become joint secretaries. Only five to six of military officers out of 100 become Major-Generals," said another officer.

This is BS. Why is there a need to compete with the civil servants' rank structure? Army is crying about rising revenue bill and then news comes up that they are planning rank and pay parity with civil services in a way that the revenue bill will rise further. Maybe it is the civil services that need a reform and shakedown? But instead, the Army is getting in a competition with the civil servants. I agree that there must be parity. But instead of getting the civil services to back down from inflating their ranks, the Army is doing the opposite and inflating their own ranks. I know it is not the Army's responsibility to correct the wrongs of the civil services, but what they are doing is not right either. And what about the Air Force and Navy? Will they also follow the Army in doing this?

Someone needs to put a stop to this absurdity.

 

[indiatester]

This is BS. Why is there a need to compete with the civil servants' rank structure? Army is crying about rising revenue bill and then news comes up that they are planning rank and pay parity with civil services in a way that the revenue bill will rise further. Maybe it is the civil services that need a reform and shakedown? But instead, the Army is getting in a competition with the civil servants. I agree that there must be parity. But instead of getting the civil services to back down from inflating their ranks, the Army is doing the opposite and inflating their own ranks. I know it is not the Army's responsibility to correct the wrongs of the civil services, but what they are doing is not right either. And what about the Air Force and Navy? Will they also follow the Army in doing this?

Someone needs to put a stop to this absurdity.

I disagree. Army needs more younger people in decision making ranks. Doing away with a few layers helps in this.
Compare the ages of commanders of even Pakistan to that of our commanders of equivalent position. You will see that our leaders have toiled longer to get to that position.
Growth and access to leadership positions are great motivators too!

 

[Adioz]

I disagree. Army needs more younger people in decision making ranks. Doing away with a few layers helps in this.
Compare the ages of commanders of even Pakistan to that of our commanders of equivalent position. You will see that our leaders have toiled longer to get to that position.
Growth and access to leadership positions are great motivators too!

I agree with the need of more younger people at those positions, but is this the only way to do so? And how does the retirement age work out? If you want more younger people in higher positions, where do the older generation go? As far as I can tell, this will only mean more competition as fewer officers will get promoted to higher ranks. A majority will still be forced to toil at lower ranks till they either retire or seek a premature retirement.

And I am genuinely worried about the revenue budget eating up everything. How does the Army plan to tackle that?

 

[Vinod DX9]

Heard that OFB comes out with a new assault rifle and a carbine? Any idea what're thry? Or same R2 and JVPC?

 

[Vinod DX9]

This is a big news...more power to us

 

[indiatester]

I agree with the need of more younger people at those positions, but is this the only way to do so? And how does the retirement age work out? If you want more younger people in higher positions, where do the older generation go? As far as I can tell, this will only mean more competition as fewer officers will get promoted to higher ranks. A majority will still be forced to toil at lower ranks till they either retire or seek a premature retirement.

And I am genuinely worried about the revenue budget eating up everything. How does the Army plan to tackle that?

Not sure if budget should be a constraint if you are only talking about salaries. Its just 42000 officers. We can manager bigger staff. However we surely can't try creating a command structure for each rank. What I mean is, just because we have a new Major General, we can't create a bunch of brigades for him.
Regarding staff distribution, we need to look at possible solutions. I can think of 2.
1) Leaner size under a command with better power
2) Based on aptitude, move some to research and industry facing roles to achieve better synergies and outcomes to the forces.

Ofcourse like you say, the focus must be looking at improving the impact of the army and not necessarily at ranks to suit the egos of the generals. I just hope they have the first task(improve army) in mind.

 

[ezsasa]

Any guesses on which 7.62x51MM assault rifle are these being procured for?
there are no 762 assault rifles in current inventory, isn't it?
==========
RFI for telescopic sights for 7.62x51MM Assault Rifle (ASLT RIF) and LMG...
Requirement 16000 each...
Assault rifle sights range - 500 mts
LMG sights range - 800 mts

 

[12arya]

If possible, buy it whenever u can. its for our martyrs families.

https://www.indiatimes.com/news/ind...itiative-to-empower-martyrs-wives-344543.html

'Olive Green Cookies': An Indian Army Initiative To Empower

In a military garrison in Samba, Jammu, a group of women are making tasty cookies in olive green colour. These women are the widows of martyrs and its a unique venture to empower them.

Empathy comes naturally for the families of the martyrs, but this empathy seldom transcends into employment for them. But this time it has as Aseem Foundation, a non-profit organisation based out of Pune started ‘Olive Green Cookies’ with an objective to give wives of the martyrs some help.

These women make high quality cookies from the apple and walnuts grown in Kashmir region to be sold across the country.

“The objective is to go beyond the empathy or the one time financial help. We started this to give these women an employment that can help them run their families,” Sarang Gosavi, president of the Aseem Foundation told IndiaTimes.

Five women produce 10 kg of cookies everyday

“A group of widows were trained by the foundation which also provided necessary equipment for production of cookies. Currently, 10 kg of cookies are baked by these women daily,” an Indian Army officer supervising the initiative told PTI.

The officer-in-charge told PTI that army transport these cookies twice a month to the Pune where the product is packed and then sold via online orders.“We are selling them online with help of our own site.
These are high-quality cookies and the women have been trained to make these by our organisation.” said Sarang.

Rs 5000 salary for working five and half hours
Currently, the Samba army garrison has five women who work for five and half hours to make 10 kg of cookies daily with the infrastructure, training and raw material provided by the NGO.

Kashmir Focus/Facebook

“We give Rs 5000 per month to these women who work for five-six hours to make these cookies. The amount certainly helps the women to run their households and the timing too is from 9am to 2:30 pm which give these women ample time to be at their homes with their children,” added Sarang.

Sarang also told that at present they have enrolled five women, but this is just the start and they are thinking of employing 10 more women in next year or so.

Army takes care of us, but this raises our self-esteem, says the workers
Semi Devi, 26, lauds this initiative as she had lost all hope after he husband died i an accident in Arunachal Pradesh in 2013 while moving with his unit.

“It was the first year of our marriage and I had just delivered a baby when the tragedy struck, shattering all my dreams, she said adding the Army is doing everything possible to ensure that families of the martyrs live a respectable life and the latest initiative is part of it,” Semi Devi was quoted by Universal News Timeline.

Another woman Biaso Devi (70), thanks army for this help as it’s akin to restoring her self-esteem. “My husband, a former soldier, died some years back. I approached the Army for assistance and was very thankful for them to provide me a job at this age which made be independent once again,” says Biaso Devi.

Cookies carry the indomitable spirit of the Indian Army
“Koshur Krunch” (Kashmiri delicious) is written on the top of the packet, which carries the message that every cookie is infused with the flavour of valour and sacrifice,” reports PTI.

“Made by the hands of women of courage of Samba district, Olive Green Cookies tell a story of fighting the odds after losing a near and dear one in the line of duty. These war widows have the grit and determination to embrace fate with a stern will and pride themselves on being called ‘Veer Nari’.

“With the purchase of every pack of Olive Green Cookies, you are saluting not only the brave martyr but also supporting the indomitable spirit of war widows,” reads the message on the packet.

 

[Anikastha]

This is a big news...more power to us

Uranium in AP and Telangana ???
Don''t worry by CPI would have visited that place and almost started brainwashing people over there to oppose government. People don't even know that why he fcuk they are protesting.

 

[12arya]

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...-casualties-in-2017/printarticle/65040603.cms

Indian Army lost 106 personnel in battle casualties in 2017

The Army lost 106 personnel, including eight officers, in battle casualties in 2017, Minister of State for Defence, Subhash Bhamre told the Lok Sabha today.

There were 155 non-fatal battle casualties last year, he said in a written response.

In 2017, 98 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and those of other ranks, and eight officers died in battle casualties which included cease fire violations, enemy fire across the Line of Control, avalanche, terrorist attacks, landslide and mine blasts, the minister said.

 

[12arya]

https://www.financialexpress.com/education-2/indian-army-starts-law-college-in-pune/1246914/


Indian Army starts law college in Pune
The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)-affiliated college with hostel facilities was inaugurated by Lieutenant General D.R. Soni, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command.

Savitribai Phule Pune University under which the Law College is affiliated (PTI)
An Army law college that offers a five-year integrated BBA LLB course was inaugurated on Monday near a village on the old Pune-Mumbai highway. The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)-affiliated college with hostel facilities was inaugurated by Lieutenant General D.R. Soni, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command. It will have 60 children of serving and retired Army personnel studying in the first and current academic year 2018 -19 of the college. The students have been selected on the basis of their score in the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law.

The Maharashtra government and Savitribai Phule Pune University gave their approval for the establishment of the college at Kanhe village in a record time of less than a year, an Army statement said.

Madhushree Joshi, a gold medallist from Pune University, will be the first principal of the college run under the aegis of the Delhi-headquartered Army Welfare Education Society (AWES). The society is running 11 professional institutes in various disciplines such as medical, dental, fashion design, hotel management, engineering, management, nursing, education and law. The society also runs 137 Army Public Schools across the country.

The Pune college was established on a property gifted by Radha Kaliandas Daryanani Charitable Trust. It has 12 buildings. Lt. General Soni expressing his gratitude to the charitable trust urged the students to work hard and focus on all round development and be prepared to face the challenges waiting for them.

 

[12arya]

https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...pgrade/armoury-upgrade/slideshow/65053193.cms

India's elite special forces to get major weapons upgrade

Armoury upgrade
From new long-range sniper rifles and man-portable anti-tank weapon systems to high-speed underwater scooters and hand-launched micro drones, India continues to gradually modernise its clandestine warfare arm.

Highly-specialised weaponry
Defence ministry sources on Tuesday said several contracts worth "hundreds of crores" have been inked in recent months to equip the elite special forces of Army, Indian Air Force (IAF) and Navy with more highly-specialised weaponry and equipment from countries like Finland, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Israel and Germany.

"More attention is being paid to the Special Forces after Para-SF commandos conducted the cross-border surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in September 2016," said a source.

Lock and load
Contracts for new Finnish Sako sniper rifles, Swedish Carl Gustaf Mark-4 light weight rocket-launchers, Italian Beretta pistols with silencers, for instance, have been inked for the Army's existing nine Para-SF battalions.

Snipers for Navy
Navy's almost 1,000 marine commandos or "Marcos" are inducting Russian VSS suppressed sniper rifles, air-droppable rubberised inflatable boats, remotely-operated underwater vehicles for explosive disposal, combat free-fall parachutes, hands-free power ascenders and opposed boarding equipment. Marcos are slated to get two "midget submarines" or "chariots" under a Rs 2,017 crore project.

What IAF will get
Even as IAF is raising 12 new "flights" of Garud commandos to add to the existing 15 flights with 900 personnel, the force is earmarked to induct new sniper rifles, thermal sights, breaching ammunition and the like. "They have already inducted 65 micro-UAVs under a Rs 27 crore contract," said an official.

But SOC remains missing in action
However, the long-proposed Special Operations Command (SOC), or even its truncated version in the shape of a much smaller directorate, is still nowhere on the horizon.

Several committees, including the Naresh Chandra Taskforce in May 2012, strongly recommended the SOC to bring together disparate special forces under a unified command and control structure to execute strategic operations in tune with national security objectives.

 

[12arya]

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/in...while-trying-to-enter-sena-bhawan-army-453872

Four imposters detained while trying to enter Sena Bhawan: Army

Four persons, including a woman, were detained while trying to enter the Sena Bhawan here on Friday evening, with one of them wearing an Army uniform and posing as a RAW officer, said a senior Army official.

The persons were identified as Amit Sharma, a resident of Ghaziabad, who was posing as Lt Col Abhimanyu Sharma, his wife Harjinder Kaur, a driver named Sonu Singh and an accomplice Sandeep Kumar who claimed to be the woman's brother but it was found to be fake, the Army official said.

Sharma arrived in front of the Sena Bhawan at 5 pm and tried to gain entry. When asked for his I-card by the on-duty guard, he produced a fake ID Card from PMO, the official said.

The guard got suspicious and asked a few more questions. When he noticed uneasiness in the suspect, the guard informed his seniors, the official added.

The imposters were detained and handed over to the police.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Sharma had earlier entered MEA on fake identity and had also tried to enter other government offices. Sharma also claimed to be working for RAW and later also feigned depression, the Army official said.

According to Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), it is suspected that Sharma used to cheat unemployed youth on the pretext of getting them jobs in the Army.

Kumar, who was with him, alleged he had given Rs 2.50 lakh to Sharma for a job in the Army, Verma said, adding a case has been registered in the matter.

Sharma had done MTech from Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology.