Indian Army: News and Discussion

[12arya]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-shrugs-off-us-pressure-on-russian-defence-deal-2636747

India shrugs off US pressure on Russian defence deal

India has made it clear to the United States that the defence relationship between India-Russia is decades old and they will continue as usual. Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that this has been recently conveyed to the US Congress delegation to India.

The US passed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CATSA Act) last year, which includes Russia, Iran and North Korea. This implies that the countries which maintain trade relations with these countries will also face American sanctions. The Defense Minister said that this is law of the United States, not of United Nations. "The matter is not the selection between the US or Russia. With Russia we have decades-old defence links and it will continue." But she also said that the Indo-US relations are on track. Talks between defence and foreign ministers of India and US , cancelled last month will be conducted in September. Earlier, these talks were to happen in the US on July 6 but the US pulled the plug on the last moment.

India has long been reliant on Russia for defence needs. India is currently negotiating for the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, and talks are in the last round. The S-400 deal is expected to be between Rs 35-40k crore. These systems are capable of preventing any air strikes from 40 to 400 km. This deal is believed to be game-changer according to the Indian defence requirements. Apart from this, talks are on to take another nuclear submarine on lease from Russia. India has already been using INS CHAKRA, a nuclear submarine leased from Russia for five years. Russia has helped India to make its first nuclear submarine INS ARIHANT.

Indian military uses a large number of military hardware such as SUKHOI-30, MIG-29, 27,21 fighter aircraft, several types of helicopters, transport aircraft, aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, 9 Sindhu class submarines, T-90 and T-72 tanks, armored combat vehicles. India is completely dependent on Russia for spare parts of these military hardwares.

 

[tharun]

Army issued new RFI for 16,000 telescopic sights for 7.62x51 mm assault rifle and lmg.

Sent from my Redmi 4 using Tapatalk

 

[12arya]

Don't think this taught in our schools!

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...k-anniversary-of-colachel-battle-1850420.html
Army to mark anniversary of Colachel battle
July 31 marks the day of the victory of Travancore forces over a vastly superior European naval force, a landmark event in Indian history.

• 
• Click on the image to expand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Madras Regiment will celebrate the 277th anniversary of Colachel Battle, which saw Marthanda Varma defeating the Dutch forces, on Tuesday at Colachel.

The event will be attended by Indian Army officers from the Pangode Military Station, civil authorities, police officials, retired armed forces officers and local dignitaries. The victory of King Marthanda Varma’s Tranvancore Army against the Dutch Naval Forces in 1741 is celebrated every year on July 31 as Colachel Day.

Colachel is situated 68 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kanyakumari district. July 31 marks the day of the victory of Travancore forces over a vastly superior European naval force, a landmark event in Indian history. ‘’On July 31, 1741, in a most unique amphibious battle the forces of King Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch, both at sea and land.

This earned the House of Travancore the unique distinction of being the only Asian military power to ever have defeated a leading European sea power at sea and land,’’ a defence spokesperson said. To mark his victory, Marthanda Varma erected a victory pillar which stands to this day.

Till the Madras Regiment adopted it, the memorial was in a neglected condition. The 9th and the 16th battalions of the Madras Regiment trace their history back to the Travancore forces which was merged with the Indian Army after Independence.

The highlights of Tuesday’s event will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Colachel war memorial followed by a military band display by the pipe band of the Madras Regiment.
In memory of this historical battle, the military station at Pangode had also named its stadium after the venue of the famous battle.

 

[12arya]

https://www.rushlane.com/maruti-gypsy-used-by-indian-army-sale-12275422.html

Maruti Gypsy used by Indian Army up for sale – Price starts from Rs 1 lakh
Apart from being an iconic car, Maruti Gypsy is one of the most liked car by car enthusiasts in India, especially those who are fans of off-roading.

Indian Army has over 30,000 units of Maruti Gypsy SUVs. This petrol SUV, which first entered production in 1985, is nearing the end of its life. Thanks to new crash test norms which are coming into next year (and Suzuki Jimny?).

Indian Army too is replacing their fleet of Gypsy with Tata Safari Storme. Those Gypsy’s which were used by the Indian Army will be sold off or discarded. One such sale is conducted by Nilesh Zende. He has put up a fleet of Indian Army used Maruti Gypsy for sale. Depending on the condition, he is charging Rs 1-2 lakh for a unit.

On his Facebook post, Mr Zende posts – “I have Army disposal Gypsy 1999 to 2008 model Gypsy for sell in Pune. Good bodyline, All parts intact. Some of working condition. Price start from 1 lk to 2 lk Price is based on model & condition of the Gypsy If want NOC & registration from Pune then that price is @ actual. Its will register as new vehicle for next 15 years validity.”

If any of our readers interested in buying Indian Army spec Maruti Gypsy, they can connect with Mr Zende. The address and contact no put up by him is as follows – Location Gokulnagar, Katraj-Kondhawa Road, Pune. Contact no – 9421252599 / 8208338220.

Speaking about Maruti Gypsy’s life in India, earlier this week, Maruti revealed that Gypsy does not meet the upcoming Bharat NCAP crash test norms, which will come into effect from 1st October 2019. This makes the car not sell-able in India.

Unless Maruti Suzuki upgrades its structure, the Gypsy production is to end for certain. Which is most likely going to be the case, as to make it structurally stronger, will require huge investment. And with Indian Army, its largest buyer no longer interested, this investment might not get the nod from the Maruti Suzuki board.


What this means is that the chance of new Jimny’s India launch significantly increases. Though Maruti is yet to officially comment on Jimny for India, there are a lot of rumours doing rounds. We will have to wait for Maruti to confirm whether the Jimny is coming to India or not.

 

[12arya]

https://www.dailyo.in/politics/indi...y-air-force-civil-services/story/1/25543.html

Mission Fighting Fit: The Indian Army faces restructuring. The challenge is huge
The task involves retaining the armed forces' special role, while maintaining a democracy's vital balance of power.

The Indian Army — the second largest in the world — will be undergoing a restructuring.Unfortunately, the health of the Indian Army, which we are all proud of, isn’t good. The big question is: will this restructuring be able to address all these issues? The last such exercise was in 2004.

Consider this; the Indian Army spends almost a staggering 87 per cent of its budget to meet its pay for day-to-day expenses which includes money to buy spares, maintenance of equipment and salaries. In the current fiscal year — ending March 31, 2019 — the Army’s salary bill is budgeted to be Rs 80,945 crore, the pension bill is at Rs 95,949 crore. And, in contrast, the modernisation budget is just Rs 26,688 crore. “If the current trend continues, in about a decade there will no money left after paying salaries, pension and taking care of daily expenditure,” a senior Indian Army officer said, explaining what restructuring would have to grapple with.

The legacy of the Indian Army is both its strength — and a part of the problem.

Restructuring will have to grapple with the tricky issue of “parity” and “status” with other government services. [Photo: Reuters]

The Indian Army has its beginnings with the East India Company in the 1800s. Its formative years were spent fighting the Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars in India and the Anglo-Afghan wars and the Opium Wars abroad. And, although the army continued to evolve, much of its processes, customs and traditions, etc., are heavily influenced by its colonial legacy. For instance, perhaps no other army in the world teaches in men and officers in different languages. The army, until recently, had military farms which had a few thousand high-bred cattle.

The Veterinary Corps of the Indian Army has about 3,000 men and officers and about 8,000 mules. The Corps rears and breeds the animals. On the other hand, it employs a huge body of men to take care of its vehicles, among other things. Does the army need dedicated garages employing thousands of people to maintain its vehicles or mules to carry supplies to the front? Can the repair and maintenance of vehicles not be handed over to the manufacturers, freeing space and men? Importantly, border infrastructure connecting hitherto unconnected areas is coming up. And, when helicopters can drop supplies and men at pinpointed locations, the mules appear anachronistic.

Apart from legacy issues, the restructuring will also have to grapple with the tricky issue of “parity” and “status” with other government services.

Should the armed forces have just six odd ranks like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS)? The Indian armed forces have nine ranks. There is a proposal to do away with the rank of a Brigadier. Yet another suggestion proposes that all officers should retire as Major General. A Brigadier commands at least 3,000 men and Major Generals command at least 9,000 men. While these command structures — Regiments, Brigades, Divisions and Corps — will continue to exist, doing away with the rank of Brigadier would only mean calling a Brigadier by a different name — a senior Colonel.

At the core of the “parity” and “status” issues is how we, as a nation, treat our armed forces.

Should the military be placed above or at par with the civilian bureaucracy?

The armed forces complain their status vis-à-vis the civilian bureaucracy has been downgraded since Independence. And there is truth to it. But the preponderance and preference of the armed forces over others during the British Raj is perhaps because the military was needed more to govern India.

Trying to align the military in line with other civilian services, however, will make the military just “another service” of India and lead to a further erosion of “status”. In a globalised world, “right to coerce” and “right to tax” are the only defining factors of the state. The military is the coercive arm of the state, there is no need to make it just another service of the state.

In addition, the military also needs to rethink whether it needs more short-service commission officers as against permanent commissions. More permanent commissions with a steep pyramidal structure means that there is a bulge in the middle because there is no space in the top. At least 40 per cent officers are shaved off at every rank. The result is stagnation.

The fact that the officers who take premature retirement don’t qualify for One Rank One Pension (OROP) is leading to a pile up of unwanted, passed-over officers hanging on to their uniforms. Till OROP was announced, a large chunk of officers who didn’t make it to the rank of Brigadier and equivalent in the Navy and Indian Air Force left the forces. Most found gainful employment in the civilian street.

This restructuring of the Indian army and therefore the Navy and Air Force will perhaps define us as well.

Apart from finding ways to make the armed forces leaner and fighting fit, the restructuring will also show whether we are mature enough to value our armed forces — while not compromising with the core values of a democracy where the elected civilian leadership is the boss.

 

[12arya]

Existence of stuff like this is ridiculous to read in this day and age sounds like the British Raj era memsahibs.
Won't criticize the good work, if any, but that seems like a rarity and it seems more of forced nach gaana of young ladies, ie, wives of jawans and officers!!!! How is a fashion show welfare for jawans? And CO's wife slapping a Lt. Col's wife????? what is happening, one wonders.
And the wives it seems have no option to do it as voluntary basis.....everyone has to attend. What if the wife is not a social person; ur hubby's ACR is messed!!!!!
Honestly, serious turn off as well.

https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/gAktfcsT3UKEtYFHSRRRtJ/New-army-wives-vs-an-old-mindset.html

New army wives vs an old mindset

It’s time for army wives to fix their petty hierarchies. Any Awwa experience, an army wife will tell you, depends entirely upon the woman who runs it.

Doe Nair’s first ladies club parade was a disaster. She only realized why her fellow army wives were greeting her unenthusiastically and whispering about her when the COW arrived. The commanding officer’s wife walked down the line in her gold necklace and scarlet chiffon sari, inspecting the ladies. “She then came to me and turned the colour of her sari,” Nair writes in I Married The Army, a rollicking portrait of army life in the 1960s, and one that officers still recommend for newbie military spouses.

“‘A cotton,’ she shrieked…. ‘No, no, only chiffons. Don’t you know the commander’s wife (one step higher in the hierarchy) has ordered only chiffons are to be worn.’” When Nair later bumped into that senior wife at that event, she laughingly denied instituting any such rule. Later, Nair’s husband was hauled up for his wife’s misdemeanours. Ensure your spouse is docile, pleasing, and not argumentative, he was informed.

Nair’s story about the pecking order that exists among army wives begins her book, and though much has changed since then, every once in a while we are reminded that the Army Wives Welfare Association (Awwa), the bastion of all these hierarchies, remains in need of a drastic makeover.

The New Indian Express reported last week that during a ceremonial event at the Bathinda military station, the wife of a commanding officer slapped the wife of a Lieutenant Colonel for coming late to an Awwa event. The Lieutenant Colonel has complained to everyone, from the Prime Minister to the National Human Rights Commission and the CBI director, the newspaper reported.

“Even our phones and gadgets get regular upgrades—maybe it’s time for an upgrade/update in the existing hierarchy amongst army wives,” tweeted author and army wife Aditi Mathur Kumar, who is one of the more outspoken members of this tribe.

It’s not the first time that a spouse has shared her frustration about the restrictions imposed by military life. In 2014, a wife complained that her husband’s Brigade Commander harassed and threatened her when she objected to participating in an Awwa fashion show. In 2009, one wife alleged in a legal notice that her husband was given below-average ratings in his annual appraisal report because of her lack of enthusiasm for Awwa activities.

“Why should a jawan’s wife perform for visiting officers? Would you perform for your bosses?” asks former army wife Rosme Chaube, who went public with her complaints about Awwa around the same time. Chaube and her Major husband left the army three years after she first complained to the chief. “Once you complain, everyone ostracizes you. Nobody will talk to you, nobody will call you,” she tells me over the phone.

So what is this group that has such a hold on wives? It’s a welfare organization headed by the army chief’s wife that was set up to keep an eye out for the families of the troops. Membership is mandatory for all wives of serving officers.

It can be a source of great camaraderie for the women living in an isolated cantonment. Their husbands had years of training to prepare for the army, but many of the wives may not have even known what they were getting into when they signed up to be a military spouse.

Awwa provides support in a medical emergency, help with school admissions, can work to improve health and hygiene standards of military families and offer investment advice. Its members have even been known to raise funds to help one of their own make a down-payment on a house. One of its main goals is the rehabilitation of war widows.

Yet it can easily disintegrate into battles about dress codes and decorating duties for parties. The rules that govern who can say what to whom haven’t changed since Nair’s days in the army. Not attending a party is not an option. Any Awwa experience, an army wife will tell you, depends entirely upon the woman who runs it.

Sometimes the conflict can remind you of that most cliched of urban wars: the mother-in-law vs the daughter-in-law, where the younger woman eventually ends up mirroring the actions of the hierarchy-conscious older woman and nothing ever changes. It’s the standard syllabus from the I-did-it-and-so-will-you school of power relationships.

One Facebook post titled “11 things to know if you are an army wife” includes points such as:

Repeat with me “Yes Mrs….,” “Yes Mrs…”; yes, you are participating in everything; everyone has a qualification, yours is just being an officer’s wife.

Women who are married to or dating men in uniforms have been writing to Mathur Kumar since her first book, Soldier & Spice: An Army Wife’s Life, was published in 2014. One of the more common questions they have these days is about their career. What will I do when he’s posted in a remote location? There are only two answers to this question, Mathur Kumar writes back. “Quit and work from home or do what so many women do—choose to stay at one station and meet when one or the other gets leave.” Some educated women are now opting not to marry into the Armed Forces, she says.

 

[Vinod DX9]

First M777A2 regiment of Indian Army coming soon

 

[12arya]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ary-area-one-shot-at/articleshow/65208002.cms

5 sandalwood smugglers trespass into military area, one shot at

A 40-year-old sandalwood smuggler was shot at in the leg by Army officials after he and his four accomplices attacked them with axes and iron bars inside the Banaswadi Military Garrison area, east Bengaluru, in the early hours of Monday.

The arrested Ramar P is a resident of Thandavambat village of Tamil Nadu. His associates managed to give officials the slip. Police have filed a case of attempt to murder against Ramar and his friends who allegedly hurled stones and attacked military officials at 3.20am. Sources said they retaliated when the officials tried to catch them.

“Five men, who trespassed into the Army campus, were spotted by a patrolling team headed by Havildar Rajesh Rana at 2.45am. When the team immediately challenged them, they pelted stones and tried to flee. Even after due warning, they did not surrender, instead assaulted the personnel with axes and iron bars. One official was injured in the melee. The patrol leader then ordered the intruders be fired at below their waist. Ramar was injured in the left thigh, while the others managed to flee,” officials said.

Ramar was shifted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital after being administered first aid. The officials seized 12kg of sandalwood, cutting blades, axes, iron bars, torches with cells and one cellphone from the spot. An FIR has been filed based on a complaint by Maj Vishwas of 15 Dogra, Banaswadi Military Garrison.

 

[12arya]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-to-join-indian-army/articleshow/65177934.cms

Param Vir Chakra awardee calls upon students to join Indian Army

Param Vir Charkra awardee Indian Army official, Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav has called upon the youngsters to join army to serve the nation selflessly. He said working for the nation would always give highest level of satisfaction and there was nothing on the earth that could match with serving the motherland.

Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav, the Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army, was awarded the highest Indian military honour, Param Vir Chakra for his July 4, 1999 action during the Kargil War. YS Yadav visited Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology (VVIT) on Saturday and enlightened the VVIT students at the Open Auditorium on the commemoration of Kargil Divas Day.

Addressing the students, Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav said that numerous opportunities were available for the youth in the field of Indian Army. He recollected his joining in the Indian Army at a very young age of 16 years.

“Bravery is how well you hide your fears. Even when death is definite while facing enemy, personal safety is the last on a soldier's mind and security of the nation and its citizens remains central”, said Kargil War hero YS Yadav. He also recollected his experience at the time of Kargil War and how he was wounded.

He said that the training in defence would develop teamwork, self-confidence and commitment which will help them to shape the best career. He appreciated the commitment of the management of VVIT for encouraging NCC activities in a well prepared manner in the campus.

 

[Dharmic_Crusader]

Indians supply modern combat boots to US army, but our soldiers use ‘130-year-old’ designs
https://theprint.in/governance/indi...-our-soldiers-use-130-year-old-designs/92733/

The wait will go on as the decision to open up sector to private players won’t kick in before 2019. After that, there’s the long procurement process.

New Delhi: The Indian soldier’s wait for an essential part of his kit — a good-quality combat boot — doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

In a recent article, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag (retd) wrote about the poor quality of combat boots soldiers have struggled with for decades.

“India manufactures some of the best shoes in the world, but the Indian Army wears the worst combat boot in the world, which has remained unchanged in design for 130 years, except for the DMS sole. That it costs only Rs 500-600 in the open market is a reflection on its quality!” Panag wrote.

But despite the fact that Indian manufacturers have been exporting boots, even to the US Army, ThePrint has learnt that the search for lighter and more durable combat boots is likely to be long-drawn. This is because the 13 lakh-strong Army is waiting for its last order of the old type of combat boots to be delivered — around 3 lakh pairs of ‘High Ankle DVS’ boots — by 2019.

A High Ankle DVS (Direct Vulcanized Sole) boot is a military combat boot, which, according to the Ordnance Factory Board website, can be used in all type of terrains and seasons.

Also adding to the delay is a nod from the defence ministry to farm the existing order to private companies, a policy that the government adopted last year when it de-regulated a number of non-lethal equipment. Sources said private companies have also bid for the first time to make more flexible and better-designed, lightweight combat boots with polyurethane (PU) soles.

Modern combat boots are of different types, depending on the weather conditions of where the troops are placed. These include those with flame resistant material to those with shock-resistant rubber soles made with materials such as Gore-Tex, a lightweight fabric offering increased comfort and durability.

Other popular combat boots include hot-weather mountain combat boots, cold-weather boots for extreme conditions, and intermediate cold wet boots, for varying geographies and weather conditions.

Root of the problem
Alongside essentials like battle equipment and uniform, manufacturing combat boots for the Army has traditionally been the monopoly of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). Last year, the Ministry of Defence changed this, deciding to open up several of these products to procurement from the open market.

The various types of boots issued through the corps of ordnance are boot DMS (with a rubber sole), boot drill (with leather sole) and boot jungle — the last of which are basically canvas boots with rubber soles issued to troops operating in mountains and jungles.

There has been criticism and complaints from various quarters about the poor quality of OFB-manufactured boots, which many former officers and experts confirmed to ThePrint.

Panag himself said: “The quality of boots was not up to the mark with international standards. The boots were uncomfortable and most of the troops bought their own boots.”

He said despite boots being such an essential item, and the various demands for better quality over the years, governments and the Army itself failed to prioritise their procurement.

Another former Army officer, who did not wish to be named, said the boots were of “inferior quality”.

“They were heavy, the leather was hard; we often had to soften them with Dubbin, and the soles used to come off frequently,” the officer said.

“Time and again, there were questions raised on why the combat boots had to be manufactured by OFB — because they were, anyway, sub-contracting it to other smaller manufacturers. There was a whole Kanpur lobby at work here. This should have been opened for procurement from the civilian market long back.”

The officer added that the general quality of products from the OFB had only deteriorated over time.

Complex procurement process
Another reason for the delay in fixing this obvious problem is the Army’s long and complex procurement process.

Explaining the process, a former official said the Army first raises a proposal a couple of times, which then goes through the defence secretary and the defence minister.

“After the approval of the defence minister, the ‘request for information’ is invited, and based on the response, the ‘request for proposal’ is invited. Then the technical evaluation bids are opened, user trials are carried out, and only after that the commercial bids are opened,” the official said.

“Then it goes to the pricing and negotiation committee. In between, the proposal can oscillate between the Army and the MoD several times. This is a process that can take years,” the official said.

Another problem is that of the government’s inability to spend more, this official said. “There is a private company in Kanpur which manufactures good quality boots, which are exported to other countries, including the US. But they are much more expensive than the ordnance factory boots, and won’t find a place among the lowest bidders,” the official said.

However, former defence secretary Shashikant Sharma dismissed claims of government apathy. He said there were indeed some logistical difficulties, but funds were never a problem.

“It is unfair to say that the government did not do enough for providing basic necessities to the Army. I can’t say what happened before 2011, but the government was sensitive to the needs of the Army,” he said.

Army spokesperson Col. Aman Anand told ThePrint that the reason for the delay in procurement of High Ankle PU boots are complexities in the procurement process, a change in the competent financial authority for giving a go-ahead to the order (the Army can give a go-ahead to orders up to a certain amount, beyond which the MoD steps in) and several unwanted representations from various vendors for boots.

However, the former official quoted above said the Army is at fault for the delay.

“By ordering such a large number of boots in one go, the financial powers have gone to the MoD, and hence, there are chances it would be delayed again. For instance, if six lakh boots were ordered in one lot, the Army vice-chief would have retained the financial powers and the procurement could have been faster,” the official said.

Boots can nullify armies
A US Department of Defense report titled ‘Improvement of the US Army Intermediate Cold Wet Boot” on cold-weather footwear states that injuries caused to frontline troops due to poor footwear is recorded back to the 1700s.

“Even during World War II, 87 per cent of all US military cold-induced injuries were incurred by front line infantrymen, and in many cases, the combat effectiveness of entire infantry units was nullified,” the report had said.

 

[Haldiram]

In a recent article, Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag (retd) wrote about the poor quality of

This Panag is the father of actress Gul Panag. Both of them are certified AAPtards.

 

[Vinod DX9]

Indian made K-9 Vajra rolls out

 

[rkhanna]

This Panag is the father of actress Gul Panag. Both of them are certified AAPtards.

Yes . So we should ignore anything they say and agree with anything a pro BJP person says

 

[Vinod DX9]

Please replace INSAS, and a new military boot please

 

[12arya]

looks great....watch it on national geographic on independence day.

 

[Vinod DX9]

Pinaka now to be manufactured

 

[darshan978]

looks great....watch it on national geographic on independence day.

i only see sad face ;3
............

 

[12arya]

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...weight-in-check/articleshowprint/65284634.cms

Army gets strict with keeping officers’ weight in check

An army officer’s annual confidential report (ACR) is now required to have two latest photographs of the officer. One photograph is to be a side profile of the officer from head to toe, while the other is to be a front profile from head to just above knee.

This new norm is to ensure that none of the officers are carrying any extra weight, literally. The Indian Army for the last few years has been trying to get leaner and meaner and sources have confirmed that now it is being taken far more seriously than ever before. In the past foreign postings of the officers depended to a certain extent on their physical fitness but now sources claim that even promotions will take fitness as a criteria and overweight officers will have to get in shape for furthering their career.

An army major told TOI, “Last year we had our photographs clicked according to the set parameters but they were not used maybe because no formal order was passed to attach them with our ACRs. However, I have just attached my two photographs with the current ACR and I think this practice is likely to continue.”

An army official added, “Fitness is extremely important in the armed forces and we have annual physical fitness tests to ensure that no one is lacking in this department. Measures are being taken to have a very fit army.”

On being asked if this added pressure will get into the way of daily working, Col (retd) AK Sharma said, “The usual practice in the army is that there is morning physical training and evening games every day but now there is bound to be a slight added pressure because the officers’ promotions might be decided according to their weight as well. However, it is the senior lot which is likely to struggle with it since the majority of the young officers are fitness conscious.”

Few of the officers are also going the extra mile to keep their weight in check and a young Captain said, “Apart from the daily routine of physical training, I have started going to the gym and few of my course mates have started doing power yoga. Some of them have also started following the new concept of Chi running which is a technique of running based on Tai chi. Everyone is trying not to get pointed out because of their weight.”

 

[12arya]

RIP

https://www.thehindu.com/news/natio...ts-killed-in-jk-gunbattle/article24621318.ece

Gun battle claims lives of 4 Army men, 2 militants gunned down
The soldiers belonged to the Army's 36 Rashtriya Rifles.

Army jawans cordon off area search for militants in Bandipora district. File | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad

Four Army men, including a Major, lost their lives and two militants were gunned down in a gunfight near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Bandipora on Tuesday.

According to initial reports, three soldiers and the Major, were hit by bullets when they challenged a group of infiltrators in Gurez Valley's Bakhtor sector in the morning.

The soldiers belonged to the Army's 36 Rashtriya Rifles.

"Two militants were killed but the bodies are yet to be traced in the area," said an official.

PTI adds:

Further reinforcements were rushed to the encounter site.

The deceased have been identified as Major K.P. Rane, hawaldars Jamie Singh and Vikramjeet and rifleman Mandeep.

Initial reports said a group of eight was trying to infiltrate into the country. Of them, four ran back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir, officials said

 

[12arya]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-indian-army-wants-cantonments-as-military-stations-2646553

Indian Army wants cantonments as military stations

The Army wants cantonments across the country to be converted into military stations after separating civilian areas from them. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) informed Parliament of a proposal for this.

"The Army has suggested excision of civil areas of Cantonments and converting military pockets into military stations," Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply to a query in Rajya Sabha,At present, 62 cantonments are operational in 19 states across the country in a total area of 1.57 lakh acres. Approximately 21 lakh people are living in the cantonments, according to official data.

"Cantonments, with a 250-year history, are important institutions that bear testimony to the harmonious co-existence of civilians and defence personnel," said Bhamre. The Army wants to convert cantonments into exclusive military stations to improve operational readiness of the force.

Asked whether the government has plans to abolish the cantonments, Bhamre said there is no such proposal.
To a separate question on whether the government is considering introducing compulsory military training for school children, Bhamre said 'no'.

Replying to another question, Bhamre said a joint military exercise between Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defence Force is planned to be held in India later this year.