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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind inspecting the Guard of Honour on his ceremonial arrival, at Jaipur, in Rajasthan on May 13, 2018.
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Posted at: May 18, 2018, 2:11 AM; last updated: May 18, 2018, 11:40 AM (IST)
MoD caps ammo annual budget hike at 10%
Tells forces to plan within existing resources and not come up with proposals that cannot fructify

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New Delhi, May 17

Striking a balance between demand of modernising the armed forces and slow growing budget, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has come out with instructions saying an annual hike of up to 10 per cent will be assured for capital expenses meant for new equipment, weapons, ammunition, etc.

However, the forces will have to plan within the expected growth of “resources” and not come up with huge proposals that cannot fructify. The MoD has said the demands should be specifically based on needs for which the capability increase is sought.

The high-powered defence planning council (DPC), at its first meeting on May 3 decided that the forces will list out immediate criticality of weapons and ammunition.

The plan would be enforced from now till 2022, sources said. In the present fiscal ending March 31, 2019, the allocation for capital expenses is Rs 99,563 crore. This will see an year-on-year increase of 10 per cent, says the Ministry of Defence’s new financial guidelines.

Also the revenue budget (used for day-to-day running costs, salaries etc.) will get an increase of 10.5 per cent for the first year followed by 8.5 per cent the year after and so forth. The existing revenue allocation is Rs 1,95,947 crore.

The MoD clearly does not want to be seeing pruning down demands of forces that run into thousand of crores as then it gets adversely reflected in various parliamentary committee reports, giving a picture as if the government was not doing enough.

In other words, the three armed forces—Army, Navy and the Air Force—will have to prune the demands at their own-end, according to their own needs and not leave it to the bureaucracy in the MoD.

The MoD, otherwise, gets the lions share of the country budget, almost 12 per cent of the money in the country gets spent on military, running expenses and also new equipment like warships, guns, bullet-proof jackets, etc.

Despite this, a report of the parliamentary standing committee in March this year quoted Lt Gen Sarath Chand, Vice-Chief of the Army, that Budget 2018-19 has “dashed” all hopes of modernisation of the force which is saddled with equipment of which more than two-thirds are “vintage”.

He added the marginal increase in the budgetary allocation barely accounts for inflation and the Army won’t be able to pay instalments of past purchases with the money it has received.
 
Ministry of Defence
20-May, 2018 14:36 IST
Closed roads opened to Public in Cantonments

Based on the meeting convened by Raksha MantriSmt Nirmala Sitharaman with Members of Parliament and elected Vice Presidents of all 62 Cantonment Boards on 04 May 2018, on the issues relating to Cantonments, a detailed review was undertaken by the Ministry on various issues, in particular those relating to closure of roads in the Cantonments. The Raksha MantriSmtSitharaman has also reviewed the matter with Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra and senior officers of the Ministry.

Based on the review undertaken by SmtSitharaman, as a first step, the following has been decided:
  • All closed roads in the Cantonments to be reopened immediately.
  • The issue of closure of individual roads will be reviewed de novo, in conformity with the provisions as laid down, and any closure of roads to be undertaken, will be done only after following the due procedure.
  • A simplified detailed SOP will shortly be issued to jointly address the needs of the local public and the military establishment.
All other issues raised in the meeting dated 04 May 2018, were deliberated in detail and a time bound action plan is being prepared in consultation with all stakeholders.
 
President's Secretariat
22-May, 2018 19:16 IST
Civic Reception Hosted in Honour of the President in Shimla

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, addressed a civic reception hosted for him by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in Shimla today (May 22, 2018).

Speaking on the occasion, the President praised Himachal Pradesh as an important centre for culture, tourism and the spiritual tradition in our country. He was happy to note that the state government has inaugurated the ‘Nai Rahen, Nai Manzilen’ scheme to expand the opportunities for tourism in the state. He also noted that several other steps were being taken to promote tourism, including through the ‘Swadesh Darshan Programme’.

Praising Himachal Pradesh as the land of brave war heroes such as Major Somnath Sharma and Captain Vikram Batra, both of whom were awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, the President said perhaps every village in the state contributes to the armed forces. He said that the number of former servicemen in the state was estimated at over 110,000.

The President appreciated Himachal Pradesh’s success in literacy and education, women's empowerment, sanitation, rural infrastructure, social indices, horticulture, hydroelectricity and other areas. He said the state offered a developmental model for other states in the Himalayan region.

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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind hosting ‘At Home’ Reception at the Retreat, Mashobra, in Himachal Pradesh on May 23, 2018.
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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind meeting the invitees at the ‘At Home’ Reception hosted by him at the Retreat, Mashobra, in Himachal Pradesh on May 23, 2018.
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The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind meeting the invitees at the ‘At Home’ Reception hosted by him at the Retreat, Mashobra, in Himachal Pradesh on May 23, 2018.
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Posted at: May 30, 2018, 3:20 PM;
last updated: May 31, 2018, 1:42 PM (IST)
Lt Gen Ranbir Singh is new Northern Army Commander
Lt Gen Anbu is Vice-Chief of Army

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh
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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 30


Lt Gen Ranbir Singh has been appointed the new Northern Army Commander. He replaces Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, who has been shifted as Vice-Chief of the Indian Army.

Lt Gen Singh, 58, who belongs to Jalandhar, was the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) when India carried out the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), destroying terror camps in Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) on September 29, 2016. He has also had stints as Colonel and Brigadier in the military operations directorate that oversees and coordinates all operations and troop movements.

Lt Gen Singh, along with Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane, who now heads the Army Training Command at Shimla, are likely to be the front-runners for the Army Chief’s post when General Bipin Rawat ends his tenure in December 2019. Lt Gen Naravane is senior to Lt Gen Singh.

Lt Gen Anbu from the Sikh Light Infantry moves to Delhi. The Vice-Chief is the head of all policy and planning of the 1.3 million-strong Army. The current Vice-Chief, Lt Gen Sarath Chand, retires on Thursday.

Commissioned in December 1980 into the 9 Battalion of the Dogra Regiment that draws its troops from Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu region, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh commanded the same unit. Presently posted at Army Headquarters as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff, he had earlier commanded the Mathura-based 1 Strike Corps, a strike formation.

One of his most significant appointments was the General Officer Commanding of the 33 Armoured Division based at Hisar in 2012. According to his course mates, he is probably the first infantry officer after the late General K Sundarji to command an armoured formation.

An alumnus of the Sainik School, Kapurthala, and the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla, he also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK for a year-long course and served with UN missions in Angola and Rwanda.

As Commander of the 181 Mountain Brigade in the North-East, he was decorated with the Yudh Seva Medal in 2010. The other awards include the Sena Medal and a bar to the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2015 and 2018.

These two new appointments are the first in the series of changes in the top structure of the Army this year. Three Army Commanders — Lt Gen DR Soni, Southern Army Commander; Lt Gen BS Negi, Central Army Commander; and Lt General Satish Dua, who heads tri-service organisation — retire this year.
 
Ministry of Defence
01-June, 2018 17:34 IST
Lt Gen Devraj Anbu Assumes Charge as VCOAS

Lt General Devraj Anbu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM assumed the charge of Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 01 Jun 2018. He succeeds Lt Gen Sarath Chand who after an illustrious career, handed over the baton to Lt Gen Devraj Anbu in a ceremony held at South Block.

Lt Gen Anbu is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. He was commissioned into 14 Sikh Light Infantry on 07 June 1980 and has a rich operational experience with the distinction of serving in all types of operational environment to include Siachen Glacier, counter insurgency & counter terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir and North-East as well as in 'OP PAWAN' in Sri Lanka.

During his 37 years’ illustrious military career, the General Officer commanded his unit during 'OP PARAKRAM', an Infantry Brigade on the Line of Control in the Kashmir Valley, a Mountain Division in Sikkim, the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan and Gajraj Corps in the Eastern Theatre.

The Gen is highly decorated and has been awarded Sena Medal (Gallantry) for operations in 'OP MEGHDOOT', Yudh Seva Medal during command of the Brigade, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal during command of the Division and Uttam Yudh Seva Medal during the command of an elite operational Corps.

He had three important staff tenures at the Army Headquarters besides holding General Staff operation appointment at the Division and Corps HQ in the North-East and Jammu & Kashmir respectively. He was the Instructor at the National Defence Academy and an International Military Observer with UN Peacekeeping Mission, UNTAG (United Nations Transition Assistance Group) at Namibia.

Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu paying tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, before assuming the charge of Vice Chief of Army Staff, in New Delhi on June 01, 2018.
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Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu reviewing the Guard of Honour, before assuming the charge of Vice Chief of Army Staff, in New Delhi on June 01, 2018.
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Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu assuming the charge of Vice Chief of Army Staff, in New Delhi on June 01, 2018.
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What does the symbol on the barrel stand for?
A good luck charm.

The Swastika, the symbol of Nazi Germany, actually means a lucky charm or a symbol of well-being for most of us, when literally translated from its Sanskrit root comprising su meaning ''good'' and asti meaning ''to be''. In other words, well-being. One of the oldest symbols made by humans, it dates back some 6000 Years to rock and cave paintings. Scholars generally agree it originated in India.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/What-the-Swastika-means/articleshow/994390.cms
 

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