Various Achievements of Ministry of Defence
Speedy modernisation of the Armed Forces to meet present and emerging challenges, development of requisite capacities and infrastructure for making up critical deficiency of weapons and equipment and creating a robust defence set up in the country through the ‘Make in India’ initiative, were the salient achievements of the Ministry of Defence during 2016.
The year also saw progress for the welfare of Ex-Servicemen as the much awaited One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme funds reaching the accounts of Ex-Servicemen and families. During the year as part of Defence Diplomacy, India engaged with its neighbours and Far Eastern countries, as well as also developed countries through bilateral talks, ship visits and bilateral as well as trilateral military exercises.
The new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 was promulgated for capital procurements and came into effect from 1
stApril. DPP-2016 has a focus on achieving the ‘Make in India’ vision by according priority to ‘Buy Indian – IDDM (Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured) and ‘Buy (Indian)’ categories. It also focuses on enhancement and rationalization of indigenous content.
The Ministry of Defence also issued guidelines for penalties in business dealings with entities, which have come into effect from 21 November. The guidelines lay down policy for levy of financial penalties and / or suspension / banning of business dealings with entities, seeking to enter into contract with / having entered into a contract for the procurement of goods and services by the Ministry of Defence.
INDIAN ARMY
Current Situation in J&K: The security situation in J&K is at an important crossroads. Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) saw a significant rise in the preceding months. Army along with CAPF and JKP continues to put in relentless efforts to bring back normalcy to the Kashmir Valley.
Situation Along LAC: There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China. From time to time, on account of differing perception of the LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the LAC.
Surgical Strikes along Line of Control: Based on specific and credible inputs about some terrorist teams having positioned themselves at launch pads along Line of Control to carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other States, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on 29 Sep at several of these launch pads to pre-empt infiltration by terrorists. The operations were focussed on ensuring that these terrorists did not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger the lives of our citizens. During these counter terrorist operations significant casualties were caused to terrorists and those providing support to them.
TRAINING EVENTS & MILITARY EXERCISES
India-France Joint Military ‘Exercise Shakti – 2016’ ‘Exercise Shakti-2016’ is the seventh edition in the series of bilateral exercises.
India-Nepal Combined Military Training ‘Exercise Surya Kiran IX’
India–Indonesia Joint Training ‘Exercise Garuda Shakti IV’ it is the fourth edition of the joint exercise.
‘Exercise Force -18’, the largest ground forces multinational field training exercise on ‘Humanitarian Mine Action and Peacekeeping Operations’
‘Exercise Jalrahat’: As a step towards achieving the goals of National Disaster Management Plan 2016 released by the Prime Minister on 1 June and with the outlines of identifying high risk disaster areas and coordination between the Armed Forces, NDRF and State Disaster Management Agencies along with other State Emergency services, a mock exercise and demonstration under ‘Exercise Jalrahat’ was conducted on 29 June in Shantipur area of Guwahati on the banks of the Brahmaputra River.
‘Exercise Maitree’: A joint exercise of the Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army.
‘Exercise YudhAbhyas’: As part of the continuing Indo - US defence cooperation, it is the 12
thedition of the joint military training.
India -Kazakhstan Joint Exercise: As a part of India’s continued efforts to strengthen Indo-Kazakh relations, Armies of the two countries conducted a joint exercise.
‘Exercise Indra – 2016’: Indo-Russian eight edition of Joint ‘Exercise Indra’ was held.
‘Sino - Indian Joint Exercise’: As part of the ongoing initiative to enhance interaction and cooperation between India and China, under the provisions of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, 2013, the Indian and Chinese armies held their Second Joint Exercise ‘Sino India Cooperation 2016’.
Army Skill Training Centre: The pilot project of the Army Skill Training Centre(ASTC) was inaugurated by President. Army personnel and their spouses/wards who attend training at ASTC will receive skill certificate from NSDC and will become eligible for employment/entrepreneurship under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna scheme.
INDIAN NAVY
BILATERAL/ MULTILATERAL EXERCISES AND OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT
To enhance India’s presence in the maritime arena/ across our area of responsibility/ interest, the Indian Navy was deployed extensively across the globe and conducted exercises with friendly foreign navies.
Exercise MALABAR 2016: In consonance with India’s ‘Act East Policy’ in the 20
th edition of Exercise MALABAR-16 India, US and Japan conducted joint exercise.
Exercise RIMPAC: Exercise RIMPAC is the largest multilateral naval exercise in the world and is held biennially in the Western Pacific Ocean. Ex RIMPAC is a platform for multilateral operational interactions to increase interoperability and development of common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations. India participated in the exercise. India participated in Ex-RIMPAC.
ADMM Plus Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism: ADMM Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus) Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism is a multinational exercise under the aegis of ADMM Plus consortium. Indian Navy participated in the latest edition conducted in Brunei and Singapore, with various drills and exercises in the South China Sea.
EXERCISE KONKAN 16: it is the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (United Kingdom). Exercise KONKAN was institutionalised in 2004.
INDRA NAVY – 2016: The 9
th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy was conducted in the Bay of Bengal. The primary aim of the exercise was to increase inter-operability amongst the two navies and develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.
INDIAN AIR FORCE
ACQUISITIONS
Rafale Acquisition deal: The much awaited Rafale deal with France was signed in New Delhi under which France will provide 36 Rafale fighter jets to India. The twin-engine, multi-role aircraft will be capable of carrying out various combat missions like Air Defence, Ground Attack, Reconnaissance, Anti-ship strikes etc.
‘Tejas’ Induction: The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ was inducted into No. 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
OPERATION
‘Op Sankat Mochan’: Stranded Indian nationals were evacuated from Juba, the capital of war-torn South Sudan in July.
MISCELLANEOUS
India gets Women Fighter Pilots: History was created as the first three women fighter pilots of the IAF were commissioned. With this, India joined a select few nations in the world that have women fighter pilots.
