100 days of new MoD and interim Defence Minister

[sancho]

Although it's too early to see actual changes, but what can be said as actual changes in the policy and procedures of MoD / the DM and the forces?

Pro from my point of view so far:

- easing up the banning policy (which however is only one side of the problem and must be followed with a better procedure of investigations and propper punishment of vendors AND forces)
- differentiating on bans between subsidiaries / parts of companies in different procurements / competitions
- following the make in India policy of the former MoD with an FDI increase limited to 49%
- directly moving on with the cleared procurements of the former MoD, showing a faster pace of work
- although only PR, DM Arun Jaitley and PM Modi appeared several times in front or with the forces and industry, which surely boosts moral


Con so far:

- disappointing defence budget
- scrapping and re-tendering the LUH deal, which will cause major delays
- no decisions on key procurements like M777 howitzer, additional tankers and AWACS (might come within this FY, but with the strategic importance, they must have priority!)
- moving on with the procurement of combat helicopters, without taking a propper decision or even a stand on which force will actually operate them
- not selected a propper defence minister, that actually can show the way the new MoD will work and what policies will be important for them (even if they had no time before the elections, which is more than doubtful, 100 days should be more than enough to find a suitable candidate within the NDA)
- taking on DRDO in public and at the same time awarding them for the same project they criticized before


Undecided:

- there is no official stand of the new MoD, the DM or the PM on the MMRCA, which on the one side is good for India, since it leaves our options open, but also invites the media to speculate. The former MoD was more open and clear on that (clear stand on not splitting the competition, on insisting on the RFP rules)
- despite the offensive PR against Pakistan during the elections, the government / MoD remained very calm since day one on any attack or provocation. In some cases, like the attacks on the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan a stronger reaction would had been good, staying calm now on the border conflict and not be provocated into a war on the other side is good
- no official stand on P75I so far, while speculations are growing in all directions


Please share your views and add points that I missed!

 

[nair]

not selected a propper defence minister, that actually can show the way the new MoD will work and what policies will be important for them (even if they had no time before the elections, which is more than doubtful, 100 days should be more than enough to find a suitable candidate within the NDA)

This is the most important point which i would like to pick from you, I am sure there are several leaders who can be considered for DM...... I really dono what is holding Modi from posting a full time DM.... The priority should be to appoint one......

Looking inside for procurement can be considered as the most important step taken by new DM and GoI......

I do not agree on your critism towards the GoI on their response on embassy attack, May be the Govt thought the very purpose of such attack was to incite such a response...... Let us not forget it was early days in govt....

 

[Agent_47]

 

[T90TankGuy]

Who prepared this? link please.

 

[arp2041]

Who prepared this? link please.

Unemployed Congress Photoshoppers, now they are working for BJP

 

[nair]

Did you understood what OP was trying to ask or say??? The only point in the article relevant to the topic is, FDI in defense which OP forgot to mention. Other than that i guess it is off topic.....

 

[Agent_47]

Did you understood what OP was trying to ask or say??? The only point in the article relevant to the topic is, FDI in defense which OP forgot to mention. Other than that i guess it is off topic.....

yes i understand, is there any harm looking at the whole picture ?

Who prepared this? link please.

100 days of NDA: A report card - Livemint

 

[nair]

yes i understand, is there any harm looking at the whole picture ?


100 days of NDA: A report card - Livemint

Nothing wrong, or no harm, but the topic OP wanted to discuss was related to defense..... @sancho can clarify

 

[sancho]

Looking inside for procurement can be considered as the most important step taken by new DM and GoI...

They are not looking inside for procurements, they want more manufacturing in India, which is the same policy the former MoD installed a few years back. NDA is now calling it Make in India, but that doesn't make it new nor Indian (Denel howitzer ond Tata truck and licence produced in India is still an external procurement).

I do not agree on your critism towards the GoI on their response on embassy attack, May be the Govt thought the very purpose of such attack was to incite such a response...... Let us not forget it was early days in govt....

But exactly because it was the early days, it was surprising that they moved so far away from their strong election campaigns. I would had understood it, if they had changed their policy later to a more calm and official approach, after they got used to be in power. And since it wasn't an attack directly at Indian borders, it was the safer option to make a bold statement, without even calling names, while the current border issues are a much hotter topic.

yes i understand, is there any harm looking at the whole picture ?

Yes, as this section of the forum is meant for defence related discussions, which is why I focused on the changes, improvements...of the MoD or related to the defence only. The rest can be discussed in other sections of course. But please share your view on the first 100s of MoD please!

 

[nair]

But exactly because it was the early days, it was surprising that they moved so far away from their strong election campaigns. I would had understood it, if they had changed their policy later to a more calm and official approach, after they got used to be in power. And since it wasn't an attack directly at Indian borders, it was the safer option to make a bold statement, without even calling names, while the current border issues are a much hotter topic.

If you look at Modi's campaign you can see a pattern, In the initial stages of the campaign it was more of rhetoric towards pakistan, and towards the end of his campaign he was more moderate.... If you recall his interview given to Arnab goswami, and arnab was trying hard his ways for news flash and material for his 9 o clock show, Modi was handling him nicely and he was talking very sensible in the entire interview...... By then he knew he is likely to get he majority and he wanted to shift himself from the rhetoric fellow to a responsible PM

 

[Android]

Dr. Swamy for Defense Minister

 

[sancho]

If you look at Modi's campaign you can see a pattern, In the initial stages of the campaign it was more of rhetoric towards pakistan, and towards the end of his campaign he was more moderate.... If you recall his interview given to Arnab goswami, and arnab was trying hard his ways for news flash and material for his 9 o clock show, Modi was handling him nicely and he was talking very sensible in the entire interview...... By then he knew he is likely to get he majority and he wanted to shift himself from the rhetoric fellow to a responsible PM

Maybe, but then again, you can use the DM to put forward a statement in the public. But there was nothing and we all know that former government including the DM would had been trashed for being silent when the nation is under attack.

 

[Sergi]

@sancho
- no official stand on P75I so far, while speculations are growing in all directions

I read somewhere that IN is re-evaluating P-75I required specifications as the specifications drafted are now more than 7/8 years old.
I think its a wise decision.

 

[Agent_47]

Yes, as this section of the forum is meant for defence related discussions, which is why I focused on the changes, improvements...of the MoD or related to the defence only. The rest can be discussed in other sections of course. But please share your view on the first 100s of MoD please!

But it have a defence section !
I am impressed with arun jaitley, And now i don't find any reason to push for a dedicated man in that position.
He has taken more decision than Antony took in last 2-3 years.
what is wrong with the defence budget? They have got a reasonable hike and on top of that R&D got priority.

And i don't expect MoD to clear everything in 100 days, it takes time and in the mean time appreciate the good direction its taking.

 

[sancho]

But it have a defence section !
I am impressed with arun jaitley, And now i don't find any reason to push for a dedicated man in that position.
He has taken more decision than Antony took in last 2-3 years

Which actually shows that not much was achieved so far and no he didn't made many decisions, we only see procurements getting cleared, that already were put forward in the last FY till after the elections. In fact, hard decisions on priority procurements and policy are missing and that's one reason India needs a dedicated Defence Minister, who can fully commit itself in showing the way for Indias defence and security in the next 5 years.

what is wrong with the defence budget? They have got a reasonable hike and on top of that R&D got priority.

Far too little, with far too less effect compared to what they wanted to do. The 2% is a drop and not a reasonable hike, when you count inflation in it's even a reduction, not to mention that the budget compared to GDP is lower than before. Which again is a reason why we need a propper DM, because then we would had someone who fought for bigger increases, while this drop in the Ocean is clearly a budget passed by the Finance Minister.

And i don't expect MoD to clear everything in 100 days

Neither do I, that's why I want to discuss what was achieved and what could had been done better in the 100 days, based on what they promised to do.