General Indian Defence News

[spectribution]

^^^^^This liberal bullshit from US funded NGOs is cringeworthy.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
11-September, 2017 16:47 IST
Raksha Mantri to hold daily meetings with the three Service chiefs and the Defence Secretary

Raksha Mantri Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman held a number of meetings with senior officials to familiarize with the activities and functioning of the Ministry of Defence and gave clear directions on critical issues. Special emphasis was laid by the Minister on the need to step up the pace of acquisition proposals. Towards ensuring time bound and speedy disposal, it has been decided to hold DAC meetings on a fortnightly basis.

A whole range of meetings have been scheduled with the three Defence Service Chiefs to review Defence preparedness and allied issues of strategic interests. Daily morning meetings with the three Service Chiefs and a separate daily meeting with the Defence Secretary have been formatted as a new practice for quick decision making.

Other areas of focus would be settling all outstanding land related issues for infrastructure projects and matters relating to welfare of Defence personnel and their families.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...ce-minister/story-RAM1vLBmgAUuoA6drhQeMM.html
She flagged off an all-women naval crew which will circumvent the globe, visited India’s first underground airbase in Rajasthan and sat in the cockpit of a MiG 21 fighter jet.
Updated: Sep 11, 2017 18:32 IST

HT Correspondent
Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman inside the cockpit of MIG-21 Biscon during her visit to Air Force Station Uttarlai.(PTI Photo)

It’s been just over a week since Nirmala Sitharaman took oath as the defence minister of the country, only the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold the post since independence.

Within days of taking charge on Thursday, Sitharaman flagged off an all-women naval crew that will circumvent the globe, visited India’s first underground airbase in Rajasthan and sat in the cockpit of a MiG 21 fighter jet.

Sitharaman, who was the commerce minister, was promoted to the cabinet rank earlier this month and became the second woman to be part of the all-powerful Cabinet Committee of Security.

Here’s a look at her first week in office: 

Sitharaman flags off INSV Tarini, a ship that will circumnavigate the globe, in presence of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, in Goa. (PTI Photo)

Sitharaman interacts with IAF personnel at in Uttarlai, Rajasthan. (Twitter)

Flagging off INSV Tarini in Goa. (Twitter)

Sitharaman with IAF chief BS Dhanoa. (Twitter)

Nirmala Sitharaman meets President Ram Nath Kovind. (Twitter)

Nirmala Sitharaman meets Army chief General Bipin Rawat and army officers from the Southern Command in Ahmedabad. (Twitter)

Sitharaman inside the cockpit of MIG-21 Biscon during her visit to Air Force Station Uttarlai. (PTI Photo)

An IAF pilot explains the functioning of a fighter jet to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her visit at Uttarlai, Rajasthan. (Twitter/ Raksha Mantri)

Sitharaman with Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi. (Arun Sharma/HT Photo)

 

[RISING SUN]

DRI busts Delhi-Jammu & Kashmir gold racket that funded terror
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has stumbled upon 17 kg of illegal gold being transported to Kashmir's areas hit by a spiral of stone-pelting incidents against security forces, and suspects that the recovery is just a tip of the iceberg that would lead to a big terror-funding channel with links to Delhi.

The apex intelligence organisation of the Indian customs has arrested two men, in an operation that points to a new modus operandi by terror groups amid reports of their funds drying up following the government's demonetisation move and a string of raids in the Valley conducted by the National Investigation Agency against separatist outfits.

The interrogation of the two men — from Delhi and Jammu — points to a channel being controlled by a renowned jeweller from Srinagar. He is also suspected to have strong links with cross-border terror groups. He is based in Srinagar's downtown area, hit by stone-pelting incidents.

DRI officers said that he lives near Jama Masjid where Deputy Superintendent of Police Ayyub Pandith was lynched in June. The agency may also seek help from paramilitary forces in raids or search operations at suspected hideouts of those involved, in Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior DRI official said that the gold worth Rs 50 lakh was seized following inputs that led to a man being intercepted last month at Delhi's Sarai Rohilla railway station. It is also suspected that gold consignments might be coming from the Middle East.

"The man, identified as Deepak Khanda, was boarding Duranto Express to Jammu. On stringent frisking, the Jammu resident was found concealing gold bars in his shoes and bags," the officer said.

All bars had their serial numbers scratched, which suggests these were illegally acquired. "Deepak's questioning led the DRI to Old Delhi's Kucha Mahajani, from where his alleged supplier Kashi Agarwal was also arrested.

Their interrogation revealed that they had been regularly transporting huge gold consignments to the Srinagar jeweller. They said they had travelled by train up to Jammu and thereafter by road up to Srinagar to avoid being detected," the officer said.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...lhi-jk-gold-racket-that-funded-terror-2546409

 

[RISING SUN]

J&K: Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist arrested from Anantnag
A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist has been arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police at the Anantnag railway staion in south Kashmir, police said.

Aadil Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Bijbehara's Jiblipora, was trying to board the train when police apprehended him.

"Bhat was on the run for sometime. Today, based on inputs he was arrested from the station in a joint operation,"a senior police officer said, adding that he is a category C terrorist.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rested-from-anantnag/articleshow/60765013.cms

 

[RISING SUN]

Meghalaya: GNLA receives another major blow as Sohan’s close aides surrender before police
In what may be termed as another blow to the already weakened GNLA, it has come to light that two very close aides of GNLA chief, Sohan D Shira, surrendered arms today at the Williamnagar PS in East Garo Hills.

The duo from the 6th batch of the outfit have been identified as 22-yr-old Chanchan G Momin from Gongaram of Rapdikgre and 21-yr-old Challang C Marak of Adugre who surrendered today in front of the acting SP, Ringrang TG Momin.

Challang had been amongst the security agents of Sohan and was part of the inner circle.

“They stated that it was getting very difficult in the jungle to survive due to continued operations due to which they laid down arms. Further they did not have any money as the entire cash that had been gained earlier by the outfit through extortion was being handled by Sohan himself. They also said that none of the cadres of the outfit wanted to remain with him anymore and were only looking for an opportunity to flee from the outfit,” said Ringrang.

The duo surrendered with a pistol and a revolver.
https://thenortheasttoday.com/megha...s-sohans-close-aides-surrender-before-police/

 

[RISING SUN]

Jammu and Kashmir: Defence Minister Sitharaman visits Siachen
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday visited the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest and coldest battlefield, and also some other forward posts in the Ladakh region to review the security situation in the area.

"During her visit she was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff General Bipan Rawat, General Officer Commander-in-Chief, Northern Command Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu and Corps Commander of the Ladakh Corps.

"The minister interacted with the soldiers in the remote areas of Siachen Glacier and conveyed her best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra," a Defence Ministry statement said.

Sitharaman also inaugurated a bridge on river Shyok on the road between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldi.

"During her visit to Leh, she interacted with Indian Air Force personnel," the statement added.

This is Sitharaman's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir as Defence Minister.
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/...inister-sitharaman-visits-siachen/261730.html

Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates Pratham-Shyok bridge in Leh
On her maiden two-day visit to militancy-hit Jammu & Kashmir, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focussed on “strengthening counter-insurgency grid on borders with Pakistan” and “matching road infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China”, military sources said.

On the second day of her tour on Saturday, Ms. Sitharaman visited the forward locations of Leh and Siachen in the Ladakh region.

BRO projects
She took stock of Border Road Organisation projects connecting Leh with areas close to the LAC, where China has built high-grade road infrastructure and provided round-the-clock power supply.

Sources said the Minister stressed matching “infrastructure with China by expanding roadways in the cold mountain region”.

She inaugurated a bridge on the Shyok river between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldi, which remains volatile by virtue of frequent trespassing by Chinese forces.

Ms. Sitharamam was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat; Lt. Gen. D Anbu, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Army Command; and the Chinar Corps Commander. She interacted with the soldiers who man the Siachen glacier, the highest battleground in the world, and “conveyed her best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Dasara”. She met Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in Leh.

Earlier in Srinagar, Ms. Sitharaman visited the forward areas in north Kashmir, exactly a year after the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) into Azad Kashmir.

The Minister’s stress was on ensuring “robust counter-infiltration posture” along the LoC, sources said.

Counter insurgency
A Defence spokesman said the Minister expressed satisfaction over the “effectiveness of the intelligence and operational grids” against growing infiltration.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...atham-shyok-bridge-in-leh/article19777154.ece

 

[RISING SUN]

India struggles to rein in border flows of cattle and Rohingya
Stopping Rohingya refugees from crossing India's eastern border with Bangladesh is straining the resources of guards battling to halt a flow of smuggled cattle in the opposite direction, security officials say.

More than half a million Muslim Rohingya have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since violence erupted on Aug. 25, but it is not clear how many then sought to travel on to India.

Last month, Reuters had reported that India had ordered its border guards to use “chilli and stun grenades" to block their entry.

But that directive clashes with another task that the Indian government has set for its border guards — to keep cows, considered as sacred, from being smuggled into Bangladesh for slaughter, in a trade worth $600 million a year.

“It's hard to stop cows and human beings at the same time,” a senior official of India's Border Security Force (BSF), which has about 30,000 troops patrolling the frontier with Bangladesh, said in New Delhi.

“The collective duty to seize cattle and push Rohingyas is having a negative impact on the morale of our troops,” added the official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media. “We have conveyed this message to the top government officials.”

He was one of four senior officials who told Reuters that the government must decide which task should get priority.

An official of the Indian home ministry told Reuters that the authorities were working to tackle the concerns of the border guards, who have been successful in blocking entry of the Rohingya.

India wants to deport about 40,000 Rohingya refugees who arrived in previous years, calling them a threat to national security, despite an outcry from human rights groups.

Fewer obstacles
Since the violence in Myanmar, there has been a sudden rise in the number of cattle coming from India, said traders in Bangladesh, which considers the border trade legal.

“There are fewer obstacles to getting cattle from India right now,” said Rabiul Alam, secretary of the Bangladesh Meat Traders' Association, which has about 1,000 members.

In July, India's top court suspended a government ban on the trade of cattle for slaughter, giving a boost to its meat and leather industries, worth more than $16 billion in annual sales.

The slaughter of cows was already banned in most parts of India, but cow vigilante groups have been increasingly asserting themselves since Mr. Modi's government came to power in 2014.

Stopping the cattle smugglers is not easy
At least 400 border guards have been injured and six killed in such operations since 2015, BSF figures show.

The guards often have to wade through fields and ponds, wielding bamboo sticks and ropes to deter smugglers and round up the cattle.

“Injuries to guards is almost a routine affair now,” said R.P. Singh, a BSF official in West Bengal, which shares a 2,216-km (1,375-mile) border with Bangladesh.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...ws-of-cattle-and-rohingya/article19801172.ece

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
06-October, 2017 15:38 IST
Minister of State for Defence acknowledges initiatives of Defence Accounts Department in providing better services

Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre has appreciated the Information Technology initiatives of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) that are in tune with the Government thrust on Digital India and e-governance. He was speaking at a function to mark 271st Annual Day of DAD here today.

He particularly admired the two initiatives of the Department i.e., Defence Travel System (DTS) and the Comprehensive Pension Package (CPP) for Defence Pensioners, earlier announced in the Union Budget 2017-18. Dr Bhamre said that he was hopeful that the department would meet the objective set out in the budget speech for the two projects.

Dr Bhamre assured that the Department was committed to reaching out to each and every pensioner ensuring timely and correct disbursement of pension to them. Through ‘Aashrya’ (Pension Disbursement Project), the department fulfils its mandate of timely and accurate disbursement of pension to the defence pensioner’s/family pensioner’s/defence civilian pensioners through the Defence Pension Disbursement Offices (DPDOs). The department has also launched a new project ‘Suvinay’ developed in house, to transform and ensure seamless data transfer for pension sanction and generation of Electronic PPOs (Pension Payment Orders). The CPP will ensure timely and seamless sanction and disbursement to Defence Pensioners with a new set of dedicated service centres.

Speaking on the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP), Dr Bhamre said, the department has ensured timely payment of OROP to the tune of Rs 9,231.26 crore to around 20.42 lakh pensioners. The Department has also completed pension revision as per the multiplication factor recommended by the 7th Pay Commission and released arrears of Rs 6,783.95 crore.

On the issue of DTS, Dr Bhamre said, the Defence Travel System or e-Ticketing project of the department has done away with the most cumbersome management and control of the Railway Warrants, etc. The DTS is a secure electronic web-based system to replace the costly and time consuming system of booking of railways ticket through warrants. Out of approximately 10,700 units 5,600 units are on board. Average rail ticket booking per day is 16,000.” Around 10.7 lakhs profile have been created on DTS portal. However, need is to bring all defence units on board. For which concerted efforts from Services is also required.

On this occasion, Dr Bhamre also presented the ‘Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence’ to the officials of the Department selected for their outstanding contribution in the areas of Procurement process streamlining in Air Force, Dynamic website for salary to soldiers in Army Medical Corps and e-audit of OROP.

The occasion was marked by the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Shri Sunil Kohli, senior officials from the Army, Navy and Air Force, Ministry of Defence as well as heads of Paramilitary Forces. The occasion also witnessed the screening of a video song dedicated to soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces composed by eminent Carnatic singers ‘Trichur Brothers’.

The Department traces back its history to 1747 when the first Pay Master was appointed for paying the Garrison at Fort William, Kolkata. The Department was re-designated as Defence Accounts Department from Military Accounts Department in 1951.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre lighting the lamp on the occasion of 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa is also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre at the 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, the Defence Secretary, Shri Sanjay Mitra, the Controller of Defence Accounts, Smt. Veena Prasad and the Financial Advisor (Defence Services), Shri Sunil Kohli are also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre receiving a memento, at the 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre giving away Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence to one of the team leaders of DAD, on the occasion of 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa is also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre addressing the gathering, at the 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre addressing the gathering, at the 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, the Defence Secretary, Shri Sanjay Mitra, the Controller of Defence Accounts, Smt. Veena Prasad and the Financial Advisor (Defence Services), Shri Sunil Kohli are also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre along with the recipients of Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence, at the 271st Annual Day celebrations of Defence Accounts Department (DAD), in New Delhi on October 06, 2017. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa and the Controller of Defence Accounts, Smt. Veena Prasad are also seen.

 

[RISING SUN]

Naxalites use kids to fight in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand: UN
The UN has received reports of Naxalites using children to fight in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and of terrorists burning at least 30 schools in Jammu and Kashmir last year, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In his annual report on Children in Armed Conflict, Guterres said: "Children continued to be affected by incidents of violence between armed groups and the government, in particular in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand as well as tensions in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The UN continued to receive reports of the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, including the Naxalites, in particular in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand," he said.

At least 30 schools were burned and partially destroyed by armed groups in Jammu and Kashmir according to government reports, he said.

"In addition, government reports confirmed the military use of four schools by security forces in that region for several weeks."

Guterres's report for 2016, however, shows that the prevalence of the use of children by Naxalites and other armed groups had come down to only two Indian states compared to six in the previous year.

In the report for 2015 released last year, the then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had said the Naxalites were using children as young as six in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha and West Bengal.

Guterres's report covering conflicts during 2016 was sent to the Security Council on Thursday.

The report recorded far more violations against children by terrorists and other armed groups than by governments.

It said there were about 4,000 verified cases involving government forces and over 11,500 by non-state armed groups in the 20 nations covered in the report.

"I call upon the (Indian) government to develop appropriate mechanisms to protect children from recruitment as well as to separate and reintegrate recruited children," Guterres said.

"I also urge the government to ensure the protection of children from any form of violence in the context of civil unrest or law and order operations.

"Children continued to be killed and injured in the context of operations of national security forces against Maoist armed groups," Guterres said but did not provide any numbers.

According to the Indian Home Ministry, 213 civilians were killed in gun battles, an increase from 171 in 2015, but the number of children were not provided, his report said.

"Armed groups reportedly resorted to abduction and threats against parents in order to recruit children, who subsequently underwent military training and served as messengers, informants or guards in child squads (bal dasta)," Guterres said in the latest report.

In what he described as a "troubling development," Maoists were allegedly providing combat training as part of the curriculum in several schools they were running in Chhattisgarh.

In one incident recounted in the report, police moved 23 children threatened with abduction by armed groups in Gumla district in Jharkhand in March 2016 and "supported their enrollment in schools".
However, he added, "unverified reports suggest that police may be using children formerly associated with armed groups as informants, potentially making them targets for retaliation".

Guterres also said that because of "access restrictions" to the conflict area, the UN was not able to verify the incidents.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...aywrap&ncode=75903408e0b98cc62ba08fe4f10059f3

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
09-October, 2017 18:42 IST
Mos Defence Visits Shillong for Mudra Promotion Campaign and Review of HQ EAC OP Readiness

The Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre today made a one day visit to Shillong to promote the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna and review the operational preparedness of HQ Eastern Air Command (HQ EAC).

The Minister after arriving at Shillong straight away headed to the U Soso Tham Auditorium, to be the Chief Guest at the “Mudra Promotion Campaign” conducted by the Government of Meghalaya and State Level Bankers Committee(SLBC). Minister for Taxation, Government of Meghalaya Shri Zenith Sangma was the Guest of Honour in the event.

Speaking at the function Dr Bhamre brought out the salient aspects of the Prime Ministers Mudra Yojna (PMMY) the flagship scheme of Indian Government, which aims to provide formal access of financial facilities to the small businesses thereby creating more self-employment opportunities. He flagged the fact that since the launch of the scheme on 08 April 2015, 9.13 crore loans have been sanctioned under PMMY. The total amount sanctioned is Rs. 3.96 lakh crore. Out of 9.13 crore loans, loans to women constitute 6.89 crore (76%), SC/ST/OBC constitute 5.07 crore (55%). With this, self-employment has been generated and some of the entrepreneurs have also created the job opportunities.

The Minister also said that the Government has launched National Digital Payment Mission (NDPM) to encourage digital payment. NPCI is assisting in this regard by way of providing the digital payments modes like UPI, USSD, IMPS, Aadhaar Pay and RuPay Debit Cards. Digital payment mode is very easy and safe. He exhorted all to adopt the digital payment method and asked all to unite and pledge to make India a digitally enabled society.

It is pertinent to note that the Government looks at the North East region of the country with its tremendous potential for growth and contribution towards the Act East initiative, ushering a new era of peace and prosperity for the region coupled with carving the rightful space for India as an economic super power.

Dr Bhamre also visited HQ EAC, Shillong and reviewed the operational readiness of the Command. Senior Air Staff Officer HQ EAC Air Marshall Rajesh Kumar received the Minister and gave him a detailed operational briefing on all aspects of Air Force preparedness in the Eastern Theatre.

The Minister also made a visit to various units and branches of HQ EAC, where he was briefed in detail with regard to the operational aspects and also the projects under planning and execution. He conveyed his satisfaction on the op readiness of the formation, appreciated the high level of Air Warriors morale and exhorted upon all ranks to continue the good work. He also reassured them that the Government stands behind them steadfastly in all their endeavours.

***

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre distributing the tokens to beneficiaries under the Mudra Yojana, at the Mudra Promotion Campaign, in Shillong on October 09, 2017. The Minister of Taxation, Meghalaya, Shri Zenith M. Sangma is also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre addressing at the Mudra Promotion Campaign, in Shillong on October 09, 2017. The Minister of Taxation, Meghalaya, Shri Zenith M. Sangma is also seen.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre interacting with the public at the Mudra Promotion Campaign, in Shillong on October 09, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/pune/blast-at-pune-ordinance-factory-kills-2-injures-many-2015497.html

The ordinance factory, one of the oldest such factories in the country, is located in Khadki in Pune.
By Zee Media Bureau | Last Updated: Jun 15, 2017, 21:02 PM IST

Representational Image
Pune: At least two people were killed in an explosion at India's premier ordinance factory here on Thursday.

According to media reports, the blast occurred around 9.30 AM when "rejected ammunition" was being shifted.

Several people were injured in the blast.

Military experts are conducting investigations at the blast site in which there was no damage to any buildings in the establishment, IANS reported citing an official statement.

The victims have been identified as Ashok Kashinath Dubal, 51 and S. Maria Rokh, 47, both local residents in Khadki, the statement said.


The ordinance factory, one of the oldest such factories in the country, is located in Khadki in Pune.

The factory manufactures various night warfare items like pyrotechnic ammunition, for the security forces.

The facility started manufacturing these items since 1920s.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel will examine the operational preparedness of the armed forces and review the accidents involving strategic defence assets.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, headed by BJP MP B C Khanduri, will also assess the procurement policy relating to defence equipment.

The issue of preparedness of the armed forces is likely to be discussed in the next meeting of the panel, which is scheduled for next month, a member said.

The committee has also decided to "critically review" the accidents involving strategic defence assets and look into the quality of ration given to the forces especially in border areas, according to a Lok Sabha bulletin.

Since March last year, various accidents have been reported in naval ships including fire on the soon-to-be decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat and explosion of an oxygen cylinder on board INS Nireekshak.

Earlier this month, an Indian Air force helicopter crashed in the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, killing a few military personnel.

The panel of MPs from different parties will also assess the major research and development initiatives, including private sector participation, leading to innovation and import substitution during the last 10 years.

Revamping of training for defence personnel in the light of latest technological advancements will also be taken up for discussion by the committee.