Government said on Thursday the deal for manufacture of six French Scorpene Class Submarine in India would cost the country's exchequer Rs 18,798 crores ($ 4.11 billion) and the first submarine would be ready for induction by 2012. Giving the details for the first time, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that of the total sum, Rs 3,553 crore ($ 789 million) would be an outgo as taxes.

India, France sign Scorpene deal

Earlier estimates say the submarines deal would cost $ 3.5 billion. In reply to another question, he said no decision has been taken to redesignate the Military Nursing Service cadre. The issue is under examination by the Army headquarters which was studying the report of a 10-member committee that recommended re-designation of the MNS, he said.

What is a Scorpene?

On the long-awaited demand of one-rank-one-pension for ex-servicemen, the minister said the group of ministers had finalised its recommendations and the decision of the Cabinet was awaited.

Referring to the devastating earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir [Images], Mukherjee said 45 army personnel, including an officer and a JCO, had been killed. Of these, he said 38 personnel were killed in the earthquake which occurred on October 8 and the remaining in landslides and tremors that followed.