Facing shortage of critical weapon systems and ammunition, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh will brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the "hollowness" faced by the 1.3 million-strong force in its defence preparedness.
Gen Bikram Singh, a veteran infantry officer, on Wednesday took over as the 25th chief of the Indian Army, succeeding Gen V K Singh whose 26-month tenure was mired in controversies. The 59-year-old Gen Bikram Singh will have a tenure of two years and three months in the top post
The Prime Minister's Office on Friday said Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Bikram Singh or his wife is not related to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or his family and dismissed a media report in this regard as "scurrilous" and "mischievous".
As the last journey of the five jawans martyred in the Pakistani attack in Poonch began from Jammu, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Wednesday laid wreaths on their bodies.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Friday met his predecessor and Minister for Development of Northeast Region Gen (retd) V K Singh, who reportedly did not share good vibes with him, and discussed with him issues of mutual interest as the Army has substantial presence in the region.
The remarks made by Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh following the beheading of an Indian soldier on the LoC last week were 'very hostile', Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Tuesday, as she asked Indian leaders to 'catch up' with developments in her country.
The Centre on Saturday announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Bikram Singh as the next army chief from May 31, to succeed General V K Singh. Lieutenant General Singh, the eastern army commander, will head the 13-lakh strong force and have tenure of just over two years, till August 2014. "Lieutenant General Singh has been designated as the next chief of army staff, in the rank of general, with effect from the afternoon of May 31, 2012," defence ministry said.
On the birth centenary of late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Thursday unveiled his statue at the Manekshaw auditorium in New Delhi.
On the birth centenary of late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Thursday unveiled his statue at the Manekshaw auditorium in New Delhi.
The most significant transfers effected by Gen Bikram Singh was that of former Director General Military Operations, Lt Gen AK Choudhury, to an insignificant, non-operational post as General Officer Commanding, Bengal Area, based in Kolkata, reports RS Chauhan
Gen Bikram Singh, a veteran infantry officer, on Thursday took over as the 25th Chief of the Indian Army succeeding Gen V K Singh whose 26-month tenure was mired in controversies.
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, whose promotion was held up by former Army Chief Gen V K Singh, was on Friday appointed as the chief of the Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command.
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, whose appointment as army chief had kicked up a row, will on Thursday take over as the next head of the 1.3 million strong force succeeding Gen Bikram Singh who is retiring.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh to be appointed chairman of chiefs of staff committee in January, Lt Gen Anil Chait to head army, say sources
Sending a word of assurance, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh Friday said the armed forces will continue their operations till all the people are rescued from various locations in flood-hit Uttarakhand.
China dismissed as "entirely groundless" Indian Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh's assertion that PLA soldiers were present in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Monday opposed any dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir, saying any decision to revoke it from any part should be taken only after getting inputs from security agencies and stakeholders.
Amid strong opposition by BJP to appointment of next Army Chief, the government on Friday said the matter has been referred to the Election Commission and any decision will be taken only after getting its nod.
The Army on Thursday briefed its former chiefs on the current security and operational scenario faced by the 1.3 million-strong force but V K Singh could not attend the meet due to 'previous commitments'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hosted a farewell dinner for outgoing Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh.
Pakistan on Tuesday said it did not want to vitiate the 'already tense situation' along the Line of Control by making 'irresponsible statements' in the wake of a string of violations of a nine-year-old ceasefire.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh is expected to take up the issue of raising an offensive Corps including around one lakh soldiers along the China border in a presentation soon to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the shortages faced by the 1.3 million-strong force.
Notwithstanding stiff opposition from the Air Force, government has decided to give the control of attack helicopters to the Army. "We have received a letter from the defence ministry and we have been given the attack helicopters by the government," Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said.
The army on Friday made it clear to Pakistan that it cannot keep the tap of exporting terrorism to India open and hope for confidence-building measures with it.
The time is 'not right' for the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said on Friday, emphasising that any decision on this 'should not be politicised'.
There was no connection between the suicide of an army soldier and the stand-off between officers and jawans in an armoured unit in Samba sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh said on Thursday.
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on Tuesday asserted that the Indian Army is prepared to face all challenges to national security and foil the designs of the enemy against the backdrop of nationwide anger over the beheading of a soldier by Pakistani troops on the Line of Control.
Notwithstanding Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh's tough talk on Pakistan on the recent ceasefire violations on the LoC, the government on Monday said it will try its best to ensure that the peace process was not derailed.
Into the sixth day of their fast, the family of Hemraj on Monday declared that they will not end their protest till Army Chief General Bikram Singh visits their house and assures them that the martyred soldier's severed head will be brought back. Hemraj's wife Dharamvati, mother Meena and cousin Narendra have been put on intravenous fluid after their condition deteriorated. Doctors are keeping a close watch on them and examining them at regular intervals.
During a crucial meeting on Monday held to discuss the Army's annual acquisition plan, Antony asked the Army chief to streamline procedures within the Army HQ so that proposals for new acquisitions could be processed faster
During a crucial meeting on Monday held to discuss the Army's annual acquisition plan, Antony asked the Army chief to streamline procedures within the Army HQ so that proposals for new acquisitions could be processed faster
Overturning the decision of his predecessor Gen V K Singh, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has lifted the ban on promotion of Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag clearing the way for his appointment as Eastern Army Commander.
The public interest litigation filed in the Supreme Court against the selection of Lt Gen Bikram Singh as the next chief of the Indian Army has been dumped by the court.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the appointment of Lt Gen Bikram Singh as the next army chief but made it clear that its order would not affect any pending proceedings against him in cases including an alleged encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sachin Pilot on Thursday became the first Union minister to be commissioned as a regular officer in the Territorial Army, fulfilling his desire to follow his father's footsteps to be in the armed forces.
"Let us continue to be a secular and apolitical force and do our job the way it should be done," 59-year-old Singh told media persons after inspecting a guard of honour, a day after taking charge of the force from Gen V K Singh whose tenure was mired in controversies.
A petition was on Tuesday filed in the Supreme Court by a former naval chief and top retired bureaucrats seeking review of its order dismissing a PIL challenging the appointment of Lt Gen Bikram Singh as the next army chief.
Where did outgoing army chief V K Singh go wrong, analyses Ajai Shukla.
A day before retirement, Army Chief Gen V K Singh has issued show cause notice to a Lt Gen, who could head the force in two years, for censure on account of lapses on his part in handling a case of a failed intelligence operation in Assam's Jorhat district last year.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to place before it the file pertaining to the appointment of Lt Gen Bikram Singh as the next army chief.
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