Fanning the hopes of private industry, the government today said it would consider allowing 49 per cent foreign investment in the defence sector "on a case-to-case basis."
The Indian Army is short of over 11,387 officers, Union Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In a major embarrassment to the Army, three of its officers, including a Lieutenant Colonel, now deputed on the United Nations Peace Mission in Congo, have been accused of raping a woman in South Africa while they were holidaying there, an allegation that has prompted the defence ministry to order a probe."We have ordered an enquiry into the incident," Defence Minister A K Antony said on the sidelines of an Indian Air Force function on Tuesday.
India has refused to accept further deliveries of upgraded IL-38 anti-submarine aircraft complaning that the plane-detection equipment is not working to specifications.
There is a shortage of 11,153, 1,403 and 1,368 officers in the army, navy and air force respectively, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. This deficiency has been continuing from a long time in varying degree and there is no shortage of personnel below officers ranks in the armed forces, Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply.
The UPA and Left allies are expected to meet on Thursday to concretise the mechanism, which the Left insists, should comprise leaders from both sides
The Aero India 2007 international aerospace and defence exposition began today with India pitching itself as a global outsourcing destination offering competitive prices and a huge pool of skilled manpower.
The Sukhoi crash on April 30 in Rajasthan today caused an uproar in the Rajya Sabha, forcing Defence Minister A K Antony to come out in favour of the air superiority of the IAF's fighter jet.
Pressing for early conclusion of the civil nuclear deal, the US on Wednesday said, "The clock is ticking" and hoped the United Progressive Alliance government would be able to end the domestic deadlock on the issue in time.
"Development of Trishul missile system has been completed as technology demonstrator," Defence Minister A K Antony said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
In response to a query asked by MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha on the release of the report, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The report has been recommended to be declassified in the national security interest."
Th defence minister said warships of the two countries conducted seven exercises, involving participation of two US nuclear carriers and five nuclear-powered submarines in the Malabar series of war games.
"For the first time, we had an exercise with China in their territory. Next joint exercise will be held in India this year. You can wait for it," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in Laungwala at Rajasthan on Sunday.
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft is on schedule and would be comparable to frontline Mig-29 and Mirage 2000 fighters when it starts rolling out by 2011, Defence Minister A K Antony said in New Delhi on Thursday.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday cautioned that India's vast coastline was still "vulnerable" as interests "inmical" to it were eyeing penetration through these areas to destabilise the country.
Politicians may have given a go-by to one of India's proudest soldiers, but hundreds of people thronged to India Gate in New Delhi to sign the condolence book to mark their grief on the passing away of the country's first Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw.
On a question regarding the difficulties faced by tribal people in Naxal-affected areas, Antony said steps had been taken to solve their problems and the issue was discussed at the meeting of chief ministers convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently.
A spokesperson has said the proposal was mentioned at the recent talks.
Building up on strategic partnership forged in July, India has agreed to transfer 5,000 naval spares to Vietnam to make its several ageing ships operational. The announcement was made by Defence Minister A K Antony in Hanoi on Monday during his meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart General Phung Quang Thanh. Antony is on a three-day visit to Vietnam.
Relations with Russia are very important for India and do not depend on one contract or a single event, Defence Minister A K Antony said after witnessing a live demonstration of Indian Air Force's ability to deliver the lethal punch at Pokharan near Jaisalmer on Saturday.
With Lok Sabha elections just a year away, a key committee of the Congress embarked on an exercise aimed at turning around the electoral fortunes of the grand old party, which has been been on a losing spree.
Upset over the poor infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border in Sikkim, Defence Minister A K Antony on Sunday said he would "vigorously" pursue for taking urgent steps to develop the frontier areas to match China.
Speaking at the silver jubilee function of the Indian Coast Guard Aviation at Daman, Antony emphasised the need for faster modernisation of the Coast Guard in view of emerging seaward threat.
Amid reports of Gorshkov deal entering into rough weather, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said the government was trying to settle the issue of acquisition of the Russian aircraft carrier with the highest level in Moscow.
"India wants peaceful relations with its neighbours... But we should not lower our guard and have to remain vigilant to face any challenge," Antony said while interacting with troops in the 14 Corps headquarters in Leh.
The threat posed by maritime terrorism and infiltration along the vast stretches of the coastal belt was a matter of grave concern, with India having sensitive installations in close proximity to the sea.
In Jammu and Kashmir, compared to last year, the violence level had come down by 50 per cent, he said. The only concern now was of cross border militancy which was continuing even after three years of ceasefire, he added.
The army in Jammu and Kashmir will vacate schools and hospital buildings under its use in the state by the end of November.
"The scientists have produced results. It is excellent...up to the point," he said.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said that India has placed an order of purchase for a ship with the United States and that the same has already arrived and been inducted into the Indian Navy. He said the Indian Navy has assessed her residual life to be over 10 years. He also said India has not purchased any landing platform dock from Russia.
Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday concluded his four-day visit to Moscow leaving for home without meeting with President Vladimir Putin. He is the second senior Indian minister to have visited Moscow in one week who the president hasn't met, the other being External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Under the new deal signed in New Delhi on Friday by top officials of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russia's state owned arms agency Rosenbroexport, Russia has agreed to supply 40 Sukois in semi-knocked down kits at a cost of $1.6 billion. By agreeing to new annual cost escalation of five per cent, India would now be paying whopping $5 billion for 230 Sukhois fighters, which currently are IAF's mainstay.
As many as 327 army personnel committed suicide during this period
Antony was replying to a question on whether the government planned to put in place a truce with terrorist groups in the militancy-ravaged state during the ongoing month of Ramzan.
"The minister has taken a serious view of such reports and wants Army Headquarters to probe these charges in depth," defence ministry officials said.
Amid India's apparent willingness to pay more for Gorshkov, a high-level Indian team is in Moscow to inspect the Russian aircraft carrier in a fresh bid to break the deadlock over its delivery.
'The Congress cannot appreciate people with an independent opinion.' 'That's why many people left the party.'
The Congress on Thursday dismissed an opinion poll predicting party vide-president Rahul Gandhi as the third choice for prime ministerial prospect, terming it inaccurate.
'SBT's merger with SBI could lead to closure of several branches and hurt employment opportunities.'
As Antony talked to army officers and journalists accompanying him, several camera flashes went off on the Pakistani side.
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