50 percent improvement since CAG's war preparedness report: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said there has been nearly 50 percent improvement in India's war preparedness as far as armaments were concerned since the CAG expressed concern over the issue in 2013.

The Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) observation, made in March 2013, was highlighted in media last week.

Parrikar, who was addressing a press conference at the BJP's state headquarters in Panaji, also said that the National Democratic Alliance government was taking steps to improve production in Public Sector Undertakings being operated by the defence ministry.

"Some days back there was a report of the Comptroller Auditor on armaments which said that our war preparedness was less. The thing which was not noted was that the report was written in March 2013, since then there has been nearly 50 percent improvement," Parrikar said.

According to the CAG report, published in the media last week, due to severe shortages in the country's stockpile of ammunition, India did not have the capability to fight a war beyond 15-20 days.

Parrikar said that his ministry had sought an official report, after the CAG findings became public but the ground realities had changed since the report had been authored in 2013.

"I had sought a report. It showed that up to March 2015, we have addressed at least 50 per cent of the issues. We are on fast track. Production of ordnance factories has improved. We are taking steps to improve production of DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) and it is happening," Parrikar said.

"While improving our war capabilities, we are also looking out for the welfare of those who are willing to sacrifice their lives at the border. We have taken many steps in that direction," the minister added.