Future wars might take place in cyber world: Parrikar

Stating that the future wars might be fought in the cyberspace, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today warned the Army against "information blackout" as he sought enhanced capabilities to ensure protection from disruptive cyber attacks or manipulations.
Parrikar also citied the example of the terrorist organisation ISIS, while explaining how internt can be exploited to propagate one's agenda.
He said, the banned terror outfit was "one of the best user of internet technology" for promoting their cause.
The Defence Minister said a resurgent India will increasingly play a dominant role in the world affairs.
"The world that we as a nation will be interacting with is increasingly fraught with turbulence and will call for dominant military might. We need to develop technology and system appropriate to evolving military doctrine," Parrikar said addressing the DEFCOM seminar here organised by the Corps of Signal of the Indian Army and the CII.

He said that Information Technology (IT) has an important role to play because "future wars may be cyber wars".

Parrikar, however, asserted that boots on the ground cannot be replaced. "Ultimately conventional armies cannot be replaced but they can be equipped with equipment which will provide them with all the information to fight with a well decided and well planned way without getting interrupted."
Speaking about the need for proper use of the developing internet technology, Parrikar said, "One can take the example of terrorist organisations like Daish or ISIS. They use the internet to ensure a lot of recruitment or support, and they are one of the best users of internet technology for promoting their cause."

He said his worry was information blackout which can be caused by various destructive mechanisms.
"Information corruption can be another danger to the platform which we use," he said adding that information overload is also a problem.
"Because of Information Technology, you can get so much information that getting vital information out of that becomes something like finding a needle in a haystack," the minister said.
He said while we progress through IT and make a more digitalised army, the danger is of disruption through cyber attacks by the enemy. "We need to enhance our capabilities to ensure that they are protected from such disruptive cyber attacks or cyber manipulations," he said.

(REOPENS BOM 4)
Parsekar also promised employment oriented industries in the state, but had cautioned the locals against some elements who try to get political mileage by resorting to labour unrest.
"We need to identify such people and gently keep them aside. If we fail to discard such people we will be repenting in future," he said without naming any leader.
He praised Goa's Leader of Opposition Pratapsinh Rane, who was present in the function, for always being supportive towards the government, keeping aside political affiliation.
"I respect Rane because he never tried to corner the government by instigating any labour movement in the state," Parsekar said.

He said his government was working for the welfare of labour class.
The Helicopter Engine MRO Pvt Ltd, a joint venture company of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bengaluru and SAFRAN Helicopter Engines, France was inaugurated today.
The plant is set up at Honda village of Sattari teshil where the company has purchased assets from the Goa government-run Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
EDC formally had its subsidiary - Goa Auto Accessories Limited - which went into loses forcing the government to close it down in March 2014.