Govt buys equipment worth Rs 2.38L cr in 3 yrs, Rs 1.52 cr

Defence equipment worth Rs 2.38 lakh crore were procured for the armed forces in the last three financial years, including worth Rs 1.52 crore from domestic vendors, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre told the Rajya Sabha today.
He said defence equipment worth Rs 48,826 crore were bought from domestic vendors in 2015-16, while in 2015-16 the amount was Rs 49,988 crore, and in 2016-17 Rs 53,767 crore.
Responding to another question, Bhamre said the government has no policy which requires HIV positive soldiers to tender their resignation except for reasons of functional inability.
"HIV positive soldiers are treated in the same manner by the Army as those having any other chronic disease. They are provided full treatment and allowed to continue in service," he said. Bhamre said such soldiers receive pension and other retirement benefits.