Rajnath reviews defence acquisition issues with top officials

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed defence acquisition issues with top officials of the ministry and directed them to seek indigenous solutions to meet the forces' requirements to the extent possible.

Singh also reviewed defence cooperation activities with friendly foreign countries (FCCs) and the policy matters pertaining to defence diplomacy, including bilateral, multilateral exercises, capacity building, training and material assistance to FFCs.

Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and other top officials of the Ministry of Defence were present at the meeting.

"The Defence Minister also reviewed defence acquisition issues. He was briefed about Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP), budget utilisation, major procurements and challenges therein.

"The present status of procurements and payments were also briefed along with implications of major deals with countries. He directed officials to seek indigenous solutions for meeting the forces' requirements to the extent possible," the defence ministry said.

Singh was also briefed about the planning activities of the armed forces, including tri-services agencies such as the Head Quarters Integrated Defence Services and Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Space Agency and Armed Forces Special Forces Division which were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security this year.

He was briefed about the Defence Planning Committee, set up in 2018.

Singh also reviewed ex-servicemen welfare issues with the officials of the department of Ex Servicemen Welfare.

Separately, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman G Satheesh Reddy briefed Singh about its 'Make in India' initiative.

Reddy presented Singh a model of A-SAT missile.