Page 6 - Defence Minister

Defence minister commissions warship INS Imphal into Indian Navy in Mumbai

INS Imphal is the first Indian warship named after a city in the northeast

Traditions, innovations should be balanced in armed forces: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday stressed the need for maintaining traditions of the armed forces while adopting innovation and said there has to be a balance between both of them. Addressing the Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy at Dundigul near here, Singh opined that following traditions would only make the system like stagnant water in a lake, and if it is coupled with innovation, it will become a river always providing fresh water. Traditions are important in the armed forces, because they are time tested. They served useful purposes for a long time. That's why giving proper importance to the traditions is also necessary. There is one important thing. If we follow traditions without any thinking, there will be stagnation in our system naturally, the union minister said. He emphasised on the importance of innovation in the ever-changing circumstances in the world. Singh also exhorted the newly commissioned flying officers to always keep up their new thinki

Rajnath Singh urges corporate sector to focus on voluntary contributions

Commending the socially conscious people, especially the corporates, for their contributions, he termed it as a responsibility of the country to recognise these individuals

India-Australia 2+2 dialogue: Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in Delhi

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has already arrived in India for the 2+2 dialogue

Rajnath Singh pays brief visit to Singapore on his way back from Indonesia

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid a brief visit to Singapore on Saturday on his way back from Indonesia. In Singapore, Singh paid tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by laying a wreath at the Indian National Army (INA) marker, the defence ministry said. The defence minister paid a two-day visit to Indonesian capital Jakarta to attend a meeting of the 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and some of its dialogue partners. "After completing his tour to Indonesia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on his way back home, paid a brief visit to Singapore on November 18," the ministry said. It said the construction of a monument to commemorate the "Unknown Warriors" of the Indian National Army (INA) was proposed by Netaji himself and he had laid the foundation stone in July 1945. "Paid homage at the INA Memorial marker in Singapore. My heartfelt tributes to the 'Unknown Warriors' of the INA," Singh posted on X. In 1995, the National Heritage Board of Singapore erec

ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus: Rajnath to visit Indonesia

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a two-day visit to Indonesia to attend a meeting of a grouping comprising 10-nation ASEAN and some of its dialogue partners that is expected to deliberate on evolving regional security scenarios. Singh is likely to present India's views on dealing with major security challenges facing the region at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay an official visit to Indonesian capital Jakarta from November 16 to 17 to attend the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)," the defence ministry said. "During the meeting, which will take place on November 16, the defence minister will address the forum on regional and international security issues," it said in a ...

China removes missing Defense Minister Shangfu with no explanation

China has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation, state media reported on Tuesday. Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was removed from office in July with no explanation offered. Li, who became defense minister during a Cabinet reshuffle in March, hasn't been seen since giving a speech on August 29. There is no indication that the disappearances of Qin and Li signal a change in China's foreign or defense policies, although they have raised questions about the resilience of president and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping's circle of power. Xi has a reputation for valuing loyalty above all and has relentlessly attacked corruption in public and private, sometimes in what has been seen as a method of eliminating political rivals and shoring up his political position amid a deteriorating economy and rising tensions with US

Rajnath Singh to visit Italy, France from Oct 9-12 to strengthen ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a four-day visit to Italy and France beginning Monday to expand bilateral strategic engagement and explore industrial cooperation for joint development of military hardware. In the first leg of his two-nation tour, Singh will travel to Rome where he will hold wide-ranging talks with his Italian counterpart Guido Crisetto, according to the defence ministry. The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to the level of strategic partnership in March during the visit to India of the Italian prime minister. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Italy and France from October 9 to 12, " the ministry said. In Paris, Singh will attend the fifth annual India-France defence dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastian Lecornu. "India and France recently celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership. Both countries enjoy a deep and wide-ranging bilateral defence relationship, including significant industrial cooperation," the defence mini

Govt announces positive indigenisation list to boost defence manufacturing

India on Wednesday announced a fresh list of 98 military hardware including complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition that will only be only be procured from domestic industry after a ban on their import kicks in under a staggered time-line. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made the announcement about the fifth positive indigenisation list at the 'Swavlamban 2.0' seminar organised by the Indian Navy. The key items included in the list are futuristic infantry combat vehicle, remotely piloted airborne vehicles (up to 25 km range with payload of 2 kg for Army), shipborne unmanned aerial system, medium upgrade low endurance class tactical drone, next generation low-level light radar for Army and electro optic fire control system for naval platforms. The list also comprised armour plates for cabin nose section for Mi-17 helicopter, multifunction aviation ground equipment for Air Force, gravity rollers for Mi-17 V5 helicopter and flares of P-8I and MiG 29-K aircraft. The new "positi

India needs stronger armed forces to be developed nation by 2047: Rajnath

India needs stronger armed forces with modern equipment to become a developed nation by 2047, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday while underlining the need for effective utilisation of financial resources by the three services. Singh made the remarks after launching several digital initiatives of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) during its 276th annual day celebrations at Delhi Cantonment. Describing the DAD as the "guardian of defence finance", he emphasised the need to bolster the internal vigilance mechanism so that any suspicious activity can be detected and reviewed immediately. This, he said, will not only help in dealing with the problem quickly but also increase the trust of the people in the department. "If we wish to create a developed nation, we will need stronger armed forces with modern arms and equipment. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively utilise the financial resources available to us," Singh said. "There should be a fine balance between the

Rajnath calls for collective efforts to address Indo-Pacific complexities

Rajnath Singh postulated that Indo-Pacific is no longer a maritime construct, but a full-fledged geo-strategic construct that faces complex security challenges, including boundary disputes and piracy

Defence minister clears setting up of 23 Sainik Schools in partnership mode

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the setting up of 23 new Sainik Schools in partnership mode, officials said on Saturday. The new schools, besides their affiliation to respective education boards, will function under the aegis of the Sainik Schools Society and will follow the Rules and Regulations for new Sainik Schools in partnership mode prescribed by the Society, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The government has approved the initiative of setting up of 100 new Sainik schools in partnership with NGOs, private schools, and state governments in a graded manner class-wise, starting from Class VI onwards, it said. Under this initiative, a Memorandum of Agreement has been signed by the Sainik Schools Society with 19 new Sainik Schools located all over the country, the statement added. "Following further evaluation of applications for opening new Sainik Schools under partnership mode, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has approved setting up of 23 new Sainik Schools in

After foreign minister, now China's defence minister Li Shangfu is missing

Shangfu is known to be one of the staunchest supporters of Xi Jinping

Defence min launches 90 BRO infrastructure projects worth over Rs 2,900 cr

Since 2021, 295 infrastructure projects, valued at Rs 8,000 crore have been completed by BRO

Rajnath Singh to inaugurate 90 BRO projects including on Sept 12: Official

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on September 12 inaugurate 90 infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) including four airstrips and helipads built along the northern and western borders, a spokesperson of the ministry on Tuesday said. The projects includes 21 roads, 64 bridges, one tunnel, two air strips, and two helipads, he said. Singh will visit Samba district and inaugurate Devak bridge on Bishnah-Kaulpur-Phulpur road, he said. The bridge is a part of the 90 infrastructure projects of the BRO. The Union minister will also likely take part in the northern tech event at IIT-Jammu during his visit, he said.

Defence minister likely to attend North Tech Symposium in Jammu next month

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to attend the North Tech Symposium here next month, officials said on Sunday. More than 150 vendors are expected to showcase their military equipment in the three-day event starting September 11. The defence ministry is likely to undertake a two-day tour of the Jammu region from September 12 to inaugurate a bridge over river Devak in Samba district besides 74 other projects of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), including airstrips and tunnels, along the northern and western borders. Jammu-based Defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said the symposium to be held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu is a technology showcase event that provides an efficacious platform for army industry participation with an intent to interface directly with the end user and create awareness about contemporary technologies and equipment that can be exploited to meet operational and logistic requirements of the army's northern command. The event also ...

Army will give befitting reply to anyone trying to cast evil eye: Rajnath

India has always been a peace-loving nation, but will not spare those with "ill intention or hostility", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday, amid the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh and Pakistan's support to cross-border terrorism. On the eve of the 77th Independence Day, he also said the government is making all efforts to equip the armed forces with the latest weapons and training to meet future challenges. "We not only seek peace but also express our commitment to peace through our actions. But at the same time, we are also very clear that if anyone dares to look at us with ill intention or hostility, our forces will give a befitting reply," he said. The defence minister made the remarks in a message to soldiers. The message was aired on All India Radio. Highlighting the role of soldiers in maintaining India's sovereignty, Singh said, the nation stands with its gallant soldiers who protect the borders by putting their lives at stake without bothering

5 shortlisted for post of caretaker prime minister: Pak defence minister

Khawaja Asif also clarified that he had neither proposed the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the slot of caretaker prime minister nor expressed a desire at any stage

Air force day parade, flypast to be held in Prayagraj: Defence Ministry

The ceremonial parade will be conducted at Air Force Station, Bamrauli

Rajnath Singh on 3-day visit to Malaysia to boost bilateral defence ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday on a three-day visit that is aimed at further boosting bilateral defence and strategic ties. Singh is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart Dato' Seri Mohamad Hasan, besides calling on Prime Minister YB Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. "Delighted to arrive in the beautiful city of Kuala Lumpur. Looking forward to my engagements with the political leadership of Malaysia, further strengthening of bilateral defence ties and Enhanced Strategic Partnership," Singh tweeted. Malaysia is among a handful of countries showing keen interest in procuring India's indigenously developed Tejas aircraft. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. On Saturday, the defence ministry said Singh and Hasani will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen the engagements. "India and Malaysi