Military manoeuvres planned in May
(The Hindu, 30 April 2002)

Army's war games in Rajasthan sector
(Hindustan Times, 30 April 2002)

Gallantry awards for 15 CRPF personnel
(The Hindu, 30 April 2002)

Army likely to strike ULFA bases in Bhutan
(Hindustan Times, 30 April 2002)

Indo-US defence ties
(Hindustan Times, 29 April 2002)

Army and IAF hold joint manoeuvres
(Times of India, 29 April 2002)

DRDO secretary rules out any sabotage in HEMRL fire
(Hindustan Times, 29 April 2002)

Lt. Gen. S.S. Grewal retires
(MoD Press Release, 29 April 2002)

Lt. Gen. S.S. Grewal, Adjutant General at Army HQ, retired on 29 April 2002 after completing 40 years in the Indian Army. An alumnus of the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Lt. Gen. Grewal was commissioned into the 5 JAK Rifles in June 1962 and participated in the 1965 and 1971 conflicts against Pakistan. He commanded the Ladakh Scouts at Partapur and on promotion to Brigadier commanded an Infantry Brigade in the Western Sector. He was awarded the Sena Medal for the flood relief operation undertaken in Punjab in 1989. As a General Officer, he commanded a Division in the Kashmir Valley and a Corps in the Eastern Sector. Lt. Gen. Grewal was appointed as Adjutant General at Army HQ in 1998 and was Colonel of the JAK Rifles and Ladakh Scouts. He is also the Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Military Police and Judge Advocate General's Branch. Lt. Gen. Grewal is decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Cruel Siachen hits jawans below the belt
(Hindustan Times, 27 April 2002)

Chowpatty hosts unique war drill
(Times of India, 25 April 2002)

India's nuclear command to be in place by June
(Hindustan Times, 25 April 2002)

India decides to set up eminent persons group
(Deccan Herald, 24 April 2002)

As part of the Centre's move to revamp the defence procurement system, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the setting up of an eminent persons group (EPG), comprising former defence and vigilance officials, to screen all defence deals in future. At the same time, a fast track channel for purchasing remote sensors and weapon-locating radar has also been established. Announcing this at an Indo-Russian defence seminar, Defence Secretary Yogendra Narain said that the EPG to be set up in the line of similar agency existing in France would vet all defence deals once negotiations were complete. The group will also have financial experts though its composition has been kept a secret.

The government's decision came in the wake of Tehelka episode, which brought the shortcomings in the defence procurement system into the limelight. Faced with severe criticism, the government announced greater transparency in defence deals and revamping of the procurement system as a part of which a Defence Procurement Board (DPB) has been put in place. The Centre is also expected to bring transparency in the role of quintessential middlemen in all arms deals. The new measures are expected to increase the quantum of arms purchases and Secretary Narain cited figures to claim that the measures have already started producing dividends.

Secretary Narain said that between April 2000 and September 2001, army purchases had rose from 65 to 131 while the corresponding figures for the Navy and Air Force is from 8 to 15 and 10 to 24 respectively. The fast track channel is another significant initiative on the part of the ministry. Making a case for the decision, the secretary said that the recent Indo-US deal to acquire eight weapon-locating radars was decided quickly since it was put under the fast track channel with US invoking the Foreign Ministry sales rules. On prospective Russian deals, Secretary Narain said that a standard contract document has been framed up with Russia for accelerating defence deals. Though he did not disclose the immediate deals in which India is evincing interest, there are reports that acquiring a nuclear submarine on lease from Russia, the Phalcon airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) from Israel and Tu-22 long-range sea-based bombers are the three priorities.

India looks at larger role in Asia
(Rediff, 23 April 2002)

CISF to handle Taj security from May 1
(Times of India, 23 April 2002)

Provision of aerial cableway in Siachen
(MoD Press Release, 23 April 2002)

The Government has decided to provide aerial cableway in the Siachen Glacier. An aerial cableway from Takpochand Top to Point 5310, covering a distance of 2 km, has been completed. Proposal for construction of two more cableways are under consideration. These are likely to be completed by September 2004.

Overhaul facilities for BMPs
(MoD Press Release, 23 April 2002)

The overhaul facilities for the BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicle have been established at Army Base Workshop, Kirkee since 1997. Overhaul facilities for BMP-II are yet to be established. The overhaul facilities for BMP-II were originally to be established with the help of the erstwhile USSR. However, due to break up of the Soviet Union and high cost of the project, it was decided to set up the overhaul facilities in India without Russian help. Being first project of its kind in the country, time is being taken to establish the facilities. Steps have been taken to indigenise the spares (6800 spares in range) required for overhaul. Technical specifications and complete designing of major Plant & Machinery and Specialist Equipment and related civil works for the establishment of overhaul facilities for BMP-II are under preparation.

Pakistan slams Indo-US radar deal
(Rediff, 22 April 2002)

Pakistan moves tanks closer to border
(The Tribune, 22 April 2002)

Over-stretching of BSF, CRPF jawans affect efficiency
(Daily Excelsior, 22 April 2002)

Greater role for TA stressed MoD Consultative Committee Meets
(MoD Press Release, 22 April 2002)

Defence Minister George Fernandes has underlined the need for expansion of the Territorial Army (TA), in view of its increasing role in assistance to civil administration and maintenance of essential services. He was addressing the meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry in New Delhi on April 22nd. The Defence Minister said that the report of the KP Singh Deo Committee on the TA and the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) have to be considered and implemented. This would make the TA a visible platform for disciplined and trained citizens from all walks of life to support the regular Army he said. The strength of the TA has been recommended to be 80,000 to 100,000 by the year 2007 by the KP Singh Deo Committee. The present authorised strength is 40,085.

Defence Minister Fernandes informed the members that the Government has also accepted the provision of 20% reserve of TA officers to remove the deficiency of Company Commanders in Infantry Battalions (TA) doing embodiment for operational purposes. Defence Minister Fernandes accepted the suggestions made by some members of Parliament to include women in non-departmental as well as departmental units of TA initially in the officers' rank and later in the lower ranks. At present women are serving only in the General Hospital and Signal Regiments of the TA. He said that the suggestion of compulsory inclusion of Government employees in the TA should be explored and the private sector should also be involved, keeping in view the terrorist activities and danger to strategic enterprises the Defence Minister said. Defence Minister Fernandes suggested that the TA and Ex-Servicemen could also play a major role in the proposed Trans-Himalayan Development Authority.

The TA which is commonly known as the Citizens' Army is composed of 31 Infantry Battalions and 19 Departmental TA Units such as Railway Engineer Regiments, Oil Sector, Ecological, Signals and General Hospitals Units. The TA, which carries out operational tasks, internal security duties and aid to civil authorities in support of the regular Army, has played a commendable role. The TA units have also been embodied for the ongoing Operation Parakram and deployed with various defence units, including protection of essential service and Oil and Natural Gas installations in Gujarat.

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	A section of Indian Army Jawans get ready for firing-exercise in Punjab, India, near the international border (IB) with Pakistan on 21 April 2002. [Image © Yahoo News]
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	Indian Army Jawans during a live firing-exercise in Punjab, India, near the international border (IB) with Pakistan on 21 April 2002. [Image © Yahoo News]
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War games add to summer heat
(Indian Express, 21 April 2002)

BSF record: Guilty are seldom punished
(Times of India, 21 April 2002)

News Articles from 20 April 2002 - 01 April 2002

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