Indian Military

CHANDIGARH: Welcome to fortress Chandigarh, the city which, along with Mohali and Panchkula, resembles an armed garrison. With anti-aircraft guns placed strategically and Mohali declared a no-fly zone, no stone is being left unturned to secure the city before the prime ministers of India and Pakistan — along with a host of dignitaries from both countries — arrive for the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters are on standby for air surveillance and fighter jets at Ambala are just a moment away from scrambling in case of emergency. Foolproof security is not confined to the multi-tier system that includes Special Protection Group (SPG), National Security Guard (NSG), and Central and state police forces. For, also roped in is the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) — a highly specialized technical intelligence gathering agency under the National Security Adviser.
A high level source told TOI that NTRO is tasked with air surveillance and it`s expected to use Israeli-made unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).

[Stratpost]

The Indian Air Force (IAF) commander Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik had announced in February at Aero India 2011 in Bangalore that the shortlist for the 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender would be announced in the next few weeks. Then a few weeks back, he upped the pressure on the Ministry of Defense again, while addressing the Indian Women’s Press Corps. Indo-Asian News Service reported him as saying, “The cost negotiation for MMRCA will begin by the end of this month. I expect the contract to be signed before I retire from service in July this year.”

This pressure is likely intended to get the ministry to move on the outstanding issues related to the MMRCA tender process. Work remains to be done for it to be taken to its logical conclusion (The response this pressure elicits may well be a separate soap opera altogether). But the ministry is also under pressure to meet the April-end deadline for the expiry of the commercial offers submitted by the six vendors.

NEW DELHI: Even as skeletons keep on tumbling out of its rather huge cupboard, the Commonwealth Games organizing committee (OC) now seems to be also running out of money. The defence ministry, much to its consternation, has been asked to provide military personnel and facilities free of cost for the Games. It had earlier been assured of Rs 11.29 crore for providing organisational support in terms of personnel, horses and bands as well as Army and NCC barracks to house performing artists from different zonal cultural centres from August to mid-October.

But urban development minister Jaipal Reddy earlier this month wrote a letter to defence minister A K Antony to actively intervene in "ensuring" the "full participation" of the armed forces on a "no cost" basis to the OC.

This has startled the MoD because it had earlier reached an agreement with the OC, after a series of meetings, that service officers would be paid a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000, while other ranks and JCOs will get Rs 10,000-14,000.

NEW DELHI: Even as skeletons keep on tumbling out of its rather huge cupboard, the Commonwealth Games organizing committee (OC) now seems to be also running out of money. The defence ministry, much to its consternation, has been asked to provide military personnel and facilities free of cost for the Games. It had earlier been assured of Rs 11.29 crore for providing organisational support in terms of personnel, horses and bands as well as Army and NCC barracks to house performing artists from different zonal cultural centres from August to mid-October.

But urban development minister Jaipal Reddy earlier this month wrote a letter to defence minister A K Antony to actively intervene in "ensuring" the "full participation" of the armed forces on a "no cost" basis to the OC.

This has startled the MoD because it had earlier reached an agreement with the OC, after a series of meetings, that service officers would be paid a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000, while other ranks and JCOs will get Rs 10,000-14,000.

NEW DELHI: The Urban development ministry has sought the assistance of defence minister A K Antony to ensure the Army does not charge the Organising Committee for certain facilities provided by it during the Commonwealth Games.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said the chairman of the Group of Ministers for CWG Jaipal Reddy has written a letter to A K Antony requesting him to ask the Army not to charge for certain facilities it was providing during the Games, scheduled to begin in October.

"... So they have agreed to do somethings free of charge, for some, they will charge," said Kalmadi.

It is learnt that in his letter, Urban development minister Reddy has requested Antony that the Army should not charge the Organising Committee (OC) for allowances for the officers and jawans who are on duty for the sporting event.

Reddy has also sought waiving off charges for Army facilities being used by artists for the Opening Ceremony -- places where they will practice and stay.