Tag: defence

Pak Defence Minister acknowledges country has already gone bankrupt

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Sialkot: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif suggested on Saturday that one-fourth of Pakistans debt could be paid off if only two golf clubs built on expensive government land are sold, media reports said.
The minister acknowledged that the country has already gone bankrupt, and that the solution to the country’s problems lies within the country, and not with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Samaa TV reported.
He also blamed the establishment, bureaucracy, and politicians for the current economic situation.
Asif revealed that he has been in the Parliament for 33 years and had witnessed the country’s politics being disgraced for 32 of those years.
The PML-N leader also pointed out that golf clubs had been built on government land, and that selling two of them would reduce one-fourth of Pakistan’s debt, Samaa TV reported.
Asif also expressed his condolences for the loss of personnel in the fight against terrorism, saying that security agencies are working tirelessly to combat the issue.
He claimed that terrorists were allowed to settle in the country two years ago.
Asif also said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will announce major austerity measures in all government institutions to control the fiscal deficit by minimising government expenditures, The Express Tribune reported.

Meanwhile, the opposition also proposed to the government to take some bold decisions and implement austerity measures to cut its expenditures in order to steer the country out of the economic crisis.
Opposition leader Shahzad Waseem said that the rulers had closed corruption cases involving Rs 1,100 billion and the Pakistani people were bearing the brunt of it. He also expressed fear that the new budgetary measures would stoke inflation, The Express Tribune reported.
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#Pak #Defence #Minister #acknowledges #country #bankrupt
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 18, 2023
Zelensky discusses defence aid with Dutch PM

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Kiev: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte discussed defense aid for Kyiv and new sanctions on Russia.
At the talks, Zelensky thanked the Netherlands for the decision to transfer Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine and the participation in the “tank coalition”, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the presidential press service.
The Netherlands together with Germany and Denmark are preparing to hand over about 100 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Zelensky said.
This year, the Netherlands allocated 2.5 billion euros (about $2.67 billion) for helping Ukraine in the military, financial, humanitarian, and legal spheres, he added.
Zelensky has called for imposing new sanctions on Moscow over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including restrictive measures against the nuclear sphere, the missile industry, the IT sector, and all industries and enterprises that contribute to the implementation of the Russian missile program or the production of drones.
For his part, Rutte said that his country stands ready not only to supply tanks and air defense systems to Ukraine, but also to provide training and exercises for the Ukrainian military.
Rutte also announced that the International Center for the Investigation of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine will be established in the Netherlands to collect evidence of crimes.
Rutte arrived in Kiev earlier in the day for his second visit since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict nearly one year ago.

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#Zelensky #discusses #defence #aid #Dutch
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 18, 2023
Indian defence secretary meets delegations from Oman, US, Saudi

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New Delhi: Union Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane on Sunday held bilateral meetings with three defence delegations on the sidelines of Aero India 2023 in Bengaluru, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Defence.
Aramane met General Manager Industrial Relations Saudi Arabia Engr Turki Saad and held discussions on a number of bilateral defence cooperation issues. The US delegation led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Jedijiah P. Royal, and accompanied by Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, charge d’affairs US Embassy and US Air Force, met Defence Secretary Julian Cheator and the Union Defence Secretary.
Later Aramane also met another delegation from Oman led by Secretary General Ministry of Defence Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, reviewing the ongoing defence cooperation. During the meeting with the Union Defence Secretary, the discussions centred on increasing the depth and scope of engagements.
A warm welcome for the Saudi delegation on their arrival at Bengaluru Airport for #AeroIndia2023. The 20 member delegation will be participating in high level discussions & bilateral meetings during the 5 day event besides interacting with 🇮🇳 Govt & Private defence industries. pic.twitter.com/GH2oN4UdNx
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) February 13, 2023
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Aero India at Bengaluru on Monday. Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, led the Gurukul formation during the flypast at the inaugural ceremony of the mega air show.
The five-day event will focus on displaying indigenous equipment/technologies and forging partnerships with foreign companies. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the theme of Aero India 2023 is ‘The Runway to a Billion Opportunities’.
The event will also help integrate domestic MSMEs and start-ups in the global supply chain and attract foreign investments including partnerships for co-development and co-production.
Aero India 2023 has enlisted participation by more than 80 countries. Ministers of 30 countries and 65 CEOs of global and Indian OEMs are likely to participate in Aero India 2023.
The event will also see the participation of more than 800 defence companies, including about 100 foreign and 700 Indian firms.

Major exhibitors in Aero India 2023 include Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industry, BrahMos Aerospace, Army Aviation, HC Robotics, SAAB, Safran, Rolls Royce, Larsen and Toubro, Bharat Forge Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and BEML Limited.
Defence Secretary apprised the GAMI officials of the vast potential in joint collaboration initiatives between the two countries in sync with @makeinindia initiatives & @SaudiVision2030. Defence Attache from the Embassy Col G. S. Grewal also attended the meeting.
#🇸🇦🇮🇳Friendship pic.twitter.com/7qeUiVc8si
— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) February 12, 2023
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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#Indian #defence #secretary #meets #delegations #Oman #Saudi
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 13, 2023
CBI arrests official of principal controller defence accounts

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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Auditor working in the office of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, Pensions, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a woman for clearing the pensionary dues of her deceased father (a former Army officer), officials said.
A senior CBI official said that a case was registered against Neeraj Kumar Kaushal, the senior Auditor, for demanding the bribe of Rs 30,00 from the woman.
The official added that a trap was laid and the accused was caught while accepting the bribe through bank account of his close friend (working in the Bank of India, Lucknow).
Searches are being conducted at the premises of the accused, including at Prayagraj, Aligarh and Lucknow.
The accused will be produced before the competent court.
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#CBI #arrests #official #principal #controller #defence #accounts

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023
Defence expenditure was 14.08 pc of central government expenses in 2022-23: Govt

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New Delhi: In 2022-23, the defence expenditure was 14.08 percent of the central government expenses, Parliament was informed on Monday.
The expenditure-related data for 2022-23 referred to the budget estimate figures, according to data shared in a written response by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in Rajya Sabha.
The defence expenditure was 5,55,484 crore while the central government expenditure was 39,44,909 crore for the year 2022-23, according to the data shared by the government in the response.
The defence expenditure was 5,23,330 crore while the central government expenditure was 35,09,836 crore for 2020-21, the percentage being 14.91 percent.
In 2015-16, the defence expenditure was 3,27,096 crore while the central government expenditure was 17,90,783 crore, the percentage being 18.27 percent, as per the data.
“It is seen from above data that Defence Expenditure as a percentage of Central
Government Expenditure may appear to be decreasing due to increasing trend in the growth of Central Government Expenditure. However, Defence Expenditure is increasing in absolute terms, implying higher spending,” the minister said in his response.
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#Defence #expenditure #central #government #expenses #Govt

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 6, 2023
Ukrainian Defence minister meets French Prez on Kiev’s defence needs

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Kiev: Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has said that he met French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss Ukraine’s defence needs.
Describing the conversation as “frank and productive,” he tweeted on Wednesday that the urgent operational needs of the Ukrainian Army were on the agenda.
Reznikov, who arrived in France on Tuesday for a two-day visit, thanked Macron and the French people for their support for Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a separate tweet, the Minister said he signed a memorandum with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and the Thales Group on the supply of MG-200 radars for Ukrainian air defenders.
The radars, Reznikov added, will help the Ukrainian military to spot enemy drones and missiles, including ballistic missiles.
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#Ukrainian #Defence #minister #meets #French #Prez #Kievs #defence

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Defence Budget: Focus on operational preparedness; thrust on Agniveers’ training

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New Delhi: In the Defence Budget, the focus has been given towards maintaining a high-level of Operational Preparedness of the Services to face the current and future challenges, while the non-salary revenue operational allocation gets a boost of Rs 27,570 crore, with the budgetary outlay under this segment augmented from Rs 62,431 crore in BE 2022-23 to Rs 90,000 crore in BE 2023-24.
The enhanced allocations in the Budget will also cater to Training Aids and Simulators for Agniveers and ensure that they achieve the set standards of training for induction into the Defence Forces.
“This will cater to sustenance of weapon systems, platforms including ships/ aircraft and their logistics; boost fleet serviceability; emergency procurement of critical ammunition and spares; procuring/hiring of niche capabilities to mitigate capability gaps wherever required; progress stocking of military reserves, strengthening forward defences, amongst others,” said the Ministry of Defence.
As a precursor to this increase in the Non-Salary Revenue segment, the government during the Mid-term review had also enhanced the operational allotments of the current financial year by Rs 26,000 crore, which works out as 42 per cent of the present allocation.
This unprecedented increase in the Revised Estimates 2022-23 has ensured liquidation of the entire carry over liabilities during the current year, thereby, ensuring that there is no dent in next year’s operational outlay of the services.
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#Defence #Budget #Focus #operational #preparedness #thrust #Agniveers #training
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023
Rs 5.94 lakh crore allocated to defence ministry in Union Budget

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New Delhi: The defence budget was on Wednesday increased to Rs 5.94 lakh crore for 2023-24 in a modest hike of 13 percent from last year’s allocation of Rs 5.25 lakh crore amid India’s continuing border row with China in eastern Ladakh and concerns over rising Chinese forays into the Indian Ocean Region.
In the Union Budget presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a total of Rs 1,62,600 crore was set aside to the military for capital expenditure that largely includes purchasing new weapons, aircraft, warships and other military hardware.
For 2022-23, the budgetary allocation for capital outlay was Rs 1.52 lakh crore but the revised estimate showed the expenditure at Rs 1.50 lakh crore.
The capital allocations of Rs 1,62,600 crore marked a hike of Rs 10,230 crore over last year’s outlay and it is a 6.7 per cent increase. The capital budget of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been increased to Rs 5,000 crore as against Rs 3,500 crore in 2022-23 which is a hike of 43 per cent.
“The Union Budget for the Financial Year 2023-24 envisages a total outlay of Rs. 45,03,097 crore. Of this, Ministry of Defence has been allocated a total Budget of Rs 5,93,537.64 crore, which is 13.18 per cent of the total GoI Budget,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
The total revenue expenditure has been pegged at Rs 4,22,162 crore that included Rs 1,38,205 crore for defence pensions, Rs 2,70,120 crore for defence services and Rs 13,837 crore for the Ministry of Defence (Civil).
The capital outlay for the Indian Air Force was the highest at Rs 57,137.09 crore that included Rs 15,721 crore for procurement of aircraft and aero engines and Rs 36,223.13 crore for other equipment.
An amount of Rs 52,804 crore was set aside as the capital outlay for the Indian Navy as against Rs 47,590 crore given to the force in 2022-23.

The capital outlay for the Army has been pegged at Rs 37,241 crore which included Rs 5,500 crore for procurement of aircraft and aero-engines and Rs 21,300 for other equipment. The capital allocation to the force in last year’s budget was Rs 32,015 crore.
Dr Laxman Kumar Behera, Associate Professor at Special Centre for National Security Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the increase in the allocation has been satisfactory considering the economic headwinds in view of impact of various global developments.
“The budget has given the armed forces a modest hike. The capital outlay for the Indian Navy has been on an upswing for the last few years because of China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean Region. This is a significant aspect in the defence budget for 2023-24 as well,” Behera told PTI.
Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen (retd) Subrata Saha said the budget intends to boost manufacturing and build on India’s strength in the digital domain.
“In defence, domestic manufacturing will get further impetus with efforts to also increase exports from India,” he said.
Saha said the increase in the allocation for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will push the border connectivity infrastructure.
The defence ministry said the increase in the capital budget since 2019-20 has been Rs 59,200 crore which it said is a 57 percent increase.
“This increase is a reflection of the government’s commitment towards sustainable augmentation in the area of modernisation and infrastructure development of the defence services,” it said.
The allocation to Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has been put at Rs 23,264 crore.
According to the budget documents, an allocation of Rs 2,70,120 crore has been made to the armed forces for revenue expenditure that includes expenses on payment of salaries and maintenance of establishments. The budgetary allocation of revenue expenditure in 2022-23 was Rs 2,33,000 crore.
In the budget for 2023-24, the capital outlay for the Ministry of Defence (Civil) has been pegged at Rs 8774 crore. The total capital outlay considering Rs 1,62,600 crore for the armed forces and Rs 8,774 crore to defence ministry comes to Rs 1,71,374 crore.
The revenue expenditure for the Army has been put at Rs 1,82,649 crore followed by Rs 44,345 crore for the IAF and Rs 32,284 crore for the Indian Navy.
Under the revenue outlay, the Indian Navy has been allocated an amount of Rs 32,284.20 crore as against a budgetary allocation of Rs 25,406.42 crore and revised estimate of Rs 30,734.58 crore for 2022-23.
The revenue expenditure of the Indian Air Force has been projected at Rs 44,345.58 crore as against budgetary outlay of Rs 32,873.46 crore and revised estimate of Rs 44,728.10 crore for 2022-23.
The gross budgetary support under the central sector head was put at Rs 950 crore.
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#lakh #crore #allocated #defence #ministry #Union #Budget
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023