Nothing Will Be Brushed Under the Carpet: Gen Bikram Singh |
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 In his first public comments after taking over as Army Chief, Gen Bikram Singh today made it clear that no controversy in the force will be "brushed under the carpet". Sending a firm message to his 1.3 million force, Gen Singh said he will strive to maintain its "secular and apolitical" outlook. "Let us continue to be a secular and apolitical force and do our job the way it should be done," 59-year-old Singh told reporters after inspecting a guard of honour, a day after taking charge of the force from Gen V K Singh whose tenure was mired in controversies.
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Defence Minister to Visit Singapore for Regional Security Dialogue and Maritime Issues |
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 The Defence Minister AK Antony will be leaving for Singapore today to attend the 11th edition of the Shangri La Dialogue organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies. The Defence Minister will be expounding on issues like freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and other maritime prerogatives. Antony will also hold bilateral discussions with leaders from countries Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, France, Canada and Tonga.
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Mahindra Satyam Spreads Its Wings in France, Opens New Centre for Defence and Aerospace |
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 India’s leading private sector firms are making their presence felt in Europe with Mahindra Satyam setting up an exclusive delivery centre for aerospace and Defence in Toulouse, France. Mahindra Satyam is a leading consulting, engineering and IT services provider in India and this will be its second venture in Europe following its dedicated aerospace centre in Hamburg, Germany. According to Mahindra Satyam, the current move aims to consolidate the firm’s position in Europe and aims at forging greater ties.
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Private Defence Firms Seek Protection Against Weak Rupee |
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 Seeking safeguards against fluctuating value of Rupee, private Indian Defence companies today asked the government to provide them protection under the Foreign Exchange Rate Variation (FERV) policy for conducting business with foreign firms. Demanding an equal and fair treatment against the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), industry body FICCI also sought appointing a Joint Secretary-rank official in the acquisition wing of Defence Ministry to look after the interests of Indian private sector.
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HAL Signs Pact with Russia to Make Multi-Role Transport Aircraft |
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 The state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a contract with Russian firm United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to manufacture 205 multi-role transport aircraft (MTA) meant primarily for the Indian and Russian air forces. The MTA will be in the 15-20 tonne class and the project is estimated to cost $ 600 million. Besides HAL and UAC, another Russian firm - Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) - has been involved as a third partner in the joint venture.
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Defence Minister Approves Three-Fold Hike in Financial Powers of Defence Service Chiefs |
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 Following the raging criticism revolving around the defence preparedness of the country and its tardy rate of procurements, the Defence Minister AK Antony has decided to increase the financial powers of the three armed forces headquarters to allow purchases worth $ 30 million. Antony held a meeting with the army, navy and air force chiefs where the in-principle approval to a three-fold hike in the delegation of financial powers was assured.
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