Make in India gets a big boost – MoD places indent for supply of 156 upgraded BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles of value Rs 1,094 Cr on OFB
- In a major boost to ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government, Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) with the approval of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, has today placed an Indent on Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) for supply of 156 BMP 2/2k Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) with upgraded features for use of the Mechanised Forces of the Indian Army. Under this Indent, the ICVs will be manufactured by Ordnance Factory, Medak in Telangana at an approximate cost of Rs 1,094 crore.
- The BMP-2/2K ICVs are going to be powered by 285 horsepower engines and are lower in weight which will make them highly mobile to meet all tactical requirements of mobility in the battlefield. These ICVs will be able to reach a speed of 65 kilometres per hour (kmph) with easy steering ability in cross country terrain. They will have amphibious capabilities to travel at 07 kmph in water. These are designed to overcome slope of upto 35° cross obstacles of 0.7 metre and have lethal firepower capability.
- With the induction of these 156 BMP 2/2K ICVs, planned to be completed by 2023, the existing deficiency in the Mechanised Infantry Battalions will be mitigated and the combat capability of the Army will be further enhanced.
Western Naval Command Geared up for Emergency Response During Cyclone Nisarga and Monsoon
- The Indian Navy has been at the forefront of every effort to aid citizens in times of natural calamities and other contingencies requiring assistance for rescue and relief of the affected populace. With the monsoons imminent over the West Coast of India, the Western Naval Command has mobilised adequate resources for flood relief, rescue, and diving assistance in the event of excessive rainfall and flooding of both, urban and rural areas in coordination with the respective State Governments on the Western seaboard.
- In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Naval Area will be on standby with five Flood Rescue Teams and three Diving Teams throughout the monsoon season. These teams are stationed at various naval areas across the city to enable early response over a larger area. These teams are fully equipped and have been trained for rescue operations. Recce of known flood-prone areas has been undertaken and all necessary preparations are in place.
- Similar arrangements have been set up within the Karwar Naval Area, the Goa Naval Area as well as Gujarat Daman and Diu Naval Areas. The respective Area and Station Commanders are in touch with the State authorities, NDRF and SDRF to be able to respond to a crisis situation in the shortest possible time.
- In addition, naval Dornier aircraft and helicopters at various Naval Air Stations at Mumbai, Goa and Porbandar are ready at short notice to ferry teams inaccessible during floods as also rescue stranded personnel. The respective Area and Station Commanders are in touch with the State authorities, NDRF and SDRF to be able to respond to a crisis situation in the shortest possible time.
- With the cyclonic storm Nisarga brewing in the Arabian Sea, all teams have been put on alert and are in readiness to respond to any requirement of HADR during the storm period.
Operation Samudra Setu Details
- INS Jalashwa, deployed by the Indian Navy for “Operation Samudra Setu”, entered Tuticorin harbour on 02 June 2020 with 685 Indian nationals evacuated from Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Embarkation of Indian nationals was facilitated by the Indian Mission in Sri Lanka. Personnel were embarked onboard after carrying out requisite medical screening. COVID related safety protocols were also strictly adhered to during the sea-passage.
- The evacuees were received by local authorities at Tuticorin and arrangements were in place for speedy disembarkation, health screening, immigration, and transportation of the evacuees.
- With this evacuation, Indian Navy has now repatriated 2173 Indian nationals from Maldives (1488) and Sri Lanka (685) during the ongoing pandemic.
- INS Jalashwa would now be proceeding to Maldives for repatriation of approximate 700 Indian nationals on 05 June 2020.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh speaks with French Minister of Armed Forces – Agree to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between India and France
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with French Minister of Armed Forces, Ms Florence Parly yesterday. They discussed matters of mutual concern including COVID-19 situation, regional security and agreed to strengthen the Bilateral Defence Cooperation between India and France. Both Ministers appreciated the efforts made by Armed Forces of India and France in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
- France reaffirmed its commitment to ensure timely delivery of Rafale Aircraft despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Raksha Mantri welcomed French Chairmanship of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from 2020 to 2022. The two Ministers agreed to work together to fulfil the India-France Joint Strategic Vision on the Indian Ocean Region of 2018.
- The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, commonly known as IONS, are a series of biennial meetings among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean region. It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation, providing a forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promote friendly relationships among the member nations.
- IONS is a security construct for the Indian Ocean region which is similar to the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. It is a voluntary initiative among the navies and maritime security agencies of the member nations. In addition to the symposiums, numerous other activities like workshops, essay competitions and lectures are also held under the umbrella of the organization.
- The 24 member nations of the IONS are grouped into four sub-regions.
- There are eight states with observer status in IONS: China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Netherlands, Russia, and Spain.
Indian Navy opens its new base workshop at Bogda
- This is crucial for minor repairs of warships and other equipment.
- The Navy used to have its workshop at Baina but in 2017, the ministry of defence agreed to exchange 3,874sqm of defence land with MPT on an equitable cost basis.
- The base workshop at Goa was established in 1966 for providing general engineering services to naval ships and establishments at Goa Naval Area. The workshop was shifted from the old location at Baina to facilitate construction of the four-lane flyover to Mormugao Port Trust.
- The workshop is used by the Navy to repair equipment on warships as well as the hull and engine of vessels.
- Minister of state for defence Shripad Naik inaugurated the workshop, which was tendered for Rs 3.5 crore in 2017.
- The overall cost of shifting the Navy Base Workshop to the new location at Bogda was estimated at Rs 4.5 crore and the contract for construction of the workshop with all allied facilities was awarded to Panaji-based Abhiyant Realty.
Russia backs India on bilateral mechanism to address LAC standoff
- Russia on Monday expressed concern over standoff in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) but backed India on addressing the issue through established bilateral dialogue mechanisms with China.
- “We are confident that the Indian and Chinese friends are duly equipped to find way out for mutual satisfaction. We would encourage every endeavour in this regard,” Russian Deputy Ambassador to India Roman Babushkin said.
- China also referred to bilateral mechanism to address the issue. Referring to SCO-RIC mechanism the senior Russian diplomat said, “We also feel important to further enhance Russia India China (RIC) dialogue as well as SCO-based coordination as vital for regional stability and strengthening mutual trust.” Russia holds current SCO chairmanship.
1,000 JeM and LeT terrorists among 6,500 Pak fighters in Afghanistan – says UN report
- Most of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba fighters are co-located with Taliban fighters and are hand in glove with them, the report said.
- The UN monitoring team in its annual technical update to United Nations Security Council said, “The number of foreign terrorist fighters in search of a purpose and livelihood in Afghanistan, including up to 6,500 Pakistanis, will render this a complex challenge, which will require careful monitoring.
- Quoting Afghan officials, the report said, during Afghanistan visit that officials had told them, “Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba (are) among those groups posing a security threat”.
- According to Afghan interlocutors, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba facilitate the trafficking of terrorist fighters into Afghanistan, who act as advisers, trainers, and specialists in improvised explosive devices and “both groups are responsible for carrying out targeted assassinations against government officials and others.”
- Location of LeT and JeM according to UN report is Mohmand Darah, Dur Baba and Sherzad districts of Nangarhar Province. In Kunar Province, Lashkar-e-Taiba retains a further 220 fighters and Jaish-e-Mohammed has a further 30, all of whom are dispersed within Taliban forces.
- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan also has its presence in the country, with one-member state in the UN report said,” reported that the total number of Pakistani nationals fighting with terrorist groups in Afghanistan may be as high as 6,000 to 6,500.”
- Highlighting the narcotic smuggling networks, the report said, according to member state, “networks operate in Nangarhar (eastern province bordering Pakistan) and into Pakistan” and with “acquiescence of security officials who regulate and profit from smuggling of heroin, hashish”.
- The revenues are “ultimately shared between security officials, heads of the smuggling syndicates (known as Tanzeems) and Taliban” and this is a “big source of revenue for the Taliban”, the report noted.
- District smugglers pay tax to Taliban district commander of Rs 200 Pakistani Rs ($1.30) per kilogram of heroin and smugglers are provided documentation by each Taliban commander certifying payment of tax before proceeding to next district.
- The UN monitoring team was informed about illicit extraction of gold, copper, aragonite, tin by Taliban in districts not under Afghan govt control and interestingly mining companies in Balochistan province of Pakistan are involved in excavating the precious minerals. The minerals are refined in Karachi and sold as products in Pakistan.
- The report highlighted the links between the Taliban and al-Qaeda as well. The report said, “Relations between the Taliban, especially the Haqqani Network and al-Qaeda remain close, based on friendship, a history of shared struggle, ideological sympathy and intermarriage.”
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- Which Ordinance Factory is authorized to manufacture under the indent for supply of 156 BMP 2/2k Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) with upgraded features for use of the Mechanised Forces of the Indian Army?
- Ordnance Factory Bhandara (OFBA), Maharashtra
- Ordnance Factory Dehradun (OFDUN), Uttarakhand
- Ordnance Factory Project Medak (OFPM), Telangana
- Ordnance Factory Project Nalanda (OFN), Bihar
ANSWER: C
- Russian Deputy Ambassador to India:
- Roman Babushkin
- Nikolai Kudashev
- Anatoly Antonov
- Kenneth I. Juster
ANSWER: A
- Which country holds current SCO chairmanship?
- India
- China
- Pakistan
- Russia
ANSWER: D
- V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust (formerly Tuticorin Port Trust) is one of the 13 major ports in India. It is:
- largest container terminal in India
- second-largest container terminal in India
- third-largest container terminal in India
- fourth-largest container terminal in India
ANSWER: D
- Which among the following terrorist group(s) is/are posing a security threat in Afghanistan as per the recent UN report?
- Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
- Jaish-e-Mohammed
- Lashkar-e-Taiba
- All of the above
ANSWER: D
