In his annual broadcast to the armed forces on the eve of Independence Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave congratulations for a formidable checklist of achievements, beginning with an Olympic gold medal gained by an Army Subedar, Neeraj Chopra, within the javelin throw.
Chopra, together with different Olympic medallists from the three providers have been invited to the Independence Day celebrations on the Red Fort tomorrow, the place Prime Minister Narendra Modi will handle the nation.
Rajnath lauded the ceasefire on the India-Pakistan Line of Control that has seen quietness on that border since February. He mentioned the ceasefire was holding “due to our (the military’s) vigilance and indomitable valour. Ceasefire violations have also come down since February 2021”.
“In Eastern Ladakh, efforts are being made to resolve the differences on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) through dialogue with China. The process of disengagement has been completed at some places,” mentioned the Raksha Mantri (RM).
The RM said that within the Union Budget for the present 12 months 2021-22 “Capital outlay has been increased from Rs 1.13 trillion to Rs 1.35 trillion, which is 18.75 per cent higher than the previous financial year.”
Singh said that of the 36 Rafale fighters contracted with France, 26 have arrived in India. “On July 28, the Rafale was formally inducted into 101 Squadron at Hashimara Air Force Station of Eastern Air Command… Soon the remaining Rafale plane will even arrive in India,” he mentioned.
The RM additionally talked about the Union Cabinet’s clearance on January 13 of 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at a price of Rs 45,696 crore. “Hindustan Aeronautics will manufacture these aircraft in India itself… strengthening the aim of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ in the field of defence,” he mentioned.
Rajnath heaped reward on the navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and Cochin Shipyard Ltd on the completion by the indigenous plane provider (IAC-1) of its four-day maiden sea voyage on August 8.
“INS Vikrant was designed by Indians. Built with more than 76 per cent indigenous material, the vessel is a major achievement of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India),” mentioned Rajnath.
The defence minister additionally lauded one other “Make in India” initiative that took off just lately – the Rs 40,000 crore building of six standard submarines beneath Project 75-India.
In a frontline know-how breakthrough, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had efficiently demonstrated hypersonic flight with the testing of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV), the RM mentioned.
Listing breakthroughs by the DRDO within the sphere of tactical missiles, Rajnath talked about the launch of an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) by means of a person transportable launcher. The New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile was additionally check fired efficiently. “The flight test has validated the functioning of complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system,” mentioned the RM.
Praising the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the minister pointed to “the incredible achievement of building the Atal [Behari Vajpayee] Tunnel… It was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on October 03, 2020. The 9.2 kilometre-long tunnel is the longest in the world, constructed at the height of more than 10,000 feet,” mentioned Rajnath.
The BRO created one other world report in July by developing a 52 kilometre-long charcoal street in Eastern Ladakh, crossing over Umlingla Pass, at an altitude of 19,300 toes.
Rajnath Singh introduced that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has determined to “set up 100 new Sainik Schools to prepare future generations of versatile brave warriors. All these schools will be co-ed which also benefit the daughters of our country…,” he mentioned.
Rajnath mentioned that “Continuous efforts are being made to increase the participation of women in all branches of the Indian Army… I extend my best wishes to 83 women soldiers who passed out in May 2021 after 61 weeks of rigorous training,” he mentioned.
Singling out the army for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the defence minister mentioned all wings of the MoD had established hospitals. “To address the shortage of oxygen in the medical system, 935 medical oxygen plants based on technology of DRDO are being set up in every district hospital funded by PM Care across the country,” mentioned Rajnath.
He additionally praised the DRDO for its main breakthrough to find medication for treating Covid-19. One of its laboratories, the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL), Hyderabad developed a really efficient drug known as 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) for treating Covid-19 sufferers.
