logo
MoD closes Rs 1,982 cr defence hardware deals

MoD closes Rs 1,982 cr defence hardware deals

Hans India25-06-2025
New Delhi: In a significant move to strengthen the Indian Army's operational readiness in counter-terrorism operations, the Ministry of Defence has concluded 13 contracts worth Rs1,981.9 crore under the Emergency Procurement mechanism, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
The key equipment being procured includes Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction Systems, Low Level Lightweight Radars, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems and Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicles.
Loitering Munitions, including Vertical Take-Off and Landing systems, various categories of drones, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles, Night Sights for Rifles, Bullet Proof Jackets and Ballistic Helmets also form part of the list.
These contracts, amounting to Rs1,981.90 crore, have been finalised against an overall sanctioned outlay of Rs2,000 crore for the Indian Army. Executed through fast-track procedures under the EP mandate, the procurement aims to enhance situational awareness, lethality, mobility, and protection for troops deployed in CT environments. The acquisitions were completed within compressed timelines to ensure rapid capability augmentation, according to the statement.
These procurements reflect the Ministry's commitment to equipping the Indian Army with modern, mission-critical, and completely indigenous systems to meet emerging security challenges. The emergency procurement route continues to be a key enabler in bridging urgent capability gaps and ensuring the timely induction of vital operational equipment, the statement added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr
No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr

India.com

time4 hours ago

  • India.com

No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr

New Delhi: After Operation Sindoor, India's defense upgrades are speeding ahead like a bullet train. With over Rs 3 lakh crore being pumped into military modernisation, the government is on a mission to acquire or indigenously develop fighter jets, submarines and advanced missile systems. One by one, big-ticket purchases are being cleared, and the pace is relentless. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence approved military procurements worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in one go. Among them, Rs 44,000 crore has been set aside for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels and Rs 36,000 crore has been sanctioned for six regiments of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system, better known as QRSAM. These six QRSAM regiments will be split evenly between the Indian Air Force and the Army. But here is the twist. This is only a fraction of what the armed forces actually asked for. The Army had demanded 11 regiments. What they got was only three. The Air Force's separate demand? Also unmet. If both services were to receive the full complement, 11 regiments each, the total cost would have soared to Rs 1.12 lakh crore. But the government stopped short. Enter the 'Baby S-400' Apart from being a missile defense system, QRSAM is being nicknamed the 'Baby S-400'. India already has three operational regiments of Russia's S-400 system and expects two more by next year. But defense planners know that S-400s and indigenous Akash systems alone cannot transform the country into a secure fortress. The threat matrix has changed. China is watching, and so is Pakistan. And they are not standing still. Operation Sindoor proved India's air defense muscle. But it also exposed gaps, ones that Pakistan tried to exploit through waves of drone incursions, many supplied by Turkey and China. Hundreds were launched. All were neutralised. But the lesson stuck – air defense needs to be multi-layered, relentless and everywhere. That is where the QRSAM fits in. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is built to intercept fighters, drones and helicopters within a 30 km radius. Not as long-range as the S-400's 400 km or Akash's 100-200 km reach, but perfect for quick and short-range airspace protection in dense threat environments. More importantly, it's Indian-made, fast, precise and combat-ready. Not Enough for a Fortress At Rs 6,000 crore per regiment, scaling up to the Army's full demand alone would cost Rs 66,000 crore. Add the Air Force's likely mirror request and you are staring at a Rs 1.12 lakh crore bill. Expensive? Yes. But what is the price of making the skies over India completely off-limits to 5th-gen fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles or worse? With full deployment, India's air defense would shift from deterrence to denial. Nothing would be able to breach the perimeter. During Operation Sindoor, India's air defenses held. But in military planning, holding is never enough. The military is not asking for luxury, it is asking for survivability. Against future drone swarms, supersonic fighters or long-range missile salvos, six regiments are just a start. If the government greenlights the remaining 16 regiments, the Army and the Air Force both, it would send a message that India is preparing. And once QRSAM rings the nation's skies, even the birds will need clearance to fly.

India-UK trade deal: Lobster, shrimp, pomfret export to benefit under CETA's duty-free access to British market
India-UK trade deal: Lobster, shrimp, pomfret export to benefit under CETA's duty-free access to British market

Mint

time11 hours ago

  • Mint

India-UK trade deal: Lobster, shrimp, pomfret export to benefit under CETA's duty-free access to British market

India-UK trade deal: India's seafood exports to the United Kingdom are set to gain market share after both nations signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on Thursday, 24 July 2025. The CETA offers zero-tariff access and opens up key services sectors for both nations. India's Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said that the recent trade deal will help exporters gain market share for key seafood exports to the United Kingdom, such as Vannamei shrimp, lobsters, and frozen pomfret. 'India's key seafood exports to the UK currently include Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimp—all of which are expected to gain further market share under CETA's duty-free access,' said the Ministry in an official statement. This will be achieved by removing UK import tariffs on a wide range of seafood items for Indian exporters, as part of the trade deal. 'Under the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), all fish and fisheries commodities falling under the UK tariff schedule categories marked 'A' now enjoy 100% duty-free access from the date of entry into force of the agreement,' said the Ministry. The CETA deal will also benefit 'labour-intensive sectors' like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, among others, which India exports to the European nation. 'This is expected to particularly benefit exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added marine products—boosting India's presence in one of its major seafood destinations alongside labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery,' they said in the statement. The Indian seafood export industry reached a total export worth $7.38 billion or ₹ 60,523 crore in the financial year 2024-25, marking a total of 1.78 million metric tonnes in quantity, according to the official data. Out of the total exports, Frozen shrimp ranked the highest at 66% worth $4.88 billion. Seafood exports to Britain were valued at $104 million or ₹ 879 crore in the same period, with frozen shrimp contributing nearly 77% of the total exports to the UK. 'However, India's share in the UK's $5.4 billion seafood import market is just 2.25%. With CETA now in force, industry estimates project a 70% surge in marine exports to the UK in the coming years,' said the Ministry of Fisheries in the official statement. Coastal states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are key contributors to the total seafood exports to foreign nations. With this move, India aims to capitalise on duty-free access to the UK markets, uplift coastal livelihoods, enhance industry revenues, and strengthen the nation's reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality, sustainable seafood. The Ministry also stated that this opportunity will allow seafood exporters to diversify beyond traditional partners like the US and China.

Chandigarh's Tribune Chowk flyover project's revised Rs 240-crore estimate gets Centre's nod
Chandigarh's Tribune Chowk flyover project's revised Rs 240-crore estimate gets Centre's nod

Indian Express

time14 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Chandigarh's Tribune Chowk flyover project's revised Rs 240-crore estimate gets Centre's nod

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has granted in-principle approval for a revised project estimate of Rs 240 crore for the construction of the Tribune Chowk flyover, officials confirmed. The clearance came during a high-level meeting between officials from the Ministry and the Union Territory Administration held in New Delhi. The approval allows the Chandigarh Administration to proceed with issuing a fresh tender for the project, which had been stalled for several years. According to officials, once the contract is awarded, construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months. Originally approved by the Ministry on February 11, 2019, the Tribune Chowk project was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 183.74 crore, and work was awarded shortly after, on February 19, 2019. The project includes the construction of a 1.6-kilometre six-lane flyover, along with a rotary and an underpass, aimed at decongesting the ever-busy Tribune intersection. The flyover is planned to start about 200 metres after the GMCH-32 roundabout, crossing over Tribune Chowk on National Highway-5, and extending up to 300 metres beyond the existing railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg. Once completed, the elevated road is expected to significantly ease vehicular pressure at the Tribune Chowk, which currently handles a daily traffic volume of more than 1.43 lakh vehicles, including over 1.35 lakh passenger car units (PCUs). The project, however, faced delays due to environmental concerns. In response to a petition filed by the Run Club, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had imposed a stay on the felling of nearly 700 trees required for construction along the Dakshin and Purv Marg corridors. This stay, granted on November 20, 2019, effectively stalled progress for several years. A turning point came on May 1 this year, when the High Court lifted the stay. Following the court's green signal and taking into account updated construction rates and inflation, the UT Engineering Department submitted a revised cost estimate of Rs 245 crore to the Ministry in May. The Centre's approval of Rs 240 crore clears the way for long-awaited progress on the project. With fresh tenders expected shortly, the Tribune Chowk flyover is now poised to move from the drawing board to execution — offering long-term traffic relief and improved connectivity between Zirakpur and Chandigarh once completed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store