Operation Sindoor: Modi government upgrades India's defense capabilities, Pumps in Rs 3000000000000 to procure..., Army gets Rs 360000000000 for…
New Delhi: The Modi government is working relentlessly to upgrade India's defense capabilities. According to the reports, the Central government has pumped in Rs 3 lakh crore into military modernisation and 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.
To recall, earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence approved military procurements worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. 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.
It is important to note that these six QRSAM regimenhe QRSAM isn't just any system. It's being called the 'Baby S-400″, a nod to its smaller size but strategic importance.ts will be split evenly between the Indian Air Force and the Army. However, reports suggest that there is only a fraction of what the armed forces actually asked for.
The Army had requested 11 regiments but received only three. The Air Force's separate request also went unfulfilled. Had both services been granted their full requirement of 11 regiments each, the total cost would have escalated to ₹1.12 lakh crore. However, the government chose to scale back.
The QRSAM isn't just any system. It's being called the 'Baby S-400″, a nod to its smaller size but strategic importance. Baby S-400:
The S-400 is developed by the DRDO
The S-400 is the air defence system that can neutralise enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles within a 30 km radius.
While that range may seem modest compared to the 400 km reach of the Russian-origin S-400 and the 100–200 km envelope of the Akash system, QRSAM's quick reaction time and battlefield mobility give it a distinct tactical edge.
India currently operates three S-400 regiments, with two more slated for delivery next year.
Operation Sindoor demonstrated the level of aerial defence coordination made possible by these systems, with Indian forces deploying both S-400 and Akash platforms to counter potential threats. However, a gap remained—particularly in effectively responding to drone swarms and low-flying objects in real time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Now, Delhi Assembly runs solely on sunlight, first in the country
The Delhi Legislative Assembly on Sunday became the first legislature in the country to be powered entirely by solar energy, following the commissioning of a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar power plant. Alongside this, the Assembly launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), marking a shift towards paperless legislative functioning. The two initiatives were inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who called the Assembly's transition a model for sustainable and digital governance. 'This is not just an infrastructure upgrade, but a shift in institutional values,' he said, adding that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will provide all possible assistance to the efforts and initiatives of the Delhi Legislative Assembly in this regard. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasised that the solarisation of the Assembly is a cornerstone in a broader institutional shift towards sustainable and digital transformation. 'The present Assembly building was constructed in 1912 and was home to the country's first Parliament,' Gupta said. Highlighting the balance between tradition and progress, he remarked, 'Virasat aur Vikaas saath chalega (Legacy and development go together).' Gupta added that the solar power plant, installed on the rooftop, is expected to reduce the Assembly's monthly electricity bill by around Rs 15 lakh, or approximately Rs 1.75 crore annually. The savings, he said, would be redirected to developmental work. It will also potentially generate surplus electricity through net metering. The NeVA platform, developed under the Centre's 'One Nation, One Application' initiative, will be fully implemented from the upcoming Monsoon Session. A successful trial run was conducted with MLAs ahead of the inauguration. The trial offered firsthand experience of the digital interface, which includes smart delegate units with microphones and voting panels, RFID/NFC access, multilingual support, real-time document access via iPads, an automated AV system with HD cameras, and a secure, power-backed networking environment. The House will also see the introduction of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, by Education Minister Ashish Sood. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is also scheduled to table the Finance and Appropriation Accounts for 2023-24, which will present the financial position of the national capital. Gupta will also present two audit reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): one on state finances for 2023-24 and a separate report on the welfare of building and construction workers in 2022-23. Sood, who also holds the Power portfolio, will also lay the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's annual accounts and a notification on Green Energy Open Access regulations.
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
When politics reeks of bitterness, misconduct
Eleven days from now, India will be celebrating its 78th Independence Day. Eight decades is a long enough time to take stock of our democracy and polity. Are we moving in the right direction? Are today's politicians working towards strengthening our democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Republic? What better way to celebrate the approaching Independence Day than to seek answers to these probing queries? We, as citizens, have some basic expectations from our Parliament. It should not be reduced to an arena of vote politics. (Hindustan Times) Let's address the first question. Have a look at the debate over Operation Sindoor. Indians were hoping for the ruling party to put all the facts in the public domain while the Opposition would articulate its criticism and chip in with constructive suggestions. However, what unfolded was completely different. The Opposition got a fair chance to put their views forward in both houses. The ruling dispensation showcased all their facts, but the entire exercise fell far short of clearing the doubts assailing the minds of the citizens. We, as citizens, have some basic expectations from our Parliament. It should not be reduced to an arena of vote politics. Unfortunately, that's become the norm now. I have been a student of parliamentary debates. Our politics has been steadily degenerating. Bitterness has seeped into it, and politicians speak irresponsibly. Political parties of every hue are equally responsible for it. Even before the debate started, the first week of the monsoon session was a wash-out due to vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation. The media corridors were rattled by Dhankhar's resignation bomb at the end of the first day of the monsoon session. Political developments that day unfolded like a suspense thriller. No one could figure out the climax till the very end. In the morning, he came as usual to the Rajya Sabha, conducted its proceedings, and met leaders from the treasury benches and the Opposition. In the afternoon, he met BJP president JP Nadda and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju. It seems the talks couldn't be concluded, so another meeting was convened in the evening. Nadda and Rijiju didn't attend, but the minister of State for parliamentary affairs, L Murugan, was present. What transpired in the afternoon meeting? Why didn't the senior ministers attend the evening meeting? Was there any difference of opinion between them and Dhankhar? Did the vice-president resign on his own? Or was he forced to quit? What will Dhankhar's next move be? Will he follow in the footsteps of former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik? Or will he quietly bow out? Queries, conjectures, and concerns remain. It seems we are turning into a democracy that's bogged down in a maze of uncertain, dubious, and unnecessary debates. Dhankhar came into the limelight when he was made the governor of West Bengal. From the moment he entered the Raj Bhawan, he trained his guns on the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee. His words and deeds didn't go down well with those who preferred political propriety. This was the reason when he was made the vice-president, his detractors thought he had been rewarded for what he did in West Bengal, as Banerjee is considered the BJP's prime foe. As vice-president, it was his responsibility to conduct Rajya Sabha proceedings fairly and impartially. The way he conducted the proceedings in his early days raised many eyebrows. Accusations were levelled against him, but he was unfazed. Those opposed to the BJP said he was doing all this as he had an eye on the President's post. Initially, people were surprised by his sudden exit, but there's very little sympathy for him now. Unfortunately, such unpleasant incidents are growing. Look at the recently concluded session of the Bihar Assembly. It was the last session of the current term, a time to say polite goodbyes and warm wishes for the journey ahead. But it too degenerated into a mudslinging fest peppered with debased language, creating situations where it felt as if the leaders would come to blows. Bihar will go to the polls later this year, and the elections may turn into an ugly battle of bitterness and allegations. The Election Commission of India (ECI) undertook a special intensive revision of the electoral roll. The Opposition alleges it's a conspiracy to delete their voters from the list. The ECI didn't budge. Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar curtly retorted: Should the ECI list the dead and foreigners in the roll? The Supreme Court also questioned the timing of the revision. The Opposition had alleged something completely different during the Maharashtra assembly elections. It's not clear who's right or wrong, but it's clear that those gracing constitutional posts are more interested in confrontation than building consensus. Let's address the second question. Are we heading in the right direction? At a time of ever-expanding hate and the normalisation of debased language and political misconduct, it would be tough to suggest that our journey ahead will be smooth. Political parties have devoted decades to creating linguistic, regional and social divides instead of bridging them. They have conveniently forgotten that the growing divides can drown them as well. Dhankhar is only its latest victim. Let's address the third question. The future is shaped by the present; the actions of today build the foundations of a new order. That's the law of nature. If so, can anyone bet confidently on the future when the present is roiled by discontent, inconsistency, incongruity and apprehension? Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet T-14 Armata Tank, super powerful war weapon offered by Russia to India, its features are..., Trump to...
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump is not happy with India and Russia's friendship and is threatening both countries with tariffs. Amidst this, the two countries are discussing a crucial defence deal that might further enrage Trump. What has Russia offered to India? Russia has offered to sell the next-generation T-14 Armata tanks to India to replace its ageing T-72 tanks with new tanks. Russia's offer includes domestic manufacturing in India under the Make in India programme. Armata tanks are made by the Russian company Uralvagonzavod, and the T-14 Armata is its most advanced tank. Uralvagonzavod has offered to design and develop this tank according to India's needs for its Next Generation Battle Tank (NGMBT) programme. For this, the Russian company has shown interest in partnering with Indian defence companies. What is the crux of the proposal? The proposal includes possible collaboration with India's Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) or other public sector defence units. The proposal is strategically prepared according to India's 'Make-I' procurement category, which aims to increase India's indigenous production. Under this plan, the Government of India provides up to 70% of the funding for developing prototypes, which emphasises domestic manufacturing and technology transfer. Will India buy the advanced T-14 Armata tank? Uralvagonzavod had signed a technology transfer agreement with India for T-90S tanks, which are now manufactured in India as T-90 Bhishma. India uses more than 83 per cent domestic technology in the T-90S tank, including complete localisation of the tank's engine. Russian officials have also expressed their intention to work with India for the local production of the T-14 Armata tank project. Company officials have suggested that the T-14 Armata would be an ideal successor to replace the Indian Army's huge but ageing fleet of T-72 tanks. Why is T-14 Armata considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world? The T-14 Armata is considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world. It has many remotely operated functions, an armoured capsule for the crew, a state-of-the-art digital control system and an active protection system (APS) called 'Afghanit'. This system is capable of destroying the enemy's anti-tank missiles on the way. Three operators can sit inside this tank and destroy the enemy's anti-tank missiles and RPGs in the air. It has a millimetre-wave radar, which provides 360-degree protection. Guided missiles can also be fired from this tank up to 8–10 kilometres. The maximum speed of this tank is 75 to 80 kilometres per hour, and its range is 500 kilometres. The weight of this tank is 55 tonnes, and its cost is around Rs 30 to 42 crore. If it is manufactured in India, its cost will be reduced by at least Rs 10 crore.
