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Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Post Operation Sindoor, private sector may see big push for defence manufacturing
WITH A specific thrust on the need to 'leverage the buying power' of the government, authorities are learnt to have reached out to industry bodies and multiple private defence manufacturing companies to elicit active participation in defence manufacturing. There is likely to be a greater push for enhanced indigenous arms manufacturing of items such as artillery guns, missiles, loitering and precision-guided munitions, and military-grade drones in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. The government is pivoting towards a leaner equipment procurement model that involves leveraging the private sector to a much greater extent, giving key players visibility in terms of future orders and taking recourse to provisions such as deemed licensing to tide over procedural hurdles. Specific measures on the anvil include plans to compress procurement schedules to around two years from an average of about six years currently for big orders, as was done for the Rafale Marine aircraft procured by the Navy, a top government official told The Indian Express. A model involving research and development (R&D) by public sector undertakings (PSUs), sometimes jointly with the private sector players, and the production then being entrusted to the private company, as was done for DRDO-designed 5.56x45mm CQB Carbine that is now being manufactured by Bharat Forge after a tender process, is likely to be replicated for more equipment. In case of drones, the idea is to shortlist up to five manufacturers of civilian drones that have the capacity to expand to military-grade ones, and offer them government support for technology tie-ups and order book guidance. While the private sector defence manufacturing companies were asked to step up their production during the escalation in hostilities between India and Pakistan in May following the Pahalgam terror attack, with many responding by a three-shift production operation, the renewed push is now being made to boost domestic defence production and fully 'harness the power of industry', the official said. 'The government has clearly stated its intent of not being restrictive in its spending powers for defence. We have to harness the power of industry, whether it is PSUs, private sector companies or startups. They have to leverage the buying power of the government. And, this should trigger private investment to ensure a diversified industrial ecosystem, especially for small arms manufacturing. The private sector, including the MSMEs, need to step up to fully make use of the situation, defence manufacturing can't be confined to just the public sector,' the official said. The focus would also be on export of items where India has 'good capacity', including high-demand items such as 155mm shells due to the ongoing conflict in Europe. Defence procurement norms revision The government is also working towards revising the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 to streamline the defence procurement process. A compression of the documentation manual, co-development with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and a competitive bidding procurement procedure through tenders and not nominations are going to be the key focus areas for the proposed DAP 2025 that is likely to be ready in about eight months. Efforts are underway to make DAP 2025 less voluminous and more practical, especially the broader objective of fostering private participation in India's defence sector. GIVEN THAT the nature of warfare is changing, an area where there is likely to be a greater thrust post-Op Sindoor is standoff weapons, including missiles, drones. The government is also working to update its Defence Acquisition Procedure to streamline the procurement process, elicit greater industry participation, and compress acquisition timelines. In case of drones, three to five manufacturers have some capacity to expand from civilian drones to military-grade ones. Given that this market is a monopsony — the government as the only buyer — the plan is to use its buying power to give visibility in terms of orders to that manufacturing ecosystem. There is also a renewed focus on a consortium approach, involving PSUs and private companies. A model could involve R&D by PSUs such as DRDO, sometimes in partnership with the private sector players, and the production then being left to the private company. The intent is to encourage these layers through orders and give them some visibility into the future orders so that they start investing in this area, including tying up with the technologies from abroad. 'We will try to ensure this by speeding up procurement and by giving them visibility in terms of orders,' an official said. The DRDO-designed 5.56x45mm CQB Carbine, now being manufactured by Bharat Forge, after being selected as the lowest bidder in the Army's procurement tender for over 4.23 lakh carbine units, is a case in point. This carbine, developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment and Bharat Forge, is a close-quarter battle weapon intended for urban warfare and counter-insurgency operations. Compressing field evaluation trials is already something that is work-in-progress, the official said. The acquisition of the Rafale Marine aircraft, which was done in about 24 months as against the typical time frame of 5-6 years for a big order, is serving as a key example for reduced procurement timeline. The Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and France of the contract for India's acquisition of 26 Rafale Marine to equip the Indian Navy was signed in April 2025. This contract followed the announcement in July 2023 of the selection of the Rafale Marine, for which the Indian Navy will be the first user outside France, after an international consultation process. Defence expenditure push While there may not be an immediate need for revision of the record defence budget, officials said there could be a slight increase in spending over and above the allocated amount in the Budget for 2025-26. 'We are well on track for defence spending in the first quarter. Larger procurements anyway take time, the contracts are of around 5 years duration, but rest of the spending is on track. Till the end of June, around 17-18 per cent of the defence modernisation budget has been spent. There might be a slight upward revision, we'll see when we reach that stage,' the official said. According to the latest data by the Controller General of Accounts, the Ministry of Defence had spent 14 per cent or Rs 24,730 crore till May-end out of its total budgeted capital expenditure Rs 1.8 lakh crore for FY26. The Ministry had spent just 4 per cent of its budgeted amount in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. Emergency procurement is also likely to account for about 15 per cent of the overall allocation this year, much of that initiated during Operation Sindoor. That, combined with the stepped up pace of current expenditure, officials expect the allocation to be fully protected at the revised estimate stage and if there are additional requirements, the Ministry of Finance has assured the Ministry of Defence that on capex, there would be no constraint on the Rs 1.8 lakh crore spend.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
No more long delays: Defence secretary says India plans to reduce weapon buying timeline from 6 to only 2 years
In a recent podcast, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh addressed India's evolving military strategy, post-operation assessments, and the broader transformation of defence procurement and exports. He offered rare insights into Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's response, and structural challenges within the defence acquisition process . Emergency procurement and stock replenishment After the operation, the government gave emergency powers to the three armed services, allowing them to use up to 15% of their capital budgets for the urgent purchase of ammunition and equipment to replenish operational stocks. Singh noted that although funding for modernization is sufficient, challenges remain in utilization. 'Capital expenditure has grown 7% over the past few years, but difficulty in absorbing funds meant we had to surrender some of the budget at the revised estimate stage. For the first time in five years, we fully utilized the budget last year, awarding contracts worth ₹2 lakh crore — up from ₹1 lakh crore in 2023–24. We are working to accelerate contract signing and improve fund absorption,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Perforated Stainless Steel Sheets – Durable & Trusted Source Premium Stainless Steel Sheets | Search Ads Search Now Undo No shortage of funds, but procurement still too slow Dismissing any claims of inadequate capital allocation, Singh said, 'The Finance Ministry has confirmed there is no shortage of money for capital expenditure.' The real bottleneck, he explained, lies in the procurement timeline. 'It takes 5–6 years to buy a weapon — from issuing an RFP to field trials and cost negotiations. Ideally, this should take no more than two years.' Also Read: Raining Hell: India to get new 300-km range Pinaka missile system soon that can fire 12 missiles in 44 seconds Live Events The secretary added that he would like the armed forces to reduce the duration of field trials from two years to six to eight months. He cited the Rafale Marine deal as an example that nearly met this ideal timeline. Singh urged the services to complete field trials within 6 to 8 months instead of the current two-year period. 'We've issued directions to simplify and streamline procurement.' No formal talks on F-35A or Su-57E will focus on AMCA 'On F-35A and Sukhoi Su-57 E, whatever has been discussed has been informal. We don't have any formal consultation going on on these,' Singh told ANI in a podcast. He added that the focus is on indigenous capability: 'What I can talk about is our fifth-generation fighter, which will be the AMCA.' AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)would be the first project which will see the the participation from our private sector which will create healthy competition for the government owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Simplifying the defence acquisition procedure Singh acknowledged the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) — the core manual governing acquisitions — is overly complex. 'We must avoid redundancy. Many steps can be conducted concurrently rather than sequentially. We've formed a committee to simplify DAP, and its deadline is six months. The new DAP 2025 should be shorter, simpler, and more outcome-focused.' He added that unnecessary conditions preventing domestic production need to be removed. The goal, he said, is to facilitate indigenous defence manufacturing without compromising standards. India's defence exports: From negligible to ₹23,000 Crore When asked about India's growing status as a defence exporter, Singh dismissed concerns that it might lead to international isolation or reduce reliance on traditional suppliers. 'I don't believe India is at risk of isolation. You've seen Prime Minister Modi's successful foreign visits — we continue to strengthen global partnerships.' India's defence exports have increased from virtually nothing in 2014 to ₹23,000 crore, and Singh expressed confidence in meeting the ₹50,000 crore target in the coming years. 'We currently account for only 2% of global defence exports. Only when we begin selling large platforms — like missiles and aerial systems — will others view us as serious competitors,' he said. Focus on high-value systems for export India has already exported systems like BrahMos missiles, Akash surface-to-air missiles, Bharat Forge's ATAGS artillery guns, and other towed gun systems. Singh added that there is growing interest in multi-barrel rocket launchers, which, though not used in Operation Sindoor, are attracting global queries. India also has robust capability in the production of small arms and various types of ammunition, particularly 155mm shells, which are in high demand worldwide. Singh highlighted that public sector companies increased their defence exports by 40%, while private sector firms grew by 10%, contributing significantly to India's emergence as a reliable global weapons supplier. Operation Sindoor and Pakistan's Response Singh confirmed that during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces demonstrated their ability to strike deep inside Pakistani territory. 'Initially, we targeted only terrorist infrastructure. But when the Pakistan Army retaliated directly against our forces, it became clear these groups were their assets. In response, India struck multiple Pakistani military airfields — some of which remain out of commission,' he said. Following these strikes, Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called for a ceasefire. Singh emphasized that such operations are followed by debriefs to assess performance. 'That process is ongoing. Lessons are being implemented for the future,' he added. Also Read: Pakistan caught red-handed again: FATF's new report exposes the dirty tricks of Islamabad
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: India's Defence Sector, United Nations Security Council and Brahmaputra
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 6, 2025. If you missed the June 5, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Made-in-India Rafale fuselage from 2027-28: Tata, Dassault ink pact for Hyderabad facility Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. What's the ongoing story: In a boost to defence and aerospace manufacturing in India, the country is set to become the first nation other than France where the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft will be manufactured. Key Points to Ponder: • India's Defence Sector-What you know about the same so far? • What are the some important developments in India's Defence Sector? (Assess before and after operation Sindoor) • What are the key issues and challenges with India's Defence Sector? • What is fuselage? • How the fuselage manufacturing in India will boost aerospace manufacturing in India? Key Takeaways: • Under a partnership between France's Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL), the later will set up a 'cutting-edge' production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. • The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the Hyderabad assembly line in the financial year 2027-28, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. The facility will cater to India as well as other global markets of the medium multi-role combat aircraft. Fuselage is the outer body or shell of the aircraft and holds all the pieces of the aircraft together. • The Indian Air Force already operates 36 Rafales. The Indian Navy will induct 26 Rafale Marine jets by 2030 as part of the Rs 63,000-crore deal between India and France inked in April this year. • The deal included provisions for technology transfer and the establishment of maintenance and production facilities in India. Apart from France and India, the Rafale—a 4.5th generation fighter aircraft—is deployed in or on order from various countries, including Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, and Serbia. Do You Know: • Dassault Aviation and TASL have signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing, Dassault and TASL said in a joint release. The companies did not provide information on the financials and other specifics of the proposed project. • India has been pushing for local defence and aerospace manufacturing and TASL is a key private sector player in the sector, with presence in segments including aerostructures and aero-engines, airborne platforms and systems, defence and security, and land mobility. • The company has a strong portfolio of partnerships and joint ventures with leading global aerospace and defence firms. Among its key projects is the final assembly line for made-in-India Airbus C295 tactical airlift aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Expert Explains: Why induction of 26 new Rafale M aircraft matters for the Indian Navy GOVT & POLITICS Unease in India as Pak to chair, co-chair UNSC anti-terror panels Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate. What's the ongoing story: Pakistan's appointment to key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — chair of the sanctions committee against Taliban, vice-chair of counter-terrorism panel formed after 9/11, and a working group on the UN sanctions regime — has left many red faces in New Delhi. Key Points to Ponder: • Pakistan's appointment to key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)-know in detail • What are the key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)? • Discuss the role of the 1267 and 1540 Committees in global counter-terrorism. • What is the Security Council? • Non-permanent members and permanent members-compare and contrast • Who are the 15 members of the UNSC? • How the monthly presidency of the Council is selected? • How Voting System works in United Nations Security Council • On what basis was Security Council permanent membership granted? • How are the non-permanent members of the Security Council selected? • Are UN resolutions binding? • How does the Security Council determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression? • 'Veto power was granted in the UN Charter 77 years ago to encourage each other, but it has turned out that the power is being used to block'-Analyse • 'UN Security Council (UNSC) has become 'paralysed' and 'dysfunctional' in its 'present form', as it has not been able to take any decision since the Russia-Ukraine war started'-How far you agree with the given statement? • India and United Nations-Know in detail • What has been India's stand on UN reformation? Key Takeaways: • According to sources, there is a 'sense of disquiet' and 'unease' in South Block, since this goes contrary to India's efforts to portray Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism — just over a month after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which was followed by Operation Sindoor that led to four days of military confrontation between India and Pakistan. • Last month, India sent multi-party delegations to various foreign capitals, including all current and upcoming members of the UNSC, in an attempt to rally support for its war against terror emanating from Pakistan. • Sources said Pakistan was appointed to these key panels on May 29, but the matter was made public in the last couple of days, while the Indian teams were touring these countries. An Indian delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited New York last month, and is again in Washington DC for engagements with the US Congress, think tanks and media. • Appointment to these panels must have the concurrence of both permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC. The development signals that Pakistan has been able to get its way, with the help of China and other members of the UNSC. • Significantly, a high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Senate Chairman and former Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, concluded a visit to the UN headquarters in New York earlier this week. The delegation held a series of meetings with senior UN officials and diplomats from various member states. • Pakistan has also sent a high-level multi-party political delegation to New York, Washington DC, London, Brussels and Moscow, led by its former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to canvas for support in its favour. Do You Know: • Islamabad will now chair the UNSC committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees the implementation of sanctions against the Taliban. It has also been named vice chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which monitors implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a core component of the UN's global counter-terrorism architecture. • India has friends on the Taliban sanctions committee, too, where Guyana and Russia are vice-chairs. The working group on sanctions has Greece as a co-chair. This is important since India has been trying to get a number of Pakistan-based terrorists sanctioned, while Beijing and Islamabad have been blocking such moves. • New Delhi is hoping that these co-chairs and vice-chairs will act as a counter-balance and counter-weight to keep Pakistan's anti-India propaganda moves in check. • Sources said the most important counter-terrorism committee, under UNSC Resolution 1267, is, however, led by Denmark as chair and Russia and Sierra Leone as co-chairs. Earlier, India chaired the UNSC 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in 2022, responsible for monitoring and implementing sanctions against individuals and entities associated with the two outfits. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: India at the United Nations high table CAG holds horizontal audit of JJM, reports soon Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development Main Examination: • General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes • General Studies II: Important aspects of governance What's the ongoing story: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is conducting an extensive performance audit of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the government's flagship scheme aimed at providing tap water connections to all rural households, The Indian Express has learnt. Key Points to Ponder: • What is the Jal Jeevan Mission? • Jal Jeevan Mission comes under which Ministry? • Why Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) is conducting an extensive performance audit of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)? • What are the issue highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)? • What is a horizontal audit? • What is a vertical audit? • The CAG is conducting a horizontal audit of the Mission-Why? • What is the funding pattern of Jal Jeevan Mission? • Is the Jal Jeevan Mission a centrally sponsored scheme? Key Takeaways: • According to sources, the JJM audit exercise is in an advanced stage and reports are expected soon. The process began about one and a half years ago after the CAG included the subject in its audit plan. It is covering the implementation of the JJM in states from the financial year 2019-20 to 2023-24. • The CAG is conducting a horizontal audit of the Mission, through its field offices led by Principal Accountant Generals (PAGs) or Accountants General (AGs), across all states. • The fieldwork in most states is over, while in some of the states, the exercise is at the report-writing stage, said a source. Reports of two states have already reached the CAG headquarters, the source said. • Once the reports are finalised, they will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly of respective states, said the source. • The audit is conducted at state level and not at the national level as the state governments are at the forefront of implementing the JJM. All aspects of JJM implementation, including planning and financial performance, are covered under the audit. The reasons behind cost escalations will also be examined across the states, said a source. • According to sources, the CAG picks up a scheme for audit usually after 70-80% expenditure is over. The JJM started in 2019-20. In the initial years, the expenditure was low. Therefore, the CAG selected it for audit after the first phase was completed in 2023-24, said the source. • Along with JJM, the CAG is also conducting a horizontal audit of MGNREGS across states and these reports are also expected to be finalised soon. The last time CAG conducted a nation-wide audit of the NREGS was in 2013. Do You Know: • The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, aimed to provide tap connections to about 16 crore rural households to achieve saturation coverage by December end 2024. But only 75 per cent of the target could be achieved over five years, and the remaining 4 crore tap connections are now proposed to be installed by extending the mission by four years till December 31, 2028. • This is the first major audit of the JJM since its launch in 2019. The CAG had conducted a performance audit of the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) of which a report was presented in 2018. It covered the period from 2012 to 2017. In 2019, the Centre subsumed the NRDWP to launch the JJM. Since then, this is the first audit exercise conducted by the CAG. • The Centre has deployed over 100 teams of Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for 'ground inspection' of the JJM schemes across the country. The move followed a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary on May 8 to review the JJM schemes. • Since the launch of the Mission in 2019, around 6.4 lakh water supply schemes with total estimated cost of Rs 8.29 lakh crore — more than double of the scheme's original outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore (Centre: Rs 2.08 lakh crore, States:1.52 lakh crore) — have been approved by the states. • To meet the additional requirement of funds, the Jal Shakti Ministry had approached the Expenditure Finance Committee, headed by the Expenditure Secretary, to approve Rs 2.79 lakh crore additional Central funding over and above Rs 2.08 lakh crore. However, the EFC recommended only Rs 1.51 lakh crore as the Central share, which is 46% lower than Rs 2.79 lakh crore sought by the Jal Shakti Ministry, as reported by The Indian Express on April 21, 2023. • The sources said the CAG has also initiated a horizontal audit of several other central schemes like Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, Welfare of Building and other Construction Workers, Green India Mission and Smart City Mission. The JJM audit will be similar to that. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Jal Shakti wants `2.79 lakh cr more for flagship water scheme, panel clears half Previous year UPSC Main Question Covering similar theme: 📍What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (2019) EXPLAINED 'Muslim ban' to US security: Trump's no-entry signs, 2017-25 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, effective Monday, June 9. Similar restrictions were instituted during Trump's first term (2017-21), but they faced legal challenges. Key Points to Ponder: • Which countries are included in the ban? • Is there a precedent to the ban? • How is this ban different? • Examine the evolution of U.S. travel bans under President Trump. • How did the new version differ in legal and political terms from the original 'Muslim ban'? • Discuss the implications of U.S. travel bans on international mobility and global migration governance. • How do travel bans challenge the principles of non-discrimination and religious freedom in international law? Key Takeaways: • The move also comes on the heels of a terror attack by an Egyptian man in the state of Colorado earlier this week, which left 12 people injured. 'The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,' Trump said while announcing the ban. 'We don't want them.' • Citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be banned. The proclamation also partially restricts people travelling from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. • A White House Fact Sheet said the country-specific bans would 'encourage cooperation with the subject countries in recognition of each country's unique circumstances'. Each country could seek talks with the US to ease the restrictions — a process similar to the trade deals being negotiated after Trump's tariff announcements. Do You Know: • The countries were identified based on: —A perceived threat to US national security from their limited screening and vetting processes —A 'disregard' for US immigration laws through high visa overstay rates —Presence of terrorist actors (some even state-sponsored) —Unwillingness to accept their removable nationals. The fact sheet explicitly termed Iran and Cuba 'state sponsors of terrorism', and Somalia a 'terrorist safe haven'. It mentioned that Afghanistan is controlled by the Taliban – a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group'. • Further, the document claimed that 'hundreds of thousands of illegal Haitian aliens flooded into the United States during the Biden Administration', and cited 'national security threats.' During his election campaign last year, Trump had said immigrants were 'eating the pets', including cats, in the city of Springfield, Ohio. Unsubstantiated claims of Haitian immigrants 'abducting' pets were also repeated by his running mate and now Vice President, JD Vance. • Legal experts told The New York Times that the ban could withstand legal scrutiny better. 'They seem to have learned some lessons from the three different rounds of litigation we went through during the first Trump administration,' Stephen Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, told The NYT. 'But a lot will depend upon how it's actually enforced — and whether it's applied in ways that are themselves unlawful or even unconstitutional.' Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What to know about Trump's new travel ban on 12 countries Hydrology of the Brahmaputra Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighborhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: In recent days, discussions around water sharing and regional water security have taken a new turn in South Asia, especially following India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Brahmaputra (Origin, Course and Drainage pattern) • Know about Medog (or Motuo) Hydropower Project • What interventions does China plan? • How much of the Brahmaputra's water yield is generated in India? • To what extent can upstream interventions reduce the Brahmaputra's flow? • How is India using the water potential of the Brahmaputra system? • What should India do in regard to China and the Brahmaputra? • Could Chinese dam-building activity interfere with flows in the Indus river system, specifically the flow of the Sutlej? Key Takeaways: • India has been monitoring Chinese infrastructure interventions on the river. Most are hydropower projects with minimal storage, and are located far upstream of Arunachal Pradesh, with no significant impact in Arunachal or Assam. • A major concern is the planned Medog (or Motuo) Hydropower Project, a massive dam in Medog County near the 'Great Bend' where the river makes a U-turn and plunges into a canyon before entering Arunachal Pradesh. • According to reports, the planned 60,000-MW Medog project will be the world's largest hydropower facility, with a generation capacity three times that of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze, currently the world's largest hydropower station. • Concerns have also been raised over China's massive, multi-decade South-North Water Diversion (SNWD) project, the Western Route of which apparently involves diverting water from the Yarlung Tsangpo (and other rivers) to the country's dry northern regions. However, no official sources or studies are available on these reported plans. Do You Know: • The Brahmaputra is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. Pakistan, historically reliant on the Indus waters, is now attempting to stoke fears about India's water security through the Brahmaputra, asserting that China's actions could threaten Indian stability and sovereignty. • There is an inherent myth in this as there is misrepresentation of a comprehensive hydro-geographical data. The Brahmaputra is primarily a rain-fed river system, with only approximately 30-35 per cent of its flow coming from China, mostly through glacial melt and rainfall that happens in the Tibetan region which is scanty. This covers the base flow of the river but the majority of the river's water — about 65-70 per cent — arises within India itself, thanks to the monsoon rains that pour over the Northeast's hilly terrains and the numerous tributaries feeding the river. • India's flood mitigation strategies should be aligned with this reality, focusing on improving infrastructure and resilience rather than worrying about threats that are largely hypothetical. In fact, if China were to modify its water flow, it could potentially alleviate some of these flood risks, as excess water often results from uncontrolled monsoon runoff and not upstream flow restrictions. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Dissecting the myth of China's control over the Brahmaputra IN JHARKHAND, WHERE PM LAUNCHED AYUSHMAN BHARAT IN 2018, THE SCHEME HAS STALLED: HERE'S WHY Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions What's the ongoing story: The promise of Ayushman Bharat seems to be unravelling in Jharkhand. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), meant to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to low-income families, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ranchi in 2018. More than 23 lakh people in Jharkhand have availed treatment under the scheme since then. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)? • What are the key features of the AB PM-JAY? • What are the administrative and governance challenges leading to the stalling of Ayushman Bharat payments in Jharkhand? • Recently, the Union Cabinet expanded the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to people up to what age? • Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Central scheme or Centrally sponsored scheme? Key Takeaways: • But pending payments to the tune of Rs 190 crore and mounting are jeopardising the future of Ayushman Bharat in Jharkhand. Some 212 hospitals have not received payments since last June, and the rest 538 hospitals empanelled under the scheme await reimbursement since February this year. • Hospitals in the districts of Hazaribagh, Koderma, Palamu, and Deoghar have already pulled out of the scheme citing the hold up in payments. And this may just be the beginning. • AB PM-JAY is the largest health insurance scheme in the world. • It provides a cover of Rs 5 lakhs per family per year to eligible beneficiaries for hospitalisation expenses in both government and empanelled private hospitals. At the moment, some 750 hospitals in Jharkhand are registered under the scheme, according to the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA). • Current eligibility extends to the bottom 40% households, which is calculated based on deprivation and occupational data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011. The Prime Minister last year announced that coverage will soon be extended to all citizens aged 70 years and above. • The cost of implementation of AB PM-JAY is shared between the Central and State Governments in a 60:40 ratio. Do You Know: • According to Jharkhand officials, around 28 lakh families (some 1.5 crore people) are enrolled under AB PM-JAY in Jharkhand, with another 38 lakh families (roughly 2 crore people) covered through the state-run Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, for which the state bears the full cost. • The way these schemes work is that beneficiaries are issued insurance cards, using which they can avail healthcare services in empanelled hospitals. These hospitals are then reimbursed on actuals by the government from the funds allocated under the scheme. • Officials have confirmed to The Indian Express that there is no shortage of funds under the AB PM-JAY scheme, with Rs 2,284 crore allocated to the hospitals over the last 7 years. The problem is that beginning last year, the disbursement of these funds to hospitals has stalled. • Dr Sinha said that non-payment of Ayushman Bharat dues has meant that he has been unable to pay his staff since March. He added that if the payments did not come in, he would stop taking Ayushman Bharat card holders as patients. 'The real loss is to the government and the public,' Sinha warned. AHPI and IMA have claimed that 60 of the 212 NAFU-flagged hospitals have shut down under financial duress. More closures may be on the way if the situation is not sorted out soon. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Most private hospitals in Delhi not on board to roll out Ayushman Bharat, rates a sore point State of the ungulates: why health of tiger is dependent on that of its prey Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: For the first time, a detailed assessment of the status of ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, pigs, antelopes, and bison, has estimated their abundance across India. It has revealed a decline in their populations in several states and highlighted conservation challenges, such as habitat loss and deforestation. Key Points to Ponder: • Which is the major prey species for tigers in India? • The detailed assessment of the status of ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, pigs, antelopes, and bison-what report says? • Which factor most directly affects the population of tiger prey species? • What is the ecological link between tiger conservation and the population of their natural prey. Why is a healthy prey base essential? • What are the policy and governance gaps in ensuring habitat security for tiger prey species in India? • 'Status of Tigers in India' report-Key Highlights • What is India's tiger population? • What is the purpose of tiger reserves? • What is the distribution of tigers in India? • What are the areas of concern regarding tiger conversation? • National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under which Ministry? • Who is the Chairman of National Tiger Conservation Authority? • What are the persisting threats facing the tiger across its habitats? Key Takeaways: • The findings are crucial for the conservation of India's tigers and forests, as ungulates form the core prey base of the striped cat and other large predators. India currently has more than 3,600 tigers, accounting for 70% of the world's tiger population. Additionally, the animals help regulate forests and soil health with their feeding habits. • The National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Wildlife Institute of India prepared the assessment report, using data from the 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation exercise to estimate the animals' distribution and density. • India's tiger prey base, mainly comprising the chital (spotted deer), sambar (large deer), and the vulnerable gaur (Indian bison), presents a highly uneven distribution across forest landscapes. The report drew on extensive direct and indirect evidence, like field surveys, camera traps, and dung signs collected during the 2022 estimation exercise. • According to the findings, spotted deer, sambar, and gaur populations are thriving in large parts of the country, but declining in east-central India in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. The signs of prey decline and low density are due to severe habitat degradation, infrastructure development and mining that fragments forests, left-wing extremism, and subsistence hunting by residents. • Forests in Uttarakhand, Western Ghats, central India and the northeast have a fairly healthy population of ungulates. However, small and isolated populations of species such as barasingha, wild buffalo, pygmy hog, and hog deer face bottlenecks in their genetic diversity, with habitat fragmentation preventing the intermixing of different animals. • The core tiger prey species are abundant, especially within tiger reserves and national parks, but not so much in sanctuaries that receive a comparatively lower level of protection, and even less in forest divisions abutting tiger reserves. Do You Know: • Loss of habitat, especially quality habitat, competition with livestock and humans, conflict with humans, deforestation, development projects and subsistence hunting are some of the key challenges to the ungulate population. A fall in their numbers affects the ecological balance of forests both inside and outside tiger reserves. • Secondly, tiger-abundant regions such as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are nearing their capacity to sustain their wildlife population with available resources (what is known as 'carrying capacity'). As a result, tigers often wander towards the east-central states, but struggle to occupy the forests due to poor prey base and other pressures on the ecosystem. These states have a high potential to harbour a substantial tiger population, but it will be contingent on improvements in habitat and prey, and stepping up their protection. • Another direct fallout of low prey base is tigers moving beyond the reserves to hunt livestock, putting them in closer contact with humans, who kill tigers in retaliation for livestock depredation. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, ungulates such as wild pigs and nilgai often damage crops, adding another dimension to the human-wildlife conflict due to the loss of wild habitats. A major concern is the conversion of swampy grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and floodplains into urban settlements or farmlands. • Linear infrastructure, such as highways, railways and power lines, can fragment the contiguity of ungulate habitats, disturbing the survival of wildlife, as well as forest dynamics. The report prescribes augmenting prey populations through on-site breeding in enclosures to protect them from predators. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Report flags tiger-human conflict risk as prey base shrinks in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rafale fuselage to be made in India for the first time
The main body of future Rafale fighter jets will be produced in India, outside France for the first time, with French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) on Thursday announcing their partnership to build Rafale fuselage at a facility being set up in Hyderabad, in a move that is seen as a big leap for the government's wide-ranging Make-in-India initiative. The Hyderabad facility will supply the fuselages for India and other international markets 2028 onwards, the two firms said. Some of the 26 Rafale Marine fighters ordered by India for its navy will come with locally produced fuselages, people aware of the matter said. Dassault Aviation and TASL have signed four production transfer agreements to manufacture the Rafale fuselage in India and called it a significant step forward in strengthening the country's aerospace manufacturing capabilities and supporting global supply chains. 'Under the scope of the partnership, TASL will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the complete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section,' the two firms said in a joint statement issued in Saint-Cloud and Mumbai. The announcement comes weeks after India signed a ₹63,000-crore deal with France to buy 26 Rafale M aircraft for the navy which will operate them from its two aircraft carriers, with the deliveries expected to begin in three years and be completed by 2030. The April 28 government-to-government deal for 22 single-seat Rafale M fighters and four twin-seat trainers included the setting up of a local production facility for the jet's fuselage as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities for engines, sensors and weapons in India. The Hyderabad facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manufacturing, the statement said. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2028, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages every month. 'For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France,' Dassault Aviation chairman Eric Trappier said. 'This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. Thanks to the expansion of our local partners, including TASL, this supply chain will contribute to the successful ramp-up of the Rafale and, with our support, will meet our quality and competitiveness requirements.' The development comes at a critical moment as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is scouting for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft to boost its capabilities, and the programme will involve a global plane maker setting up a production agency in the country along with an Indian partner. Dassault Aviation is among the foreign firms interested in that programme. In February, the chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said such a model will give the air force an alternative option for any future design, including a stealth fighter, rather than depending only on the capabilities of state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The IAF operates 36 Rafale jets bought from France at a cost of ₹59,000 crore, and the aircraft's naval variant will bring commonality with the air force's fighters, creating advantages in training, maintenance and logistics support. Some of the air force's Rafales were among the fighter jets used during Operation Sindoor --- India's strikes on terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. This partnership marks a significant step in India's aerospace journey, TASL CEO Sukaran Singh said. 'The production of the complete Rafale fuselage in India underscores the deepening trust in TASL's capabilities and the strength of our collaboration with Dassault Aviation. It also reflects the remarkable progress India has made in establishing a modern, robust aerospace manufacturing ecosystem that can support global platforms.' This is the way forward for the local aerospace manufacturing sector, said Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd), the director general of Centre for Air Power Studies, an influential think tank. 'We couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to manufacture not just fuselages but entire fighter airframes in the future.' TASL is swiftly expanding its footprint in the aerospace manufacturing sector. TASL and European firm Airbus Defence and Space are jointly executing a ₹21,935-crore project to equip the IAF with 56 C-295 aircraft to modernise its transport fleet, including 16 in fly-away condition. The first made-in-India C-295 will roll out of a facility in Vadodara in September 2026 and the remaining 39 by August 2031. US aerospace firm Lockheed Martin is partnering with TASL to bid for the IAF's medium transport aircraft (MTA) competition for up to 80 planes. The joint venture Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) is producing Apache attack helicopter fuselages in Hyderabad. And Airbus Helicopters is setting up a production line in India for H125 helicopters in partnership with TASL --- the fourth such facility in the world.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
In Pics: Rajnath Singh Aboard INS Vikrant, Meets Navy Personnel
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Friday boarded the Indian Navy's indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, where he addressed the officers and crew, praising their dedication and strength. During the interaction with naval personnel on board the INS Vikrant off Goa, he sent a stern warning to Pakistan saying India will not hesitate to use the methods to deal with terrorism that Pakistan cannot even think of. Rajnath Singh reviewed operational readiness and praised the Navy's role in neutralising threats during the Operation Sindoor. He also underlined the Navy's vigilance and dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. INS Vikrant, which joined the Indian Navy in 2022, is a major representation of India's goal of building a self-reliant defence sector. The ship's deployment is seen as a crucial step toward reinforcing India's naval capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Made-in-India aircraft carrier is slated to get a boost to its lethality with the inclusion of Rafale Marine (M) fighter jets. The fighter jets will complement the current fleet of MiG 29K. Rajnath Singh's visit comes at a time when India continues to assert its role as a key maritime power amid growing strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.
