Modi gives authorization to Army to procure weapons without Govt approval

This will ensure that the time required in procuring such equipment will decrease tremendously

July 13, 2017

The procurement of such equipment will be performed quicker

The Centre has given Army vice-chief Sarath Chand full financial powers to secure critical ammunition and spares to keep an optimum level to fight a brief intense war after “critical voids” in capacities of the Army. The decision means procurement procedure of equipment and ammunition which would take months will be completed at a much faster pace.

“The Army’s vice-chief was advised with full financial powers to secure critical ammunition and spares to keep optimum levels”

The procurement of critical ammunition will be performed for many of 46 kinds of ammunition that the Army uses. The procurement of spares under the scheme will be of 10 distinct varieties of equipment. The Army faces the deficit in ammunition, mainly for tanks, artillery guns, air defence and infantry weapons, which will make it difficult to fight an intense war that lasts for 10 to 15 days.

“The Army’s vice-chief was advised with full financial powers to secure critical ammunition and spares to keep optimum levels,” a top defence ministry official said. “By providing complete financial powers to the Army vice-chief, the procurement of such equipment will be performed quicker. This is the earnings route for in-service gear and there’ll be no need to go into the Defence Acquisition Council (headed by defence minister Arun Jaitley) or the Cabinet Committee on Security, for procuring such vital equipment. This will ensure that the time required in procuring such equipment will decrease tremendously,” the official said.

The Army Chief has made it quite clear that the Indian Army is now stocking up and is ready to face war any time soon.

After the Modi Government came into power, they purchased weapons on several occasions after a detailed report from the then Army Chief indicated that the Indian Army suffered from a severe weapon crunch. Realizing the problem, the Government had granted full powers to the Vice Chief of Army staff for 3 months beginning March to procure certain weapons.

This decision now extends the decision taken in March and the Vice Chief has been given full powers to procure the weapons, without any deadlines. On another occasion, the Army Chief has made it quite clear that the Indian Army is now stocking up and is ready to face war anytime soon.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.