New Delhi: The reforms and various steps taken by the government has boosted defence exports with the authorisation for defence exports in the country growing seven folds in the last two years, Lok Sabha was told.
Among the measures taken by the government in this direction are development of a completely end-to-end online portal for receiving and processing authorisation permission. The application submitted on this portal are digitally signed and the authorisation issued is also digitally signed.
A Table Top Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Myanmar Air Force (MAF) was conducted at Prayagraj on the theme of Human Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The objectives of the exercise include planning of HADR operation in a given scenario, learn best practices, executing mission during HADR disasters, understand Search and Rescue Mission procedures.
The exercise was conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Central Air Command, IAF and a 20-member team of IAF participated in the exercise.
An amount of Rs 45,705.57 crore has been spent on the import of Defence equipment during 2018-19. The percentage of Defence Budget (Defence Services Estimates) spent for the financial year 2018-19 on salaries is 46.10 per cent and on Defence Research and Development Organisation (excluding salaries) is 4.42 per cent. Weapons are procured under the Capital Acquisition Budget, which amount to 24.73 per cent of Defence Budget for 2018-19.
During the last three years (2016-17 to 2018-19) and current financial year (up to December, 2019), Government has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to 138 capital acquisition proposals that promote indigenous sourcing and manufacturing.
The following major systems indigenously developed and integrated have been inducted into the Armed Forces namely Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System, missiles under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), Radar, Sonars and Torpedoes.
The expert committee to analyse problems faced by people residing in cantonment regions has among the suggestions made include democratising the governance structure of Cantonment Boards. The Ministry in an order on December 10 last year defined the “repairs” of building in Cantonment areas which will not require notice for sanction of erection or re-erection under Section 235 of Cantonment Act, 2006.
With respect to Central Government Schemes relating to development of infrastructure and social welfare in Cantonment areas, Defence Ministry has taken up the matter with all concerned nodal Ministries and State Governments to issue suitable instruction to institutionalise implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Cantonment areas.
