With the advent of Modi led government in the Centre, terrorist incidents have been on decline. The NDA government has even ensured that cross border terrorist heavens should not be speared and it led to two successive surgical strikes. Unlike the previous governments, the incumbent government has also ensured that the Indian Armed Forces must be strengthened and due recognition must be given the valour of our brave armed forces.

 

 

 

 

Indian Armed forced fought valiantly the 1971 war with Pakistan. But after two years of the war, i.e. in 1973, Indira Gandhi decided to reduce the pension of armed force by around 40% whereas civilian pension was increased by 20%. Hence, this decision triggered the demand for pay-pension equity, which was the precursor to One Rank One Pension (OROP) concept. This long-standing demand was never met in 40 long years but Modi led NDA government finally realized it in 2016.

 

 

 

 

To ensure the safety and security of the armed forces, the Modi government signed a ‘Make in India’ deal for around 1.85 lakh bulletproof jackets, which will be delivered by April this year. The demand of Rafale could not be concluded during the previous government but the Modi government closed the deal of 36 multi-role combat aircrafts that comes for a whopping amount of Rs 59,000 crore to strengthen our Air defence system. The 50,000 crore deal of 7 17A Class Frigates, which was lying on the table since UPA times, was concluded in 2015. S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems with a range of 400 km are vital for the defence of our country from the enemy. Modi led government signed a deal to procure 5 such air missiles at the cost of Rs 39,000 crore. In another vital step to modernize the Air Force artillery, Government added 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook, and 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for 3 billion. Apart from this, India has acquired 6 Arihant Class submarines, an Akula II Class’ Nuclear Attack Submarine for 3.3 billion and over 460 T-90 Russian tanks worth 13,448-crore, with ‘Make in India’ elements. India has spent over 3 billion for spares and ammunition. Additional military assets are 73 ALH helicopters, close to 7.5 AK-203 Assault Rifles, 113 – AL-31FP Engine for ‘Sukhoi’, a Brahmos Division worth 4300 crores, Infantry Combat Vehicles among others.

 

 

 

 

The Defence Acquisition Council has approved deals having a cost of over 4 lakh crore since, 2014. In these deals, India would indigenously build a submarine that will be powered by a nuclear reactor complete with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles; Rs 60,000 crore project aimed at building 6 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs); 49,797-crore contract given to HAL to supply 83 LCA ‘Tejas’procure hundreds of Naval Utility Helicopters, K-30 Biho anti-aircraft systems worth billions, close to 250 Air Defence Guns, 41000 light machine guns coming for Rs 3,000 crore, 1000 engines for T-72 MBT, 93,895 close-quarter-battle (CQB) carbines and 150 Armoured Combat Vehicles; Brahmos for Frigates, New Delhi is getting for 3000 Crores. Apart from this Modi Government has shelved Rs 1,25,000 Crore to get the IAF 110 jets, 85% of which will be built under the ‘Make in India’ programme. Navy would buy 57 twin-engine fighter planes costing no less than Rs. 90,000 crore. The government has allowed the Army to obtain 2610 Future Infantry Combat Vehicle valued at Rs 60,000 crore. Armed forces would also get 56 C295 transport aircrafts, 1770 Future Ready Combat Vehicles, 21 Mig – 29KUB, and over 50 ‘Harop’ Drones.

 

 

 

 

Modi government doing it bit for the Indian Armed Forces, which was not done by the previous governments, who have consistently cited monetary crunches as the biggest reason in defence deals. The Modi Government special reverence for Armed forces and its sacrifices is also reflected from the fact that the National War Memorial was built by the present government and inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi. National War Memorial was demanded 60 years ago yet successive governments did not do anything to build it.