Representational image | Recruits to the J&K Light Infantry celebrate the end of their training |

New Delhi: The Integrated Defence Staff headquarters is giving final touches to its planned Joint Services Training Institutes (JSTIs), which will offer joint training to Army, Navy and Air Force officers in select subjects, ThePrint has learnt.

Intelligence, military law, nuclear biological chemical warfare (CBRN), music and catering are among the subjects in which the officers will be trained jointly, said sources.

The JSTIs will operate from existing institutes where the services currently train. Each JSTI will have one of the three services leading the institute. For instance, the Army will be the lead service for the JSTIs for CBRN and intelligence, said sources.

According to a senior government official, the JSTIs for CBRN, music, catering, military law and intelligence have been established. However, the services are finalising their draft government sanction letter.

“Additionally, the School of Foreign Languages will also function as a JSTI. The institute, which sees officers of the armed forces from other countries, plays a key role in defence cooperation that is an important facet of military diplomacy where expertise in foreign languages such as Mandarin or Russian is critical,” the official said on condition of anonymit

Set up in 1948, the School of Foreign Languages was brought under the administrative control of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters in 2017.

A joint training command for the three services planned earlier, however, may be delayed, and is likely to be taken up in the next phase amid greater focus on first implementing the major theatre commands, like the Air Defence Command.

ThePrint reported last year the plans to set up a joint training command to meet the training requirements of all the three services.

But now, the focus is on reaching low hanging fruits by merging certain disciplines for joint training of the services to begin with, senior government officials told ThePrint.

Also read: Navy, Army and IAF finally agree to procure armed drones from US in $3 bn deal

The government said any specific classification either based upon the nature of trade, profession or otherwise is neither possible nor advisable

New Delhi, March 9

The Centre on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that classification of citizens for the purpose of COVID-19 vaccination is based upon most rational and non-arbitrary criteria depending upon their vulnerability to the disease either due to age or nature of work or co-morbidity health situation and it may not be desirable to create a separate class consisting of lawyers and others below 45 years of age.

The Centre made the submission in its affidavit filed in response to a PIL initiated by the high court to examine the demand to declare all people associated with the judicial functioning, including judges, court staff and lawyers, as “frontline workers” so that they could receive COVID-19 vaccination on priority and without limitations of their age or physical condition.

The government said any specific classification either based upon the nature of trade, profession or otherwise is neither possible nor advisable.                                  

It said that in order to achieve the first objective of protecting India’s healthcare and pandemic response system, NEGVAC has prioritised healthcare workers, front line workers (personnel for state and central police department, armed forces, home guard and civil defence organisation including disaster management volunteers, municipal workers, poll officers in election bound states), persons aged 60 years and above and those aged between 45 to 59 years with identified 20 co-morbidities for COVID-19 vaccination.

National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has been established by the government to provide guidance on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination.

The Centre, in its affidavit filed through Central government standing counsel Anil Soni, said the decision to include individuals above 50 years and 60 years in the priority list is based on vulnerability and the mortality risk of this age group for COVID-19 disease.

It added that a look at prioritisation criteria for vaccination from World Health Organisation (WHO) and other countries showed that a step-wise layered approach is advisable.

The high court is scheduled to hear the matter on Wednesday.

Regarding the issue of export of vaccine to other countries, the Centre said once an epidemic takes form of a pandemic, its management has to be done keeping the entire globe as unit and in most circumstances it is not possible to take either states-specific or country-specific approach.

“…Hence, export of COVID-19 vaccine which facilitates global action to vaccination is important to simultaneously protect the high-risk population in all the countries of the world, thereby breaking the chain of transmission and minimising chances of import of COVID-19 cases from foreign countries as well as neighbouring countries to India,” it said.

On the demand for treating lawyers as frontline workers, the government said any specific classification either based upon the nature of trade, profession or otherwise is neither possible nor advisable.

“Though the government has tremendous respect for the profession and the discharge of duties by these professionals for and on behalf of citizens of India and as part of administration of justice, those lawyers and other associates staff who are either above 60 years or between the age group of 45 to 60 years and are having any of the almost exhaustive list of co-morbidities would, in any case, be covered by the on-going vaccine drive,” it said.

It added that it may not be desirable to create a separate class consisting of lawyers and others below 45 years of age and discriminating other similarly situated citizens engaged in other professions.

“The term ‘frontline workers’ is used only for those citizens who are required to be directly exposed to the COVID-19 infected patients. Thus, it may not be appropriate to discriminate them as against a separate class of lawyers as both are doing their respective duties towards the citizens under similar circumstances,” it said.

The high court had on March 4 asked the Centre to explain the rationale behind keeping strict control over class of persons who can be vaccinated against COVID-19 currently as under the present system those above the age of 60 years or with comorbidities can receive vaccination.

It had said the two institutes which have developed the vaccines COVISHIELD and COVAXIN—Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech—have more capacity to provide the vaccines but it seems that their full capacity is not being exploited.

It had also directed the two institutes to file separate affidavits on their capacity to manufacture the vaccines on per day/ week/ month basis and also the current optic of the vaccines and how much unused capacity is lying.

The high court was hearing a PIL initiated by it to examine the demand of Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to declare all people associated with the judicial functioning, including judges, court staff and lawyers as “frontline workers” so that they could receive COVID-19 vaccination on priority and without limitations of their age or physical condition. —PTI

ile photo of the second Scorpene class submarine | Indian Navy | TwitterText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: India has joined a select group of countries to have an Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP) that allows conventional submarines to remain under water for longer.

The Defence Research and Development Oragnisation (DRDO) achieved the important milestone by successfully completing the trial of the land-based prototype on 8 March.

“The plant was operated in endurance mode and max power mode as per the user requirements,” the DRDO said in a statement Tuesday.

Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the endurance mode was for 14 days and max power mode was for two days.

“These were the requirements as sought by the Navy. It has been fulfilled and one can now say that India has AIP technology,” a source said.

ThePrint had reported on 30 December that the AIP trial was among the major ones planned by DRDO for 2021.

Apart from India, the countries to have AIP technology are China, Germany, Sweden, France, Spain and Russia. The US has not focused on AIP since they operate nuclear submarines.

Also read: India will be atmanirbhar when state-of-the-art defence systems are developed — DRDO chief

Scorpene, P75I subs to be fitted with AIP tech

India’s next set of conventional submarines, under Project 75 India, will have AIP technology. The project is being pursued under the Strategic Partnership model and the two Indian shipyards selected by the Navy for the eventual contract are state-owned Mazagon Dockyards Limited and private firm L&T.

The Navy will select a foreign firm to partner with one of these Indian companies. The formal Request for Proposal (RFP) is yet to be issued for the project.

Meanwhile, sources said that the Scorpene submarines, being built in collaboration with France, will also have the AIP technology fitted on them during their scheduled major refit.https://b7017d6863412472dbddabdac29bd71e.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

AIP has a force multiplier effect on the lethality of diesel-electric submarinesas it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat.

The DRDO said that fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.

The system has been developed by Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO with the support of industry partners L&T and Thermax.

“While there are different types of AIP systems being pursued internationally, fuel cell-based AIP of NMRL is unique as the hydrogen is generated onboard … It has now reached the stage of maturity for fitment into target vessels,” the DRDO statement said.

(Edited by Manasa Mohan)

Also read: Russia wants to build P75I submarines, says India needs better vessels than Scorpene

Lt Gen RS Sujlana (retd)

Time passes by rapidly, or ‘tempus fugit’ as they say. We joined the military academies in 1967, trained for four years, became officers and served in our service for 20 to 40 years. A decade back, all of us hung our uniform and over a score of us settled in the lovely environs of the tricity and adjoining areas. Bygone years create linkages among people, so have our military linkages connected us in lifelong friendships and camaraderie.

The times were tough but eventful, now that we have arrived safely in ‘flaming June’, the past deserves to be remembered and celebrated. Our continued togetherness could help in making our future equally memorable, something akin to the words of Robert Browning in his poem ‘Rabbi Ben Ezra’ — ‘Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.’

Thus, we set out to rejuvenate our fond relationship. Nothing could be better than meeting socially, but we decided to create a special format. To call it a ‘course get-together’ was too drab, it had to be special to the tricity fraternity. We decided two names — ‘Double Outdoors’ and ‘Tricity Company Operating Base (COB)’.

The first name was a throwback to our training years when on particular days, the physicals were taxing, say drill followed by physical training and other variants. The COB was a touchback to the environment in which most of us spent years in the Army battling the enemy and the environment. Different indeed, but we still felt that the name should be more specific to our activities during these meets.

Brains racked, we stuck to the acronym COB, but the full form changed to ‘Charcha Over Beer’! That decided, ‘Double Outdoors’ also needed to be addressed, and so a game of golf was proposed prior to the COB. What an idea! One never had such unanimity in agreement, true to the words, ‘Once more (we had decided) on my (our) adventure brave and new: fearless and unperplexed, when I wage battle next, what weapons to select, what armour to indue.’

A monthly affair, hosted by one among us, it would be, weather permitting, a round of golf followed by 90 minutes of ‘charcha’, snacks, accompanied by a potion of one’s choice as a thirst quencher. Months passed by, the fun was loaded, reminiscences, leg-pulling and an all-prevailing spirit of joie de vivre. But then struck the pandemic and all this came to a grinding halt. Sadly, the cruel hands of Covid took away one amongst us.

We took this in our stride and hope for better times to continue, our incomparable COB encouraged by the words: ‘When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, and you smile but have to sigh, when care is pressing you down a bit, rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.’ We only slipped in patenting it!

Photo for representation only. – File photo

Col HP Singh (retd)

It is customary in the Army to seek the blessings of one’s predecessors on taking over an outfit. Selected to command the regiment that was once led by my father, expectations from our veterans were high. Everyone dwelt upon the importance of saving lives and minimising casualties, given that we were deployed on the icy heights of the Siachen Glacier. ‘Do pursue the case for the release of our prisoner of war,’ there was one who had asked me to do something different.

It was in the 1965 War when the preponderance of Patton tanks had forced our troops to fall back in the initial fog of war. By the time enemy offensive was blunted, we had suffered a few casualties. It was only after the ceasefire that we learnt that one of our soldiers who was missing in action and presumed dead had been taken prisoner. His name figures on the list of 54 soldiers languishing in Pakistan jails, something our adversary has denied.

For days, my mind kept brooding over the onerous task assigned to me. What could one do when successive governments had failed to affect his release? Was he still alive after decades in captivity? Wasn’t it my duty to ensure that no coffin was despatched from the war zone rather than divert energy in opening an old coffin? Practicality prevailed over emotions but this issue remained etched in my subconscious.

After de-inducting to a peace station, an idea crossed my mind, now largely unburdened; while the release of our comrade could be a far cry, there was merit in doing something for his family. It didn’t take long to dig out the coordinates of his wife, now in the autumn of her life living on a meagre pension.

I had a word with my officers and men and it was decided to renovate her dilapidated humble dwelling. Having reconciled to the futility of chasing rainbows, this was perhaps the least we could have done. I was overwhelmed when the entire regiment volunteered for monetary contribution. A team was created to accomplish this mission of charity wrapped in dignity. The camaraderie exhibited by our boys was enough to motivate other villagers to join in and the task was completed in record time. Visibly moved, the lady expressed her desire to visit us.

There were tears of gratitude as she arrived at the function organised to felicitate her. Recollecting her journey of life was like reopening a page from history. She had been married for only six months when her husband went to war. She remained single and childless all these years in the hope that one day he would return. Time had, however, failed to convert her scars into stars. Most eyes were moist by the time she finished.

‘Gunner Sujaan Singh has certainly attained a fair measure of immortality. Taro Devi, his wife, isn’t far behind; for she too has sacrificed her today for the sake of our countrymen’s tomorrow,’ I cut short my prepared speech as my own words brought a lump in my throat.

Circumstances and reason of death being investigated, say officials, rule out ceasefire violation as cause

Srinagar, March 8

A soldier was found dead near the Line of Control (LoC)  in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, an Army official said on Monday.

The official said Gunner Trived Prakash, posted at Kachhal, was found dead due to fire from his service weapon, at sentry post on March 7. “The circumstances and reason of his death are being investigated,” the official said.

The official clarified that the jawan’s death did not occur due to any ceasefire violation. PTI

Demand a resolution that no election in the state should take place on EVMs

MLAs from across the parties in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today demanded a resolution that no election in the state should take place on electronic voting machines. Photo for representation only

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9

MLAs from across the parties in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today demanded a resolution that no election in the state should take place on electronic voting machines.

The issue was raised during the Call Attention by the Lok Insaaf Party’s MLA from Ludhiana Simarjeet Singh Bains, when he said his call attention on EVMs was rejected by the Speaker citing lack of jurisdiction of the state Assembly. He said Under Article 328 of the Constitution, the state government had the right to decide whether it wanted Assembly elections to be conducted via ballot paper or EVM. He said the Seventh Schedule of Constitution gave that right to states.

Technology can be manipulated

Every technology, including EVMs, can be manipulated. If election doesn’t take place on EVMs, the BJP can’t win even a single seat in Punjab. — Navjot Singh Sidhu, Congress leader

Bains said using same provisions, the Speaker of the Maharashtra state Assembly had asked the government to bring a Bill to reintroduce ballot papers in elections in Maharshtra. Following that other MLAs joined the issue and supported Bains. Breaking his silence in the Punjab Assembly after a gap of almost two years, former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said various first world countries had already rejected the use of EVMs. He said with EVMs, people’s power to elect their representatives was snatched. He called it the biggest attack on democracy. He said the BJP government had compromised every institution of the country.

Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema also said it had been established that EVMs could be tempered with. He said their party had already raised the issue in Delhi. In Punjab, he said even children knew that EVMs were fraud and the system should come to an end. He also demanded resolution of the House against EVMs.

Agreeing to the demand, Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Sharnjeet Dhillon said the BJP government in The Centre was capable of doing anything to remain in power. AAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu said whatever Navjot Singh Sidhu had said about the system of EVMs concluded the whole issue.

When contacted, State Election Commissioner Dr S Karuna Raju expressed inability to comment on the issue as he said he was unaware of the development in the Punjab Assembly.

athinda, March 8

Mohinder Kaur (73) of Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Bathinda was today honoured at a function organised by the Delhi Commission for Women.

She was given a rousing welcome as she received the award from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. She was given a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a memento for her active participation in the ongoing farm agitation.

Talking to The Tribune, Mohinder Kaur expressed happiness over the honour she had received. She hit the headlines after Kangana Ranaut tweeted her picture claiming that she was the same “Dadi Bilkis Bano”, who was part of the Shaheen Bagh protest. — TNS

It has been decided to de-induct 20 companies of CAPFs on March 10

Officials in the Ministry said the MHA has extended the deployment of 93 companies of CAPFs. Tribune file

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 9

Keeping in view the farmers’ protest against Centre’s three farm laws on the borders of Delhi, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to extend the deployment of 93 of 113 already present companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the national capital till March 15 for law and order duties. 

Officials in the Ministry said the MHA has extended the deployment of 93 companies of CAPFs, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in Delhi till March 15.

As of now, it has been decided to de-induct 20 companies of CAPFs on March 10 and a review would be conducted next week on the continuation of left out 93 companies, the officials said.

Farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The implementation of the three laws was, in January, put on hold by the Supreme Court.

Earlier, Major Thiru Murugan Thangavelu was held in the case with police claiming he had passed on the question paper via Whatsapp to some other accused

Pune, March 9

Two days after a Major was arrested in connection with the February 28 Army recruitment exam paper leak, Pune police on Tuesday said another military personnel had been detained in Delhi for questioning.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta confirmed the development.

Officials said an Anti-Extortion Cell team of Pune police under Inspector Vittal Patil had gone to Delhi as part of the paper leak probe and were jointly working with the Military Intelligence unit based there.

Earlier, Major Thiru Murugan Thangavelu was held in the case with police claiming he had passed on the question paper via Whatsapp to some other accused.

So far, six people, including three Army personnel, have been arrested in the case.