Lt Gen Manoj Pande was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. (File photo)

Lt Gen Manoj Pande will take charge as the chief of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command on Monday, succeeding Lt Gen Anil Chauhan. Lt Gen Pande is presently heading the only operational tri-services formation Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair.

An alumnus of National Defence Academy, the General Officer was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (The Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. He is a graduate of Staff College, Camberley (United Kingdom) and attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College (NDC) at Delhi. During his 37 years of distinguished service, Pande has taken active part in Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.

He commanded an Engineer Regiment along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, an Engineer Brigade as part of the Strike Corps, an Infantry Brigade along the Line of Control, a Mountain Division in the high altitude area of western Ladakh and a Corps deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as also in Counter Insurgency Operations area in the northeast.

Lt Gen Pande has tenanted important staff assignments and was posted as Chief Engineer at the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. He was Director-General at Army Headquarters dealing with subjects of discipline, ceremonial and welfare, prior to assuming the present appointment.

New Delhi: The Indian Army is set to procure over 1,700 Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) in a phased manner under the strategic partnership route, with the induction of the “future tank” expected to be completed by 2030.

According to a Request for Information (RFI) floated by the Army Tuesday, the 1,770 FRCVs will be procured along with transfer of technology, performance-based logistics, engineering support package, and other maintenance and training requirements.

The prospective vendors will have to respond to the RFI by 15 September.

An earlier Request for Proposal floated on the procurement of FRCVs in 2017 stands cancelled.

In April, the Army had also floated an RFI to procure around 350 light tanks in a phased manner under the Make in India initiative, to sharpen its mountain warfare edge amid the ongoing Ladakh stalemate.

Currently, India operates with Russian-designed T-90 tanks, which weigh around 46 tonnes, besides the T-72 tanks. The new procurement will eventually replace the Russian T-72 tanks.

Also read: India notifies 2nd list of defence items it won’t import, industry hopes more will be added

‘Future tank’

The “state-of-the-art”, “technologically-enabled” FRCVs will be able to operate in different terrains, such as high altitude areas, plains and riverine borders as well as deserts, and have high mobility. They will act as the main battle tanks of the Army.

According to the Army’s requirements, the tanks should ideally be able to defeat the adversary’s tanks, armoured vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and destroy or deter attack helicopters. The platform is needed to have multiple anti-aircraft weapons, counter UAVs and a ground role with different calibre assisted with remote control weapon stations.

The RFI also requires the platform to also have different stealth features.

The procurement is in line with the emerging future threat spectrum, the RFI says. The superior modern tank platform, it says, should incorporate niche technologies such as artificial intelligence, and can operate in a network centric and electronic warfare environment.

While tanks have been the dominant battle winning factor of the land forces, it faces new threats from loitering munitions, UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) and their targeting have been made easier with a progress in the adversary’s ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capabilities, it says.

“….the future tank has to be in sync with technological battlefield advancements,” the RFI says, adding that it needs to upgrade and incorporate systems to negate ISR systems, counter new threats and enhance its operational performance.

The Army says the medium weight-class tank should have an weapon system that can be upgraded and equipped with advanced multipurpose smart munitions, both for main and secondary armaments with gun tube launched anti-tank guided missiles.

‘Will reduce necessity to train on multiple platforms’

A senior Army officer told ThePrint that the FRCVs will provide flexibility to switch to mechanised forces into different terrain at a short notice, as they can be deployed in all terrain.

“It would reduce the necessity to train on multiple platforms. Additionally, the overall inventory would be easier to manage in terms of spares and other reserves,” the officer said.

Lt Gen A.B. Shivane (Retd), former director general, mechanised forces had called it a “game changer”. In a seminar in 2017, he had said the FRCV would replace the Russian T-72 tanks presently in service and would not scuttle the Arjun tank programme.

The RFI clarifies that several new technologies have been sought and the prospective Original Equipment Manufacturer may not have them at present, but they can confirm the provision for their integration into the platform.

Also read: DRDO will begin trials of Made-in-India towed artillery in June but Army still has ‘concerns’

Indian troops must be well prepared for any misadventure

It’s no coincidence that the China-Pakistan military exercise in Tibet comes amid celebrations marking 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries which share their borders with India. The drill has taken place near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — the scene of a prolonged standoff between Indian and Chinese troops — weeks ahead of the first anniversary of the bloody clash in Ladakh’s Galwan valley. Both the venue and the timing of the exercise have struck a discordant note for India, bringing under scrutiny the intentions of the two allies. The bilateral show of strength reeks of aggressive posturing apparently aimed at unnerving India. The development is also a grim reminder that the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh has only flattered to deceive, even as Pakistan’s overtures to bring peace along the LoC can’t be taken at face value.

The writing is on the wall: military and economic ties between China and Pakistan are getting stronger by the day and India needs to remain wary of both its neighbours, which have a long history of duplicity. The leaders of the two nations congratulated each other recently on the progress of the $60-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major infrastructure project that connects Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Balochistan. Though New Delhi has lodged a protest with Beijing over the CPEC, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), China has asserted that it is an economic initiative that won’t affect its ‘principled stand’ on the Kashmir issue. The argument has failed to convince India of China’s credibility.

The Chinese consolidation of air defence assets along the LAC makes it obvious that peace and tranquillity in the area will continue to be elusive as the neighbour is in no mood for de-escalation. With the Chinese Communist Party gearing up for its centenary celebrations next month, several grand displays of military might are to be expected. That’s reason enough for Indian troops to be well prepared for any mischief or misadventure from across the border or on the high seas.

New Delhi: Army chief General M.M. Naravane has reached Srinagar to take stock of the security situation in Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LoC), where the ceasefire with Pakistan has completed 100 days.

Sources in the defence establishment said the chief will be briefed on the operational matters and overall security scenario by 15 Corps Commander Lt Gen. D.P. Pandey and his team.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire along their tense border in 2003, but it was never followed in letter and spirit after an initial spell of silence. On 25 February, the directors-general of military operations on the two sides decided to strictly implement the ceasefire. The ceasefire, the sources said, has held up since then bar one round of firing between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers along the International Border.

According to official figures, the total number of ceasefire violations this year stands at 592. Of this, 591 took place before 25 February. In comparison, between 1 January 2020 and 1 June 2020, Pakistan violated the ceasefire a total of 1,531 times.

In all, 2020 saw 4,635 ceasefire violations, up from 3,233 in 2019.

Despite the ceasefire, sources in the defence and security establishment said terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) remain in place, if at a reduced scale. Infiltration, they added, has come down, with sources in the security establishment saying there was zero terror infiltration in March, April and May.

Also Read: Pakistan keeps making bad decisions with India. Its insecurity is hurting peace

‘Fragile ceasefire’

Sources in the security establishment describe the ceasefire at the LoC as “fragile”, saying Pakistan will turn up the heat when it feels the time is right.They said peace along the LoC is in favour of both countries, but more so for Pakistan.

“There are multiple factors behind the ceasefire initiative, like the global scrutiny, pullout of US-led forces from Afghanistan, and the need for them to refocus away from the LoC. There is a section within the Pakistan Army that wants peace but they seem to be facing opposition,” said a source.

“Moreover, none of the other peace initiatives is yet to be formalised. Hence, the current ceasefire can be termed fragile,” the source added.

The sources said it is important for other initiatives — like resumption of diplomatic ties with the appointment of high commissioners, and bilateral and multilateral forum talks — to take off for the ceasefire at the LoC to be successful.

Terror infrastructure continues

While there has been no ceasefire violation along the LoC since 25 February, security and defence sources said terror infrastructure like training camps continues to operate in PoK.

However, security sources said the training camps have been scaled down a lot, an assessment that is shared by the defence establishment.

While defence sources said infiltration has come down, sources in the security establishment claimed there was no terror infiltration in March, April and May.

However, they did say that arms and ammunition continue to be pumped into Kashmir through other routes besides the LoC, on a much smaller scale than before.

“The terror infrastructure continues across the LoC, though on a smaller scale. This was actually reduced after the Balakot strike (2019). The terror support to elements in Kashmir continues through hawala operators and other means, though again on a smaller scale than before,” a source said.

Another source added that while a feeling of alienation is still high in Kashmir, the situation remains under control.

“From a security point of view, the situation remains under control. It is at a level that can be managed. There has not been any infiltration since the ceasefire announcements. This is the season of infiltration and hence one needs to be watchful,” the source said.

This is an updated version of the report

(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)

Also Read: Under Modi, India more likely to respond to Pakistan provocation with military force: US intel

YK Joshi, Lieutenant General, Northern Command

Udhampur, June 1

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General YK Joshi on Tuesday said the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan was being followed in letter and spirit by both sides since February 25, but asserted that the Army was not letting its guard down “even for one bit” along the border in J&K.

“The present situation is a reflection of our nation’s behaviour as a responsible member of the comity of nations where we have displayed maturity, restraint and humanitarian outlook during the trying times of Covid pandemic,” he said.

India and Pakistan had on February 25 this year released a joint statement announcing a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), following talks between their Directors General of Military Operations. The two countries had earlier signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003 but it was repeatedly violated.

Kargil war hero Lt Gen Joshi said the direct benefactors of the fresh ceasefire understanding between the two countries had been the people residing along the Line of Control. — PTI

All employees would have to give an undertaking to the head of organisation that they would not publish such information failing which pension can be “withheld or withdrawn”, the amendment states.
The Centre has amended its rules barring officers who had worked in intelligence and security related organisations from publishing sensitive information by adding new clauses, including the conditions that they can’t share any material on “domain of the organisation” or its personnel.
The Central Civil Services (Pension) Amendment Rules, 2021, dated May 31 and notified late Tuesday, also states that they need to take prior permission from the “head of the organisation” for publishing such material. In the earlier 2007 rules, permission was to be taken from the head of the department.
All employees would have to give an undertaking to the head of organisation that they would not publish such information failing which pension can be “withheld or withdrawn”, the amendment states.
According to the Central Civil Services (Pension) Amendment Rules 2007 that was notified in March 2008, all such employees are already barred from publishing any sensitive information, “the disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India”.
The amended provision now reads, “No government servant, who, having worked in any intelligence or security-related organisation…shall, without prior clearance from the head of the organisation, make any publication after retirement, of any material relating to and including domain of the organisation, including any reference or information about any personnel and his designation, and expertise or knowledge gained by virtue of working in that organisation”.
There was no mention of domain of the organisation and reference to any personnel in the 2007 rules.
“Domain may be taken to mean core area or core areas of the working of an organisation,” an official explained.
The head of the organisation will decide whether the proposed material for publication is sensitive or non-sensitive, and whether it falls in the domain of the organisation, according to the amended rules.
The 2007 rules had barred the employees from publishing material including “sensitive information, the disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, or relation with a foreign state or which would lead to incitement of an offence” after their retirement.
The rules apply to employees who retire from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central Economic Intelligence Bureau, Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Aviation Research Centre, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, National Security Guards, Central Industrial Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police among others.
The list also includes the Narcotics Control Bureau, Special Frontier Force, Special Protection Group and Financial Intelligence Unit.
The CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, which have been amended to make way for 2007 and 2021 rules, however, don’t apply to officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) among others.
The CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 apply to those appointed on or before December 31, 2003.

The ceasefire violation took place on Wednesday morning in J&K’s Arnia Sector
Pakistan Rangers fired at an earth-mover machine along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Arnia sector. This could be Pakistan’s second ceasefire violation in nearly four months, as per official sources.
The earth- mover machine was engaged in conducting maintenance activity along the border area when the firing took place at 8:15 am in the outskirts of Jammu.
According to sources, Pakistani Rangers fired a few rounds after it noticed the bullet-proof JCB machine engaged in clearing bushes in Arnia sector’s Vikram post area.
The BSF retaliated and fired a few rounds as well, sources said, adding that no casualty was reported and the situation has returned to normal alone the International Border. The Border Security Force (BSF), which is guarding the IB, have neither confirmed nor denied the incident.
Ceasefire Violation By Pak In May
Pakistani Rangers had violated the ceasefire on May 2 by opening fire along the IB in Ramgarh sector of Samba district. It was the first ceasefire violation by Pakistan after the two countries had signed a fresh agreement to maintain calm along the border on February 25.
In March, a Pakistani intruder was gunned down by the BSF in J&K’s Samba district after he ignored repeated warnings by BSF personnel and tried to sneak in from across the border in Ramgarh sector.

Since the induction of Dhanush started in April 2019, only 12 guns have been delivered so far and six of them were delivered that month only
New Delhi: The much anticipated large-scale induction of the Dhanush artillery guns, also known as ‘Desi Bofors’, has been hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as production quality concerns flagged by the Army.
Since April 2019, when the induction started, only 12 of the indigenously built long-range artillery guns have been delivered. This is far below the 18 guns required to make a full regiment.
Incidentally, the first six guns were delivered in April 2019 itself and more of the 155mm x 45mm Dhanush were to be produced subsequently. The delay meant that the first regiment of Dhanush, which was to be raised by the end of 2019, had not been completed by then and the date was later pushed to March 2020.
Furthermore, while the Army is satisfied with the guns in terms of fire power and mobility, it has flagged multiple concerns regarding the production quality. Dhanush is being manufactured by the Gun Carriage Factory (CGF) in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur, which comes under the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
“The production system has still not stabilised. After integrated firing checks, issues have cropped with regard to the hydraulics, sight and even mounting in some cases,” a source said.
Sources further noted that the Army is awaiting the production system to stabilise so that a larger number of guns, which is an advanced variant of the Bofors, can be inducted.
Incidentally, the CBI had registered a case in 2017 against a Delhi-based firm and unidentified officials of the Gun Carriage Factory for China-made parts camouflaged as those ‘Made in Germany’ finding their way to the production line of Dhanush.
Covid Delayed Production Too
Another issue that has delayed the production is the Covid-19 pandemic which has halted the work at the factory for quite some time now.
According to sources familiar with the matter, several cases of Covid emerged at the Jabalpur factory.
The national lockdown last year and the pandemic also meant that the supply chain got affected, sources said. OFB officials said t that initial manufacturing plans faced certain constraints in the supply chain “which have largely been settled”. They said that the pandemic had a widespread global impact but the OFB is making “all efforts to ensure timely supplies”.
They added that further production of guns is underway. However, they did not respond to a query on the quality concerns raised by the Army.
Army Has Ordered 114 Dhanush
Dhanush passed its final test at Pokhran in June 2018, after trials in high altitude areas like Sikkim and Leh and in hot and humid weather in Balasore, Odisha and Babina in Jhansi. The GCF got the Dhanush project in October 2011 and the first prototype was built in 2014. The Army had ordered 114 Dhanush guns in 2018.
A towed howitzer with a strike range of 38 km, Dhanush has been developed on the basis of the first phase of Transfer of Technology (ToT) deal as part of the Bofors contract in the late 1980s.
However, the Swedish Bofors company (now owned by Britain’s BAE System) could not complete the ToT as the deal got embroiled in a major political row following allegations of kickbacks under the then Rajiv Gandhi government.
The Bofors gun subsequently became the backbone of the Indian Army’s operation in the 1999 Kargil conflict with its pinpoint accuracy in targeting enemy positions.
Costing about Rs 14.5 crore a piece, Dhanush is equipped with an inertial navigation-based sighting system, auto-laying facility, onboard ballistic computation, and an advanced day and night direct firing system.
The self-propulsion unit of the gun allows it to be easily deployed in mountainous terrain.

The Shopian additional district magistrate asked people to share information about the anti-militancy operation that took place at Kanigam in Shopian

Photo for representation.

Srinagar, June 2

Authorities in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into an encounter between militants and security forces last month in which three ultras were killed, officials said.

In an order, the Shopian additional district magistrate, who is also the inquiry officer, asked people to share information about the anti-militancy operation that took place at Kanigam in Shopian on May 5-6.

“It is notified for general public that as per the standing orders of the government, a magisterial inquiry of every militancy operation is required to be conducted.

“Whereas, such an incident took place at Kanigam, Shopian Tehsil Barbugh (Imamsahib) district Shopian on 05 May, 2021. If any person wants to share information regarding this incident, he/she can visit this office personally during office hours by or before 10 June, 2021,” the order read. PTI

Vice-Admiral Ravneet Singh (L) assumes charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Admiral relieves Vice Admiral MS Pawar (R) who retired on May 31, 2021. PTI photo

New Delhi, June 1

Vice-Admiral Ravneet Singh, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), and Nausena Medal (NM) holder, assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on Tuesday.

According to the Defence Ministry, he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1983, and specialised in aviation. The Flag Officer is a qualified flying instructor with Master Green instrument rating.

He has flown HT-2, Kiran HJT 16, TS 11 Iskra, Hunter, Harrier Gr 3, Jet Provost, Chetak, Gazelle, Hawk, and Mig 29 KUB aircraft during his illustrious career.

The Admiral has held various challenging Staff, Command, and Diplomatic assignments during his distinguished naval career, and has had wide-ranging experience onboard diverse platforms.

He has commanded various frontline ships and Naval Air Squadrons including INS Himgiri, INS Ranvijay, INS Ranvir, INAS 551B, INAS 300 as well as the premier Air Base, INS Hansa. Additionally, he was also appointed as the Indian Defence Advisor for Kenya, Tanzania, and Seychelles, from 2005 to 2008.

On promotion to Flag rank, he has held key assignments of Assistant Controller Carrier Project and Assistant Controller Warship Production and Acquisition at IHQ MoD(N), Flag Officer Goa Area/Flag Officer Naval Aviation at Goa, and Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet at Mumbai, the ministry informed.

In the rank of Vice-Admiral, the Flag Officer has tenanted the appointments of Chief of Staff at Headquarters Western Naval Command, Mumbai, Director General Project Seabird, and Chief of Personnel at IHQ MoD (N).

The Admiral has undergone various courses in India and abroad, including the flying instructor courses at Tambaram, Staff Courses at DSSC Wellington, Harrier Conversion Courses at Royal Air Force Base, Withering UK and Project management Programme at IIM Ahmedabad”.

He was awarded commendation by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2000 and has been decorated with the Nausena Medal (Gallantry) in 2004 and AVSM in 2017.

He relieves Vice Admiral MS Pawar, a Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), AVSM, Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) holder, who superannuated on May 31. — ANI