Centre committed to provide state of the art equipment to defence forces: Antony

October 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Defence Minister AK Antony today said that the Armed Forces must get all their pay arrears relating to the Sixth Central Pay Commission well in time before Diwali. Addressing the Defence Accounts Day function here today, Antony commended the officials of the Controller General of Defence Accounts for adopting computerisation and speeding-up the salary computation systems.

August 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K.Antony said on Monday that the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) will be amended every year to improve country's acquisition policy for the armed forces, instead of once in two or three years as has been the practice. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar here today Antony said, "We have taken a decision that instead of every two or three years, we will amend the DPP annually so that by learning we would be able to improve it every year." The Government will amend the DPP in the next few months that further give new impetus to indigenisation process, he said.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Centre is providing 75 per cent of the total cost of fishermen's kit, which consists of Global Positioning System, communication equipment, echo-sounder and search and rescue beacon to ensure safety of fishermen at sea, Union Defence Minister A K Antony has said. "Under the 'Development of Fisheries, infrastructure and post-harvest operation' scheme, the Central government provides financial assistance to the tune of 75 per cent of unit cost of kit consisting of Global Positioning System, communication equipment, echo-sounder and search and rescue beacon to ensure safety of fishermen at sea," Antony said while replying to a query in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

July 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Thirty-four service personnel have been killed in 56 military aircraft crashes in the past four years, parliament was informed Monday. Of these, five aircraft crashes and one helicopter crash had been recorded till July 2 in the current financial year that began April 1, Defence Minister A.K.

June 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI J - Defence Minister A K Antony has assured the top brass that funds will never be a constraint for the modernisation of the Armed Forces and their welfare. Antony, however, asked them to improve efficacy and efficiency of delivery mechanisms at all levels and sought the cooperation of all senior officials to eradicate corruption and urged them to ensure 'impeccable honesty, integrity and transparency in all transactions'.

June 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday asked the top scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to desist from taking up too many projects and to ensure they provide special attention to the quality of products and their timely delivery.

May 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In the toughest ever message yet to be issued by a Defence Minister to stem corruption in armed forces procurements, A K Antony today said the Government "would not hesitate to ruthlessly cancel contracts," if malpractices are found in any acquisition. Antony asked organisations such as the CII and the FICCI, etc to help the government to maintain transparency and integrity in defence contracts, and added that the government would not tolerate "wheeling dealing or corruption." "We are determined that we need procurements, (but) we cannot compromise on transparency.

May 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Sending out a stern message against corruption in defence equipment procurement, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday said contracts will be ruthlessly cancelled if any malpractices were found.

May 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - To tackle corruption in defence deals and to bring transparency in defence procurements, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wedneday said the government will not hesitate to cancel contracts "if there is malpractice" in procurements. Antony addressing a seminar told the army officers and industry representatives that the government would not tolerate "wheeling dealing or corruption".

May 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A.K. Antony Monday took charge as defence minister for the second time amid increasing security concerns in the country's neighbourhood and cited infrastructure development in the northeast and border areas, modernisation of the armed forces and welfare of the troops as his priority.

May 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Advocating "eternal vigilance", A.K. Antony Monday expressed concern over the security scenario around India and spelt out priority areas in his second term as defence minister -- infrastructure development in northeast and border areas, modernisation of the armed forces and welfare of the troops.

April 27th, 2009 MENDHAR - One militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning. According to sources, the encounter is still on.

February 10th, 2009 BANGALORE - India is making all-out efforts to prevent another Mumbai-style terror attack by adequately equipping its security forces and beefing up the intelligence network, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Wednesday.

February 10th, 2009 BANGALORE - Defence Minister A.K. Antony Wednesday hoped that the defence budget for fiscal 2009-10 beginning April 1 would rise despite the recession the Indian economy was going through.

January 20th, 2009 PANAJI - Admitting that the Indian Coast Guard was a staggering 70 percent short of its requirements, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Wednesday that the rapid modernizing of the country's maritime forces was his ministry's top priority.