Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday told parliament that India was monitoring all developments in the neighbourhood which could impinge on national security and made it clear that there was no conclusive proof of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) over the border with China. ...
01:38 AM, Nov 27, 2012
Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking issue with Defence Minister A K Antony, on Monday published an article questioning why the minister was so harsh on the Oommen Chandy government, in a speech he made in the state capital last week. The IUML has been disgruntled ever since the Congress leadership turned down its request to elevate its nominee, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, to...
03:15 PM, Nov 19, 2012
Thiruvananthapuram: On his maiden visit to his home state since becoming Number Two in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's team, Defence Minister A K Antony managed to set the cat among the pigeons with his remarks. Antony, widely considered a man of few words, drew attention to his words not once but on two different occasions, forcing party colleagues to sit up and take note. The opposition was quick to grab...
12:40 PM, Nov 16, 2012
Palakkad: With Kerala state Congress leaders attacking each other on TV channels, Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday asked his party colleagues to develop political maturity. "Today many of my friends here, the moment they see mikes of TV channels they cut loose and make lots of statements. This does not augur with the Kerala style of political functioning," said Antony. Antony was speaking at a meeting here to...
09:32 AM, Nov 14, 2012
New Delhi: Even as his Ministry is preparing itself for curtailment of funds, Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said there will be no cut in budget for procuring equipment essential for operational preparedness of armed forces. "Everything depends on the entire financial situation of the government...for ammunition and platforms essential for operational preparedness of the armed forces, there would not be any cut," he told reporters on the sidelines...
02:48 AM, Nov 11, 2012
New Delhi: Even as his Ministry is preparing itself for curtailment of funds, Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said there will be no cut in budget for procuring equipment essential for operational preparedness of armed forces. "Everything depends on the entire financial situation of the government...for ammunition and platforms essential for operational preparedness of the armed forces, there would not be any cut," he told reporters on the sidelines...
04:34 PM, Nov 10, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Saturday said India has sought details from the UK in connection with corruption allegations in the VVIP helicopter deal with Italy. He said that "strong action" would be taken in case any foul play is found. "The contract is with a particular company based in the UK. We have also requested MEA to take up the case with UK. We are making all...
02:20 PM, Nov 10, 2012
New Delhi: Amid the possibility of a budget cut, the Defence Ministry will on Wednesday review major military modernisation projects of the Armed Forces such as plans for acquiring 126 combat aircraft and raising a Strike Corps in the northeastern sector. In a meeting with the three Services vice chiefs, Defence Minister AK Antony will review the expenditure made by the Armed Forces this year and their plans for the...
03:06 AM, Nov 07, 2012
New Delhi: Minister of State for Defence Lalchand Kataria's portfolio is likely to be changed, sources said on Tuesday. The sources said that the Prime Minister's Office had put on hold the decision to appoint Kataria as one of the two Ministers of State for Defence. Sources said that this was because both Kataria and the other MoS in Defence were from the same state: Rajasthan. Kataria is currently meeting...
10:02 AM, Oct 30, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday cautioned the three services chiefs to be "transparent" in the process of weapon trials and procurement as he cleared proposals worth around Rs 6,000 crore for the Armed Forces. Antony's message to the chiefs came amid latest bribery allegations in the proposed purchase of 197 light choppers. At the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting, the Ministry cleared proposals for procurement of 3,000...
02:49 AM, Oct 30, 2012
New Delhi: A Defence Ministry audit report has raised questions on Army Commanders, on the issue of money being spent for urgent procurement. The audit has found 55 cases where procurements were made without consulting centralised agencies. The Army Commander of the Northern Command has the power to spend up to Rs 125 crore in emergencies, while the Eastern Command has Rs 50 crore limits. And now the scanner is...
08:22 AM, Oct 24, 2012
New Delhi: An internal audit report of the Defence Ministry has detected a loss of over Rs 100 crore in spendings by six Army commanders between 2009 and 2011, prompting Defence Minister AK Antony to order strict checks and balances on expenditure. The Army, however, contested the loss of Rs 100 crore in procurements and insisted that no rules have been violated. The Defence Ministry had ordered the Controller of...
08:55 PM, Oct 23, 2012
October 20 marks 50 years since the 1962 conflict with China. The 1962 Sino-Indian conflict claimed the lives of 5,000 Indian soldiers. For the first time, an Indian Defence Minister along with the top military brass of the country paid homage to the martyrs. Defence Minister AK Antony and the three service Chiefs laid wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. ...
08:26 PM, Oct 20, 2012
New Delhi: The country on Saturday paid homage to the soldiers who fought the 1962 Indo-China war. And for the first time, Defence Minister AK Antony along with the top military brass of the country paid homage to those who died fighting in the war. Antony and the three service Chiefs followed by Minister of State Pallamraju laid wreaths at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India gate. More than 3000...
09:10 AM, Oct 20, 2012
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be addressing the Armed Forces Combined Commanders' Conference on Friday. The Indian armed forces are mulling the creation of three unified commands to effectively tackle security threats and challenges in the fields of space, cyberspace and special operations. The efforts are part of increasing significance being given on jointness among the three Services by the Defence Ministry and to avoid duplication of their...
08:50 AM, Oct 19, 2012
New Delhi: India is all set to procure 42 Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 medium-lift helicopters from Russia. The issue was discussed during meeting between Defence Minister AK Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov in New Delhi and an agreement in this regard is expected to be signed during the visit of President Vladimir Putin on November 1, sources said. The 42 Su-30MKIs will add to the firepower...
01:39 AM, Oct 11, 2012
New Delhi: Russia delayed delivery of a trouble-plagued aircraft carrier for at least a year on Friday, a blow to India's efforts to quickly build up naval strength as increasingly assertive Asian rival China expands its maritime reach. Originally built as the Admiral Gorshkov in the Soviet Union, the $2.3 billion aircraft carrier is being reconditioned and was due to be ready this year, but problems with the ship's boilers...
10:11 PM, Oct 10, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Friday called for reducing India's over-dependence on defence imports and bolstering research and development capabilities. Speaking to officials of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), Antony asked them to make sincere and sustained efforts to reduce the dependence on imports to the maximum extent possible. "While in the era of globalisation, it is not possible to completely do away...
12:58 PM, Oct 06, 2012
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony on Friday called for reducing India's over-dependence on defence imports and bolstering research and development capabilities. Speaking to officials of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), Antony asked them to make sincere and sustained efforts to reduce the dependence on imports to the maximum extent possible. "While in the era of globalisation, it is not possible to completely do away...
12:58 AM, Oct 06, 2012
New Delhi: Observing that piracy and armed robberies in high seas were threatening the stability of the Asian region, Defence Minister AK Antony on Wednesday said India was taking steps to augment its capabilities to fight piracy and terrorism. Addressing the 8th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting, the Defence Minister said, "India strongly believes that mutual cooperation alone is the most effective way in ensuring the security and...
12:54 AM, Oct 04, 2012
