2018 16-30 April Vol 65 No 8 ` 5 SAINIK Samachar Prime Minister inaugurates India’s mega exhibition – DEFEXPO 2018 The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visiting the pavilions, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi witnessing the demonstration of equipment of the three Armed forces, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018. In This Issue Since 1909 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS PM’s Address at DEFEXPO 2018 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 65 q No 8 26 Chaitra - 10 Vaisakha, 1940 (Saka) 16-30 April 2018 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Hasibur Rahman Senior Editor Ms Ruby T Sharma RM Appreciates National 7 DRDO Celebrates 8 Editor Ehsan Khusro Level Open Challenge… ‘Make in India’ Spirit… Sub Editor Sub Maj KC Sahu Coordination Kunal Kumar Business Manager Rajpal Our Correspondents DELHI: Col Aman Anand; Capt DK Sharma VSM; Wg Cdr Anupam Banerjee; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Ved Pal; Divyanshu Kumar; Photo Editor: K Ramesh; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Guruprasad HL; CHANDIGARH: Anil Gaur; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR : Anil Gaur; JAMMU: Lt Col Devender Anand; JAIPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Col Chiranjeet Konwer; KOLKATA: 10 Indian Companies and Russian… Wg Cdr SS Birdi; Dipannita Dhar; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Naval Investiture Rahul Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: 11 People of Chennai Make… Wg Cdr AR Giri; Mahesh Iyengar; G Surendra Babu; Ceremony Conducted 16 PUNE: SECUNDERABAD: 12 Raksha Mantri Discusses… SHILLONG; Wg Cdr Ratnakar Singh; SRINAGAR: Col Rajesh Kalia; TEZPUR: Lt Col Sombit Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ms Dhanya Sanal K; UDHAMPUR: 13 RM’S Address at ‘VII Moscow… Col NN Joshi; VISAKHAPATNAM: Capt CG Raju. 18 Indian Army Organises Cultural… Published by: 20 Zojila Pass Opened For… Ms SR Rajashekar, Official Spokesperson, MoD 24 RM Calls for Building Stronger… Nungsanglemba Ao, Officiating Addl DG (M&C) 25 Ex-servicemen Rally at Lebong,… 26 “Chakravath” Begins with an… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 28 President Confers Gallantry… 34 India’s Oldest Field Army… Follow us on: www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia Regulars 35 Armed Forces Panorama https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD Editorial Office: L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Trishul Special Olympics & Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 22 Email : [email protected] Paralympics Games For Special… E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in On front cover: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivering his address, at the inauguration ceremony of the DefExpo India 2018, at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on April 12, 2018. PM’s Address at DEFEXPO 2018 overnor of Tamil Nadu, In modern times more than one G Deputy Speaker of Lok hundred and thirty thousand Indian Sabha, soldiers sacrificed their lives in World Wars in the last century. India Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, had no claim on territory. But Indian Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil soldiers fought for restoring peace Nadu, and up-holding human values. My Ministerial colleagues, Independent India has also sent Distinguished visitors, one of the largest numbers of UN Friends. Peace-Keepers to places all over the world. A very good morning to you all! At the same time, an important This is the 10th edition of Def- responsibility of the State is to protect Expo. its own citizens. The Great Indian Some of you may have attended thinker and strategist Kautilya wrote this event several times. A few may the Arth-shastra more than two even have been attending it since thousand years ago. He said that inception. Armed Forces, the world over the King, or the ruler, must protect But for me, this is the first time know the importance of supply his people. And, he also said that at Def-Expo. I am both delighted chains. But it is not just on the battle- peace is preferable to war. India's and over-whelmed to see such a fields, but also on the factory floors of defence preparedness is guided by keen gathering here in this historic defence manufacturing enterprises, these thoughts. Our commitment region of Kanchi-puram in the great that strategic decisions are made. to peace is just as strong as our State of Tamil Nadu. Today, we live in an inter- commitment to protect our people I am very happy to be here in connected world. The efficiency of and our territory. And for this, we are the land of the great Cholas who supply chains is a key factor in any ready to take all steps required to established India's historic civilization manufacturing enterprise. Therefore, equip our Armed Forces, including links through trade and education. the strategic imperative to Make through the establishment of a This is the land of our glorious in India, to Make for India, and to strategically independent defence maritime legacy. Supply to the World from India is industrial complex. This is the land from where stronger than ever before. Friends. India Looked East and Acted East Friends. We are conscious that creating thousands of years ago. Thousands of years of history a defence industrial complex is far Friends. of India shows that we have never from simple. We know that a lot It is wonderful to see over five desired any one's territory. needs to be done, and many pieces hundred Indian companies, along Rather than winning countries of this puzzle need to fit together. with over one hundred and fifty through wars, India has believed in We are also aware/ that the defence foreign companies present here. winning hearts. This is the land from manufacturing sector is unique in terms of government involvement. More than forty countries have where the message of peace and universal brotherhood has gone out You need the government to grant sent their official delegations as a license to manufacture. Since well. It is an opportunity like none since Vedic times. the government is almost the only other, not only to discuss India’s This is the land from where buyer in India, you also need the defence requirements, but also to the light of Buddhism spread to government to grant an order. show-case, for the first time ever, in the world. In fact, from the time of such a manner, India’s own defence Ashoka and even earlier, India has And, you need the government manufacturing capabilities to the believed in using strength to protect even to grant permission to export. world. the highest ideals of humanity. Therefore, over the last few 4 Sainik Samachar April 16-30, 2018 years, we have made a humble military stores, sub-assemblies, and From 2007 to 2013, the targeted beginning. sub-systems has been done away offsets obligations were 1.24 billion On defence manufacturing with. dollars, of which only 0.79 billion licenses, on defence offsets, on The defence industry sector was dollars worth of offsets were actually defence exports clearances, on closed to the private sector till May discharged. That is, an achievement Foreign Direct Investment in defence 2001, when it was first opened up rate of only about 63 percent. manufacturing, and on reforming to private sector participation by From 2014 to 2017, the our defence procurement, we have the Government of Shri Atal Behari targeted offsets obligations were taken many steps. Vajpayee ji. 1.79 billion dollars, of which 1.42 In all these areas, our We have taken a step forward billion dollars worth of offsets were regulations, processes and and revised the Foreign Direct realized. This is an achievement procedures have been made more Investment cap of 26 percent to rate of close to 80 percent. Procurement from Micro and Small industry-friendly, more transparent, 49 percent through the automatic Enterprises by the Defence Public more predictable and more outcome route, and even up to 100 percent Sector Undertakings and Ordnance oriented. The Defence Products List on a case-to-case basis. Factories has gone up from about for the purpose of issuing licenses The Defence Procurement Rs. 3300 crores in 2014-15 to over has been revised, and most of the Procedure has also been revised, Rs. 4250 crores in 2016-17. This is components, parts, sub-systems, with many specific provisions for an increase of close to 30 percent. testing equipment and production stimulating the growth of domestic It is heartening to note that the equipment have been removed from defence industry. the list to reduce entry barriers for contribution of small and medium We have also de-notified some the industry, especially for the small scale sector to defence production items earlier made exclusively by and medium enterprises. has grown by 200 percent in the last Ordnance Factories, so that the 4 years. Initial validity of Industrial private sector, especially the micro, And, they are increasingly also License has been increased from 3 small and medium enterprises can becoming part/ of the global supply years to 15 years, with provision to enter this space.