Latest Articles
Indian defence manufacturing – ready to take off
Self-reliance in defence manufacturing is a strategic imperative for India. As a regional Indo-Pacific power, India’s dependence on imports is a critical vulnerability.
Advent of the Artificial Intelligence era
Mankind is taking a big leap. While the previous leaps were fuelled by human intelligence, the new one is going to be driven by Artificial Intelligence.
Wanted: a robust reporting system for Agniveers
At present, the ACR system in the Army commences only from the rank of Naik upwards. Sepoys are not evaluated by ACR possibly because they are not considered fully trained soldiers capable of a leadership role and their numbers are large. Hence if the institution of a central, transparent, and, rigorous system of reporting has to be extended for the Agniveers can you imagine the additional burden on Commanding Officers who may have to write about 200 more ACRs that too for the men at the lowest rung in the hierarchy, who are not in contact with senior officers on a regular basis?
Will ‘Tour of duty’ scheme– lead to financial savings?
Tour of duty (ToD) entails recruitment of some personnel into the Defence Forces for a period of three to five years. After the completion of 3/5 years tenure, they will either be absorbed in CAPF/ Corporate Sector or let off with some Severance Package to enable their self-employment.
Budget FY 2023: a bird’s eye view
It was a short budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Either she wanted to keep her cards close to her chest or she wants to cede no opportunities for her political detractors to hit out. Nevertheless, what can be discerned clearly is that it is a growth-oriented budget with thankfully hardly any populist measures in an election heavy environment.
Merit-based promotion system: much ado about nothing?
The Debate of Merit vs Seniority is largely inconsequential as long as there is no politicization of promotion and appointments.
The politics of environment, farmer’s agitation and the youth
In the last few days Disha Ravi, Nikita, Shantanu, and Extinction Rebellion (XR) activist Greta Thunberg have been in the news because of their links with the farmer’s movement in India and sedition charges slapped on them.
Defence Budget 2021 – marginal increase, not sufficient to cover inflation
The Government has to decide the optimum allocation for defence, given the existing security scenario and competing demands of health, education and infrastructure segments
Of Lebenstraum, salami slicing, and chinese checkers
Till a few years back Depsang (2013), Chumar (2014), Doklam (2017), or Galwan (2020) were god-forsaken places that existed only on the map but no one bothered about or found them worth mentioning. Not anymore
Corona is not a joke # 2
The COVID-19 virus is a very lonely but deceptive soul. It cannot survive in thin air and often needs a platform to rest, regrow, resurrect and have a big bite of our liver, kidney or gall bladder before engaging itself with another family member or neighbor. It is a seasoned killer who always stabs someone behind its back. This is all the more reason why the COVID-19 virus needs to be detected - quick and early before it weakens the body’s defenses and forcibly enters our body. To counter this enemy we need someone strong, resourceful and powerful enough to take care and protect us against this gangster who is trying to overpower, abduct, misbehave and dictate terms - like a roadside bully.
Corona is not a joke # 1
Corona virus today is like an irresponsible ticket-less traveler or fun loving tourist on a world tour. The fast-moving, alien is free to come and go anywhere from China to Chandni chowk and literally rest of the world. The virus somehow managed to surreptitiously disguise its presence till it was first identified in the landlocked Wuhan region of Hubei province in China. After being spotted and identified (December 2019) the new virus was given the name 2019-nCoV. Its first priority was to establish a foothold for its own survival and have a bite off whatever was available. But once it managed to consolidate its position and feel safe and secure, it literally went on a world tour.