Manohar Parrikar takes charge of the Defence Ministry (Image Courtesy: PIB India)
India's new Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised a "transparent and fast" weapons acquisition process and is bullish about "Make in India" in the sector.
Mr Parrikar took charge on Monday evening, after filing nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha in Lucknow earlier in the day.
"PM has made it clear...I think we can make it as much as possible...we have a department of skill development," the defence minster or
raksha mantri said about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to manufacture defence equipment in India, seen as the biggest in a long list of challenges he faces. (
A Long To-Do List for Manohar Parrikar)
He thanked Prime Minister Modi for "giving me this sensitive ministry," and said he would take forward the work his predecessor Arun Jaitley had done.
Mr Parrikar, 58, resigned as Goa chief minister on Saturday to take over from Mr Jaitley, who held dual charge of Finance and Defence ministries since the BJP-led government of Narendra Modi took over in May this year. He has sought some time to get briefed on his crucial ministry before he can answer questions.
"I have come from state type of requirements to the national level, let me get briefed and understand the situation," he said.
Soon after taking over, Mr Parrikar met the Defence Secretary and three service chiefs.
In Lucknow, the minister said, "My work is targeted completion of whatever is required to strengthen India through the defence forces."
He said he learnt only at 11.35 pm yesterday that he had been appointed defence minister. He asked journalists there too for a week, as he got briefed on his new charge, quipping, "I am defenceless against the press today, but I won't allow the country to be defenceless against its enemies."
Mr Parrikar's appointment to head a top-four ministry was one of the key highlights of the cabinet expansion and reshuffle effected by the Prime Minister on Sunday. He was the first of the 21 new ministers to take oath at the Rahstrapati Bhavan
The Goa leader is a metallurgy graduate from IIT Bombay.