Defence Minister

Top US Defence Official To Visit 'Valued Ally' India, Hold Talks With PM Modi

India News | Press Trust of India | Saturday September 23, 2017

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will visit India and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman to reaffirm that Washington considers New Delhi a valued and influential ally. This is the first cabinet-level official's visit to India under the Trump administration

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis To Visit India, Meet PM Modi Next Week

India News | Press Trust of India | Saturday September 23, 2017

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will visit India and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman to reaffirm that Washington considers New Delhi a valued and influential ally.

Amit Shah Testifies In Court, Backs Maya Kodnani's Claims In Gujarat Riots Case

India News | Reported by Rohit Bhan, Edited by Arun Nair | Monday September 18, 2017

BJP president Amit Shah told a Gujarat court on Monday that he had seen Maya Kodnani, a leader of his party, in the state assembly and then at Ahmedabad's Sola Civil Hospital on the morning of February 28, 2002. Mr Shah appeared as a defence witness in a riot case in which Kodnani is accused of murdering 11 Muslims on that day in Naroda Gam, an Ahm...

Trash To Be Cleared From High-Altitude Areas, Glaciers: Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday September 17, 2017

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said her Ministry will run a campaign to remove trash from high altitude areas and glaciers.

President, Nirmala Sitharaman Pay Homage To Arjan Singh At His Residence

India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday September 17, 2017

President Ram Nath Kovind, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with three service chiefs today paid their tributes to the Late Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, at his residence in New Delhi.

Arjan Singh: India's Oldest Serving Military Officer, Hero Of 1965 War

People | Reported By Vishnu Som, Written By Aloke Tikku | Sunday September 17, 2017

Back in September 1965, the Chief of Air Staff was summoned to the Defence Minister's office. Pakistan was targetting the vital town of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir as part of Operation Grand Slam. The army needed air support. The government needed to know how quickly the Indian Air Force would be ready for operations. Air Force Chief Arjan Singh r...

Not Our Job To Satisfy US, Says Pakistan

World News | Indo-Asian News Service | Friday September 15, 2017

In a strong rebuttal of the US charge that it was not adequately acting against terrorist sanctuaries on its soil, Pakistan has said that the onus of satisfying Washington about its concerns was not on Islamabad, the media reported on Thursday.

Why $7.8 Billion Submarine Deal Is Tough For India And Japan

India News | by Isabel Reynolds, Iain Marlow and N. C. Bipindra, Bloomberg | Thursday September 14, 2017

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds his 10th summit with India's leader Narendra Modi on Thursday, underscoring the importance of strategic ties between the countries as the two face an increasingly assertive China. Supplying submarine technology would lock Japan and India into an even tighter defense relationship for years to come.

With China In Mind, PM Modi-Shinzo Abe To Delve On Boosting Defence Ties

India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday September 13, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe are likely to deliberate extensively on bolstering defence and security ties during the annual summit talks being held in Gandhinagar tomorrow in the backdrop of China's growing assertiveness in the region.

PM Modi Holds Talks With Belarus President AG Lukashenko

India News | Press Trust of India | Tuesday September 12, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held extensive talks with Belarus President AG Lukashenko to ramp up bilateral engagement in various areas, including defence, trade and investment.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan Join Key Cabinet Committees

India News | Press Trust of India | Tuesday September 12, 2017

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have become members of key cabinet committees reconstituted after the September 3 reshuffle.

Defence Ties High On Agenda During Belarusian President's India Visit

India News | Indo-Asian News Service | Tuesday September 12, 2017

India and Belarus are expected to ramp up their bilateral cooperation, including in defence and security, as the eastern European country's President Alexander Lukashenko is on a two-day visit to New Delhi.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Big Shake-Up Of Workflow

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Amrita Ray | Monday September 11, 2017

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold daily meetings with all three service chiefs and the defence secretary to ensure quick decision making in her ministry.

Audit Report On Ammo Shortage Factually Wrong, Says Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Press Trust of India | Monday September 11, 2017

Dismissing the CAG report, which stated that the defence forces had ammunition that could last for 20 days in the event of a war, as "factually wrong", Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today asserted there was no dearth of weapons with the defence forces.

Strengthening Armed Forces Top Priority: Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday September 10, 2017

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said that maintaining optimum state of readiness of the armed forces on all fronts would be given top priority, comments which came amid concerns over security challenges on the country's northern and western borders.

Her Husband Died Fighting Terrorists In Kashmir. Now She Joins The Army

India News | Edited by Nonika Marwaha | Sunday September 10, 2017

The appointment of Nirmala Sitharaman as the India's Defence Minister has raised expectations of new opportunities for women in the armed forces. On Saturday, the wife of an Army Colonel who lost his life fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015, was commissioned as a Lieutenant.

It Will Be No Show. Lalu Yadav Tells CBI Too Busy With Fodder Scam Cases

India News | Reported by Manish Kumar, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Saturday September 9, 2017

Summoned by CBI officers probing a land scam, Bihar politician Lalu Yadav has told investigators that he won't show up on Monday for questioning because he was too preoccupied prepping his defence in three fodder scam cases that he faces.

With New Defence Minister, Army To Induct 800 Women In Military Police

India News | Press Trust of India | Friday September 8, 2017

The Army has finalised a plan to induct women in the military police, seen as a major move towards breaking gender barriers in the force.

Get Amit Shah's Testimony In 4 Days, Court Tells Maya Kodnani

India News | Reported by Rohit Bhan, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Friday September 8, 2017

Maya Kodnani, a former minister and BJP leader convicted of organising the biggest massacre in the Gujarat riots of 2002, has been told she has till Tuesday to get BJP chief Amit Shah to court and testify in her favour. Mr Shah is the last listed defence witness in her trial; all others have been cross-examined.

Was 'Lonely' In Delhi To Stay Away From Arms Dealers: Manohar Parrikar

India News | Indo-Asian News Service | Friday September 8, 2017

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday claimed he felt "lonely" during his stint as Defence Minister as in Delhi, "one cannot figure out who is an arms dealer or an agent".

Need To Cut Delays In Supply Of Weapons To CRPF: Rajnath Singh

India News | Press Trust of India | Thursday September 7, 2017

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today lamented the "delay" in supply of weapons and critical equipment to the CRPF by the defence ministry and said there was a need to develop a framework involving defence PSUs to address the issue.

Will Be Defence Minister Round-The-Clock: Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Reported by Vishnu Som, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Thursday September 7, 2017

With a priest saying prayers, Nirmala Sitharaman took over today as India's first full-time woman Defence Minister, declaring that her priority would be modernization, military preparedness and "big play" in Make in India in production.

After Talking Peace With China, India Steps Up Military Ties With Japan

India News | Written by Vishnu Som | Wednesday September 6, 2017

In a move likely to irk China, India and Japan significantly stepped up defence ties a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi decided to move beyond the Doklam stand-off to step up border security cooperation. Beijing sees Japan as a regional military rival with which it has territorial disputes. India and Japan have a "Spe...

Amul's Tribute To Nirmala Sitharaman, Now In Charge Of Defence 'Ministree'

Offbeat | NDTV Offbeat Desk | Wednesday September 6, 2017

On Sunday, Nirmala Sitharaman became the first woman in the country to hold the defence portfolio as a full-time minister. Before her, Indira Gandhi handled the portfolio as Prime Minister nearly three decades ago. Ms Sitharaman's elevation has prompted a delightful tribute from Amul.

Can't Reach Amit Shah, Says Maya Kodnani, Wants Him To Prove Alibi

India News | NDTV News Desk | Tuesday September 5, 2017

Maya Kodnani, a former BJP leader convicted of organising the biggest massacre in the Gujarat riots of 2002, has been told she has till Friday to get BJP chief Amit Shah to testify in her favour. Mr Shah is the last listed defence witness in her trial; all others have been cross-examined. Ms Kodnani says she has been unable to determine the address...

PM Modi Wants To Modernise Military, But Tenders Worth $25 Billion Nixed

India News | N. C. Bipindra, Bloomberg | Tuesday September 5, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious $250 billion plan to modernize India's military is being tripped up by the country's own best practices.

Army, Navy And Indian Air force Chiefs Call On Nirmala Sitharaman

India News | Press Trust of India | Monday September 4, 2017

The Army, Navy and Indian Air Force or IAF chiefs today called on newly appointed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and apprised her about the overall security challenge and preparedness of the forces.

Arun Jaitley To Attend Security Dialogue With Japan

India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday September 3, 2017

Arun Jaitley will attend a key security dialouge with Japan tomorrow as Nirmala Sitharaman, who was appointed the new defence minister in a major rejig of the Union council of ministers today, was yet to take charge.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley To Attend Security Dialogue With Japan

India News | Press Trust of India | Sunday September 3, 2017

Arun Jaitley will attend a key security dialouge with Japan tomorrow though the charge of the defence ministry has been given to Nirmala Sitharamam in a major rejig of the Union Cabinet today.

On Combat Roles For Women, Here's What The New Defence Minister Said

India News | Edited by Anindita Sanyal | Monday September 4, 2017

India's new Defence Minister post the cabinet reshuffle, Nirmala Sitharamanon Sunday said she is keeping an "open mind" on women in combat roles -- a matter that Army Chief Bipin Rawat said is being looked into. Few nations have women in combat roles, an issue that's seen as a fallout of gender divide.