Government committed to modernising armed forces: UPA report card

NEW DELHI - The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government said Tuesday it was continuing to focus on the modernisation of India’s armed forces and ensuring the country’s defence preparedness.

“Another area being accorded high priority is the development of roads and infrastructure in the high altitude areas,” the government said in its report card of UPA-2 after completing one year that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released here Tuesday.

Noting that coastal and maritime security has assumed great importance after the (26/11) terrorist strike in Mumbai, the government said the launching into the waters of the indigenous INS Arihant nuclear submarine showed its committed to strengthening the coastal security and surveillance mechanism.

A photograph of INS Arihant was made public for the first time in the report.

An integrated and synergetic approach has been adopted by involving the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard, the state Marine Police and the Intelligence, Customs and other central and state agencies “in meeting this challenge”.

“A decision has been taken to induct the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, with precision strike capability against land targets,” the government said, adding: “Akash surface to air missile system, capable of multi-target handling, is also being inducted.”

It also noted that the raising of two mountain divisions to safeguard the north-eastern borders and the setting up of a second Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Gaya had been approved.

“The modernisation of the Rashtriya Rifles was also approved to improve the counter insurgency grid in Jammu and Kashmir,” the report said.