Maj Gen Mrinal Suman

While studying Indian history in school days, one was repeatedly told that the British resorted to ‘divide and rule’ policy to gain control over India....

The profession of arms is all about management of violence, destruction and death. As it is not easy to muster courage and nerve to kill...

The terrorist attack on Mumbai once again brought the issue of the quality of Indian political leadership in focus. Nearly 200 people lost their lives...

A number of social scientists and military historians have been trying to discover reasons for Britain’s success in ruling the world while retaining its own...

The recent debate about the entry of women officers in the armed forces has been highly ill- informed and subjective in nature. People have taken...

As India celebrates 62 years of Independence, one wonders as to what makes nations great. Why is the US an undisputed world power? Why has...

We, the veterans take pride in the fact that we belong to the noblest profession in the world – the profession of arms that ensures...

Policy and methodology to counter the Naxalite threat have been subjects of intense debate recently. Army’s reluctance to get embroiled has been questioned in some...

India acknowledges the technological superiority of the US weapon systems and wants to develop and produce them through joint ventures. It seeks partnership and not...

It is time India makes up its mind whether it wants FDI in defence or not. If it is felt that FDI is not essential...

To most, hearing and listening are synonymous as both relate to the functions of the ear. However, the difference lies in the processing of the...

Pakistan is at it again. Five soldiers have lost their lives. Indian leadership appears unfazed and wants to continue dialogue with Pakistan. One of the...

Every organisation has its archetypal character and traits, some positive and some negative. The services are no exception. They have numerous good attributes but one...

India should adopt a flexible FDI policy to import much needed technologies which cannot be mastered through indigenous efforts in the acceptable time frame. Unfortunately,...

It has recently been reported in the Israeli press that India paid more than double the amount for the purchase of three AWACS aircraft from...

India has a penchant for blacklisting foreign arms producers without considering negative effects it has on India’s military preparedness. This is the reasons why recent...

It is the saddest sight in any social gathering to find all superseded officers huddled together in a corner. They appear more comfortable interacting with...

Two major defence production related developments that took place nearly a decade ago need to be recalled here at the outset. One, having realised the...

Search for recognition is one of the pursuits which all human beings indulge in and continuously strive for. For professionals, promotions and advancement in career...

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, after holding talks with his counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on 09 May 2013, told reporters that there was still...

Elements inimical to the services are at it once again. Senior army commanders are being accused of wasting crores of rupees through improper purchases made...

During the presentation made to the Feasibility Study Committee on 11 Feb 2009, a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) announced that it had executed orders...

India wants to develop its warship building capacity at an exponential rate. It is well nigh impossible for DPSU shipyards to meet the complete requirement...

Despite repeated assertions of the Government that the huge potential of the private sector must be tapped to achieve self sufficiency in defence production, little...

Inaugurating a three-day international seminar on aerospace technologies in Bengaluru on 07 February 2011, Defence Minister Antony admitted that India had not benefitted much from...

Health of democracies is directly proportional to the degree of independence enjoyed by their media. If India thrives as a vibrant democracy, a great deal...

The Indian defence procurement process consists of two distinct phases – technical and commercial. In the first phase, detailed technical evaluation is carried out of...

Defence deals the world over are regularly subjected to intense scrutiny and investigations. Aspersions are often cast about lack of probity and underhand dealings. In...

During his address at the 42nd Foundation Day function of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), the Vice President of India, Mr M...

According to an assessment of the United Nations, there are more than 100 million mines lying buried in various present and past conflict zones in...

Press reports have been highlighting Russian refusal to deliver aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov at the contracted price and within the agreed delivery period. It is...

Defence Minister of India, Mr AK Antony visited Nathu La in East Sikkim in the first week of December 2007 and was visibly taken aback...

The role of middlemen in defence deals has been a subject of intense debate in India for decades now. The recent statement of the Prime...

Sluggish modernisation of the Indian armed forces has been a cause of serious concern to all who are concerned with national security. Whereas the process...

The current equipment profile of the Indian Armed Forces has been a matter of serious disquiet to all those who are concerned with national security...

According to some estimates, India is likely to spend close to USD 100 billion on capital acquisitions during the current plan period of 2007-12. Presently,...

Defence Offset Facilitation Agency (DOFA) has been established under the Department of Defence Production (DDP) as a single window agency to facilitate implementation of the...

Offsets can broadly be termed as formal arrangements of trade, wherein a foreign supplier undertakes specified programmes with a view to compensate the buyer as...

In any highly competitive trade environment, every seller has to make his offer irresistible and more lucrative than those of others. This is the basic...

Offset banking implies generation and accumulation of offset credits prior to the award of the main contract. A bank of offset credits is created in...

An extract of the tribute paid by Rajeev Issar to the Late Major Manish Pitambare dated November 28, 2006 and circulated by email On Tuesday...

In late 1980s, an Engineer Regiment was asked to move to high altitude area as part of normal turn over of units. The regiment put...

Post Kargil, Indian defence imports had been ranging between three to six billion dollars annually whereas defence exports had been stagnating at meagre 50 million...

Credit is due to the Indian Ministry Of Defence (MoD) for its continuous endeavour to streamline the defence procurement procedures. There have been three revisions...

It is a well accepted dictum in the corridors of MoD that not taking a decision is far less risky than taking one. Therefore, it...

During the Kargil conflict, stocks of a particular type of vital ammunition were running frightfully low. A delegation was rushed to the supplier nation to...

As an emerging economic and military power, India must possess armed forces that can guarantee security of its interests in a dynamic international geo-political environment....

“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”  John Powell Every review of defence procurements by the Comptroller and Auditor General...

Indian armed forces have many unique organisational features. Most of them have been discussed frequently in public debates. One lesser known aspect is total lack...

Existing trust deficit amongst the three services is adversely affecting national defence preparedness and is the primary impediment in achieving the goal of jointmanship. Lack...