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 Defence production: panel 
favours private participation

What is India News Service, Wednesday, 6 April 2005, 1400 hrs IST
Top private companies should be a part of the defence industry for India to meet the challenges of increasing globalisation and efforts should be made to boost export of weapon systems, recommends the Kelkar Committee.

The committee was set up by the UPA Government to speed up defence production and acquisition.

The report, framed by Dr Vijay Kelkar, former advisor to the Finance Minister, and presented to Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, urges the involvement of the best firms in the defence industry and formulation of policies to bring in technology and investments and to boost weapons exports to make the industry viable.

While recommending private sector participation in a wide spectrum of the defence industry, the report calls for creating synergy among private sector, defence PSUs, ordnance factories and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to promote the country's high technology capabilities.

Talking to reporters after presenting the report to the Defence Minister, Dr Kelkar said the committee had recommended that private sector firms be allowed to join as co-producers in even production of strategic weapons systems and new materials.

Mr Mukherjee said the Government would examine the report in great detail and implement its recommendations expeditiously to meet the requirements of the defence forces. Calling for setting up of a new institutional architecture for defence acquisitions, the committee has called for identifying entry points for the private sector in the weapons acquisition process. 

 No one given clean chit, says Pranab: The Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, today questioned the claim that the Janata Dal (U), George Fernandes, had been given a ``clean chit'' in the Kargil purchases case and said that no person had been given a clean chit.

Licence to fly, no need for tests: India, which ranks high on the list of aviation accidents, is one of the few countries where helicopter pilots are given commercial licences without any flight test. 

India, Uzbekistan vow to fight terrorism together: Heralding a new dimension in bilateral ties, India and Uzbekistan on Tuesday vowed to fight terrorism on a sustained basis as the two sides signed 12 accords on stepping up cooperation in defence, trade, education and other areas.

Karat tipped to take over from Surjeet: The CPI(M) is likely to accept the resignation of aged Marxists leaders Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu from its politburo during its 18th congress which begins here on Wednesday.

Spotlight
BJP conclave in Delhi

Leaders attack Congress, predict `disintegration' of UPA: The Bharatiya Janata Party today launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Congress leadership and the United Progressive Alliance Government it leads, predicting the "disintegration" of the UPA.

Sorry BJP, you are alone on Manmohan Singh : The BJP says Manmohan Singh is the weakest Prime Minister ever. Timesofindia.com readers from across the world think totally the opposite. 

Ultras vow bloody end at LoC: Two days before the maiden run of the historic Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, four militant groups; the Farzandan-e-Millat, Save Kashmir Movement, Al Nasirin and Al Arifin renewed their threat for the third time saying the two bus drivers and the passengers would "writhe in bloody pain" if they tried to cross the Line of Control (LoC).

HRD Ministry clips UGC chief's wings, forms panel with overriding powers: Coming on the heels of the Centre taking the stand in the Madras High Court that University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Arun Nigavekar was appointed illegally during the NDA regime, the HRD Ministry has taken its first concrete step to clip the wings of the UGC chief.
States

SC stays HC order on PEC admissions: The SC has stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order for continuing with the admission to PEC, Chandigarh, on the basis of 85:15 ratio in state and non-state quota even after the college being accorded the status of deemed university with the approval of the University Grants Commission two years ago.

SC orders lifer on two counts to Swami Premananda: The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed the sentence of two life imprisonment terms for Swami Premananda of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu on the charge of raping 13 girl inmates of his Fathima Nagar ashram, near Tiruchi and for a murder.



 Neighbours

Mush launches Pak-China joint production of JF-17 planes: Vowing to maintain both nuclear and conventional deterrence with India, Pakistan on Tuesday launched the joint production of JF-17 fighter aircraft with China, close on the heels of the US decision to supply it F-16 jets

Pakistan, China sign treaty of friendship:  China on Tuesday held out a categorical assurance to Pakistan to defend its "sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity" as Prime Minister Wen Jiabao began a three-day visit to the country.

 
Overall


Private companies may be allowed into defence production:  A committee set up by the government has recommended private participation to strengthen defence production. 

Pakistan party said UN's Kashmir resolution was dead: The PML-Q departed from a long-held stand and said the 60-year-old resolution should be ignored.

Pakistan, China signed pact: China has assured Pakistan it will help that country defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.