Under pressure Antony favours more financial powers to Service Chiefs

pib.nic.in mod.nic.in PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) GOVERNMENTOF INDIA ******** ​ANTONY REVIEWS ARMY ACQUISITION PROPOSALS New Delhi: Chaitra 13, 1934 April 02, 2012 ​The Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony today reviewed various issues and proposals relating to acquisition for the Indian Army on Capital and Revenue Accounts. Today’s meeting was in continuation of his earlier review meetings held in September, 2011 and January, 2012. ​The meeting was attended among others by the Chief of Army Staff Gen. V.K. Singh, the Defence Secretary Shri Shashi Kant Sharma, DG Acquisition Shri Vivek Rae and the top brass of Indian Army. ​During the meeting Shri Antony directed the Army to streamline its acquisition process in such a manner so that accountability can be fixed in case of any slippages. He also asked the officials of MoD and the Army to examine the possibility of compressing the time taken for technical evaluations and trials. He favoured delegation of more financial powers to Service headquarters if it can lead to speedier acquisition of equipment, platforms and systems for the Services. ​Another meeting will be held next month to review the progress made on the decisions taken today.