Raksha Rajya Mantri Commends Indian Navy’s High Operational Tempo and Indigenous Efforts at Naval Commanders’ Conference
Shri Ajay Bhatt, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM), engaged in an insightful interaction with senior naval leadership during the Bi-annual Naval Commanders Conference in New Delhi, commencing on September 4th, 2023. This conference marked the second edition, following the decision to shift the venue outside Delhi in 2023. It aimed to review the progress of decisions made during the inaugural edition, which took place onboard INS Vikrant in March 2023.
During this interaction, Hon’ble RRM lauded the Indian Navy for its unwavering commitment to maintaining a high operational tempo in ensuring secure seas, crucial for national security and prosperity. He commended the Navy’s significant strides in indigenization and innovation, a testament to its goal of becoming a fully Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) Force by 2047. This dedication was recently exemplified by the successful launch of indigenous stealth frigates, Vindhyagiri and Mahendragiri. He also praised the Navy’s consistent efforts in line with the Paanch Pran, as outlined by the Hon’ble Prime Minister (Extracts of RRM Speech).
A highlight of the conference was a Tech Demo showcasing ongoing and planned indigenous projects utilizing niche technologies across various domains, including Artificial Intelligence, Tactical Communications, Combat Management Systems, Cyber Security, Underwater Domain Awareness, and Combat Platform Integration. On the sidelines, the Navy displayed newly designed uniform items aimed at enhancing comfort, hygiene, and functionality. These included high-absorption T-shirts, camouflage caps and jackets, high ankle shoes, and the National Civil Dress for Messes/functions.
Furthermore, the Hon’ble RRM unveiled several significant documents during the event:
Maritime Infrastructure Perspective Plan 2023-37 (MIPP): This plan outlines infrastructure requirements for the Navy over the next 15 years, aligned with the Government of India’s vision of sustainable infrastructure, including compliance with directives like PM Gati Shakti Project, Disaster Resilience, and Transition to Net Zero.
IRS Rules and Regulations Handbook: Revised to cater to technological advancements and Aatmanirbharta, this handbook governs the construction and classification of Naval Combatants, representing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding.
Family Logbook for Defence Civilian Personnel: Designed for reference by families of naval civilian personnel, this logbook contains vital financial information on insurance, loans, investments, etc., serving as a valuable resource in times of emergencies.
Electronic Service Document Project: This initiative aims to transform HR record keeping and management of Naval personnel into an efficient, digital, centralized, and transparent process in line with the Digital India Vision.
In his opening remarks, Adm R Hari Kumar, CNS, emphasized the Navy’s key priorities, including accomplishing missions, readiness in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, embracing societal changes, and advancing jointness and integration with the CDS and other services to meet future challenges
