Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the Commanders that he would do
everything to fulfill the promises made on One Rank One Pension;
improving service conditions; and, creating better safety nets and
opportunities for services after retirement.
PM’s Address at the Combined Commanders Conference
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Combined Commanders` Conference 2014 in New Delhi today.
Prime Minister said that India`s Armed Forces, which represent the
world`s largest democracy, were second to none in professionalism,
valour, commitment, service and duty. The Armed Forces have always
vindicated the faith and confidence that people of India placed in them,
whether it is for our nation`s security or for relief in times of
natural calamities. He thanked the Armed Forces for their extraordinary
service to the people during the floods in Jammu and Kashmir and the
cyclone on the East Coast. He paid tribute to the tradition and training
that inculcated the highest ideals and professional capabilities in our
Armed Forces. The nation`s trust was the biggest strength of our Armed
Forces.
Prime Minister noted that the world was looking at India with renewed
interest, confidence and excitement and there was a universal current
of expectation from India to emerge not only as one of the poles of the
global economy, but also as one of the anchors of regional and global
security.
Prime Minister emphasized that an atmosphere of peace and security
was essential to enable India to achieve its goals of economic
development. For this purpose, he said, his Government has focused on
creating a favourable external environment and on strengthening India`s
security.
Prime Minister outlined India`s key strategic and security challenges
and priorities. He also observed that in addition to the familiar
challenges, India had to be prepared for a changing world, which
demanded new thinking on our part with regard to economic, diplomatic
and security policies.
Prime Minister noted, that “beyond the immediate, we are facing a
future where security challenges will be less predictable; situations
will evolve and change swiftly; and, technological changes will make
responses more difficult to keep pace with. The threats may be known,
but the enemy may be invisible. Domination of cyber space will become
increasingly important. Control of space may become as critical as that
of land, air and sea. Full scale wars may become rare, but force will
remain an instrument of deterrence and influencing behavior, and the
duration of conflicts will be shorter.”
Prime Minister assured the Armed Forces of his commitment to provide
adequate resources to ensure full defence preparedness, overcome
shortages and meet modernization needs. He also asked the defence
establishment, including the Armed Forces, to reform procurement
processes as also suggest corrective measures to avoid delays in
domestic development and production of defence equipment.
Prime Minister urged the Armed Forces to focus on efficiency and
economy in the use of resources and our military assets, including by
greater integration and sharing of resources among the Services and draw
up long term acquisition plans keeping in view availability of
resources, future operational requirements and technology trends.
Prime Minister also noted, “We should remember that what matters is
capability of the force.” He also said, “When we speak of Digital India,
we would also like to see a Digital Armed Force,” and asked the
Services to give serious thought to upgrade technological skills for
effective projection of power by men.
The most important task, Prime Minister observed, was to transform
our defence forces. He called for increased jointness and urged the
three wings of the Services to work as a team all the way from the
lowest levels of the Services to the top. He suggested a number of
practical steps to achieve that goal. He also felt that Commanders
Conferences should be organized alternately on sea, in forward Army
camps and at air bases, and not just in Delhi. Prime Minister also
assured the Commanders that he would continue the practice that he had
started of meeting the three Chiefs at least once a month.
Outlining his vision of expanding domestic defence industrial base,
he stressed the important role that the Services, as users, can play in
this, both by committing to targets for domestic procurement and
participating in innovation and improvements in domestically produced
equipment.
Prime Minister also mentioned that he attached the highest priority
to the welfare of Armed Forces personnel, both during and after their
service careers.
He assured the Commanders that he would do
everything to fulfill the promises made on One Rank One Pension;
improving service conditions; and, creating better safety nets and
opportunities for services after retirement.
