• Defence Minister George Fernandes said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that MiG-21s would be phased out gradually. Not specifying the time-frame for the phase out, he said that factors like calendar life and maintainability would be kept in mind before taking this step. Stating the IAF was flying 14 variant of MiG series, the Minister said the older aircraft would be phased out first.• The test-firing of various types of missiles during this year so far incurred an expenditure of Rs 75 crore, Rajya Sabha was informed. As many as 20 flight tests had been carried out for all seven types of missiles, including Agni-I and Brahmos, and all tests had met the mission objectives set for them, said Defence Minister George Fernandes.• UNION Minister for Shipping Shatrughan Sinha today moved the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2003, in the Rajya Sabha and it was passed unanimously with a voice vote.• In a written reply, Minister of State for Home I.D. Swami said no proposal was under consideration to give martyrs’ status to soldiers killed by terrorists.• The government has ruled out in the Rajya Sabha formation of a national ex-servicemen’s commission to monitor implementation of its policies for them in Central and state government undertakings. Though there are a number of openings for ex-servicemen, it is impossible to accommodate all of them as every year 60,000 men come out of the Army, Defence Minister George Fernandes told the House.
