Columnists

Sushant Singh

sushant.singh@expressindia.com

Air defence, peninsular, logistics commands on the table: Gen Bipin Rawat

Wed, Feb 05, 2020

He expressed concern over the rate at which the bill for defence pensions is increasing every year, although he believes that retired soldiers, particularly from combat arms, need to be looked after once they hang their uniform.

Short of funds for modernisation, Defence Ministry looks for options

Tue, Feb 04, 2020

Senior military officials say modernisation of the forces has taken a backseat because of shortage of funds. This issue has been repeatedly highlighted by the parliamentary standing committee on defence in its reports but an economic slowdown has meant that enough funds are not available for existing contracts

Field Marshal KM Cariappa: political ambition as well as mistrust of politicians

Fri, Jan 31, 2020

Cariappa contested the 1971 Lok Sabha election from Bombay North East as an Independent, and finished third.

Plan to cut Army from internal security duties in N-E, will be done in next 18-24 months: Chief

Wed, Jan 29, 2020

Army Chief General M M Naravane said that two battalions have already been taken off from such duties and the next drawdown will happen after the Bodoland elections in Assam are completed in June-July this year.

Why January 26 was chosen to be the Republic Day

Sun, Jan 26, 2020

India's 71st Republic Day 2020: The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949 and the day chosen to become a sovereign republic was January 26, 1950 — 894 days after the British left the country, India formally had total independence.

Changing equations in region help Pakistan get relief at FATF meet

Fri, Jan 24, 2020

Sources said Pakistan had an important role in brokering a ceasefire deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, negotiated this week at Doha with a US official team led by Zalmay Khalilzad, its special envoy on Afghan reconciliation.

With a flag, song and book: Reclaiming national symbols is an act of political genius and imagination

Fri, Jan 24, 2020

From the day they started, these civic protests were marked by lusty wavings of the national tricolour, public readings of the Preamble to the Constitution, and now, the singing of the national anthem.

General Cariappa in 1971: Scrap Constitution, need military rule

Mon, Jan 20, 2020

Signed note by Army’s first Indian chief K M Cariappa found in archives: Military rule temporary measure, scrap political parties

Stressing Constitution and Preamble, new Army Chief signals course correction

Sun, Jan 12, 2020

Gen Naravane not only repeated the bit about constitutional values but added fundamental rights, when a question was put to him about statements made by his predecessor and the Eastern Army Commander in support of the CAA.

Dept of Military Affairs works to deliver in 100 days

Sat, Jan 11, 2020

The instructions to the DMA, which is headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, were passed on by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during sectoral briefings by selected secretaries earlier this week.

‘He is still haunting unjust rulers from beyond the grave’

Tue, Jan 07, 2020

Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s grandson, Ali Madeeh Hashmi, on the controversy over Hum Dekhenge and how poetry is an inspiration for political change.

‘He is still haunting unjust rulers from beyond the grave,’ says Faiz’s grandson

Tue, Jan 07, 2020

Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s grandson, Ali Madeeh Hashmi, on the controversy over Hum Dekhenge and how poetry is an inspiration for political change.

Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane: An officer who is known to deliver

Sun, Jan 05, 2020

A humble man who is direct and professional with colleagues and an officer who is known to deliver. Apart from his experience in counter-insurgency ops and the strike corps, these are qualities likely to hold General M M Naravane in good stead, as he takes over as Army Chief

Peace along China border can lead to eventual (boundary) solution: Army chief

Thu, Jan 02, 2020

Speaking to mediapersons Wednesday after receiving his first guard of honour as the Army Chief, General Naravane said operational readiness and modernisation will be among the top priorities of the Army under his leadership.

Explained: What are role, powers of CDS?

Thu, Jan 02, 2020

With General Bipin Rawat taking over as India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, a look at the structure of the Defence Ministry, and the relationship the CDS will have with the ministry and the armed forces.

Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane takes charge as Army chief, Gen Bipin Rawat to be CDS

Wed, Jan 01, 2020

In a formal ceremony in the office in South Block, General Rawat handed over the baton of the Army Chief to General Naravane, wishing him, “All the very best for your tenure. I am sure you will take the Army to even greater heights.”

General Bipin Rawat retires as Army Chief, begins as Chief of Defence Staff

Tue, Dec 31, 2019

As CDS, General Rawat will have to facilitate restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint/ theatre commands.

CDS: Govt notifies retirement age at 65

Mon, Dec 30, 2019

The service chiefs, when appointed, are usually given a tenure of three years or till they attain the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier. There is no mention of a fixed tenure in the gazette notification stating the retirement age for the CDS.

The story of Faiz’s Hum Dekhenge — from Pakistan to India, over 40 years

Fri, Dec 27, 2019

Hum Dekhenge was a powerful and popular poem, but it assumed iconic status and became a universal anthem of protest and hope after it was rendered by Iqbal Bano in 1986, and live recordings of that performance were smuggled out of Pakistan.

Army chief wades in: Students being led to arson and violence

Fri, Dec 27, 2019

“This is not leadership,” the Army chief told the gathering. “Even amongst the crowd you find leaders... But leaders are those who lead people in the right direction.”

Panel works on how to split assets between J&K and Ladakh UTs

Thu, Dec 26, 2019

The committee, sources said, created an index which measured the backwardness, area, remoteness along with the historical deprivation suffered by Ladakh.

Government clears 4-star Chief of Defence Staff as military advisor

Wed, Dec 25, 2019

The CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three services chiefs, so as to be able to provide impartial advice to the political leadership.

New faces, new message: How capital protests are smashing the status quo

Wed, Dec 25, 2019

On the road outside Jamia, the language of protesters is neither religious nor sectarian. There are no clerics, nor are the protests organised by Muslim groups.

Explained: Why India celebrates Independence Day on 15 August

Thu, Aug 15, 2019

India Independence Day, 15 August, 1947: “The date I chose came out of the blue. I hadn’t worked it out exactly then — I thought it had to be about August or September and I then went out to the 15th August. Why? Because it was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender," Lord Mountbatten had said then.