A low intake of officers during Covid pandemic has led to a shortage of 11,266 Majors and Captains and officers of the equivalent and other ranks in the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
The Army has a shortage of 2,094 Major-level officers and 4,734 at the Captain level. The IAF is short of 881 Squadron Leaders and 940 Flight Lieutenants, and the Navy 2,617 officers of the rank of Lt Commander and below. The Ministry of Defence in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today said the “low intake during Covid-19 pandemic” was the main reason for the shortage. Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt in a reply to a question posed by three MPs — Manish Tewari, Prof Sougata Ray and Haji Fazlur Rehman – also attributed the shortage to a low induction in supporting cadres like the Short Service Commission (SSC).
The recruitment in the forces is done through several streams. One of them is through the SSC, where cadets pass out after 11 months of training and serve in the forces for a fixed tenure of 10 to 14 years.
Tag: IAF
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Shortage of 11,266 Major, Captain-rank officers in IAF and Navy
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Seven Women honored at the IAF Outstanding Women’s Achievements Awards Gala
Indu Jaiswal, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenback, Supervisor Jennifer Desena, Town of North Hempstead Clerk Ragini Srivastava, IAF Member Chanbir Kaur Sethi. 
Board of Trustees and Executive Members of Indian American Forum 
Ganesh Vandana by Vandana Jauhar 
Sunita Sadhnani pays musical tribute to late Lata Mangeshkar. 
A Kathak dance performance by students of Nartan Rang Dance Academy run by the well-known choreographer Swati Vaishnav. 
A dance performance by Mukthambar Fine Arts Inc. GLENCOVE, NY (TIP): Indian American Forum honored 7 women of character, courage, commitment and accomplishments at its Eleventh Outstanding Women’s Achievements Awards Gala on March 27. They included Nisha Kumar Behringer, Kalpana Bhandarkar, Neeta Bhasin , Beena Kothari, Dr. Preeti Mehta, Ragini Srivastav and Malini Rudra. Here are the thumbnail sketches of the honorees.
NISHA KUMAR BEHRINGER is strategic, and shareholder focused Chief Financial Officer, independent Director, and merger acquisitions executive with over two decades track record. She is formerly a Managing Director and the Chief Financial and Chief Compliance Officer of Greenbriar Equity Group L.P. a private equity firm for investments.
KALPANA BHANDARKAR currently residing in Nassau County has nearly twenty years of experience in Health Care and civic engagement. Kalpana has dedicated her professional career in improving access to Quality health care for people living in low resource setting. Over past several years Kalpana has focused her work with Long Island based organizations, serving as co-chair of the Board of ERASE Racism, an advocacy organization focused on fair housing and equitable education for all residents statewide
NEETA BHASIN is the President of ASB Communications, the power of multicultural marketing company. ASB Communications is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this Year. Neeta Bhasin has served the Community through her TV shows, NEETA BHASIN SHOW on social media since last two Years. She started Event Guru Worldwide, the company that created history in 2013 by conceptualizing and producing the 2nd biggest event after New Tear’s eyeball drop-in Times square> DIWALI at Times Square
BEENA KOTHARI has lived in Long Island for over 30 years. Her association, interactions contributions with Indian and American communities has been very extensive, valuable, and memorable and inclusive of all. She has several accomplishments within various social and cultural nonprofit leadership capacities. She firmly believes sin VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM meaning the world in ONE Family.
DR PREETI MEHTA is the founder of Digestive Disease Care, one of the Largest Gastroenterology [ practices expanding from Queens to Nassau and Suffolk, she is well renowned in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Charitable work and giving back to the communities’ top priorities of Dr Mehta., She supports Charities dedicated for children and women education
RAGINI SRIVASTAV Town Clerk. Town of North Hempstead is serving her first term as Town Clerk of Town of North Hempstead, a time honored and historic function for the township since its founding in 1784.Town Clerk Srivastava is proud of The Town of North Hempstead and the unique characteristics of our villages and services
MALINI RUDRA is a junior at Williams College. She is 21 Years old, graduated from Syosset High School, she is Co-Captain of the Williams College Golf Team, which is ranked no 1 in NCAA Div. 111 Athletics. Malini has tremendous success in Golf. She won or placed top 5 in numerous tournaments locally as well a nationally Since 7th grade Malini was selected as part of the Syosset Girls Varsity Team, she is winner of Several Golf Championships. Malini also serves as a Board member of the Children’s Hope Teen Chapter and helped raise funds for under privileged in Long Island. Malini acknowledged the award with a video message. She was playing in a Golf Tournament in California.
Several Elected officials present congratulated the honorees on their achievements and success, and also presented them with citations.Citations of behalf of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Legislator Ms. Rose Walker, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Suffolk County Executive Steve Vallone were presented to all Honorees
Honorable Jennifer Desena, Supervisor Town of North Hempstead, Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, Glen Cove Mayor Pam Panzenback and several elected officials were present.
Bobby Kumar Kalotee, Founding Member of IAF as also IAF Board of Trustees Dr Azad Anand, Dr Urmilesh Arya, Dr Bhupendra Patel, Mohinder Singh Taneja, and Board members Beena Kothari, Bina Sabapathy, Jyoti Gupta ,Indu Gajwani Anu Gulati, Roopam Maini, Chanbir Kaur Sethi, Rohini Singh, Anuj Rihal, Inesha Singh, Dr Prachi Dua, Dr Pallavi Manvar Singh, Ratna Bhalla, Anju Sharma, Sanju Sharma Sunny Thakkar , Jasbir Jay Singh, Indu Gajwani and Bina Sabapathy also attended. Gala Chairperson Shammi Singhcould not come.
Indu Jaiswal, chairperson of the IAF led from the front. Several speakers described her as an untiring community leader and congratulated her for organizing the grand event.
Program started with Ganesh Vandana sung by Vandana Jauhar. Dance performances were given by the students of Nartan Rang Dance Academy run by the well-known choreographer Swati Vaishnav, and Mukthambar Fine Arts Inc.Tributes were paid to late Lata Mangeshkar by Sunita Sadhnani. Chanbir Kaur Sethi, Roopam Maini, Inesha Singh, Rohini Singh and Dr Prachi Dua, Dr Pallavi Manvar Singh and Mrs Ratna Bhalla, coordinated a brief Q&A session with the honorees discussing and emphasizing their accomplishments.
(Based on a press release)
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Missile ‘misfire’: I4 IAF officials under lens
New Delhi (TIP)-The Court of Inquiry (CoI) probing the “accidental” firing of a BrahMos missile has examined the role of at least four Indian Air Force (IAF) officials — a Group Captain (Commanding Officer), his seniors and also his juniors. The initial probe has indicated a “human error”, and not a technical fault, led to the missile’s launch. Though alleged lapses in handling the missile are being probed, the CoI is looking at multiple angles.
A BrahMos missile was “accidentally” fired around 7 pm on March 9 from a base near Ambala and it landed some 124 km away at Mian Channu in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
All missile storage and inspecting protocols have been examined. IAF officials in the chain of command have been questioned to find out why and how the missile was fired. Each data, log and procedure followed by the officials on March 9 has been scrutinised by the CoI. The key question is how the launch codes were fed into the system that enabled the missile to fire. The protocol for firing and storage of BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, is such that a series of steps are needed to be completed before actual firing. The missile, which carried no warhead, travelled at Mach2 (some 3,200 km per hour) towards Pakistan. Source: TNS
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IAF sacks staffer for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid
AAhmedabad (TIP): The Indian Air Force has sacked one of its personnel from service for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19, which has been made a service condition, the Central Government has told the Gujarat High Court.
Additional Solicitor General Devang Vyas, in his submission on Wednesday in the High Court on a plea moved by IAF corporal Yogendra Kumar at Jamnagar in Gujarat, told a Division Bench of Justices A J Desai and A P Thaker that across India, nine personnel had refused to get vaccinated and they were given show-cause notices.
One of them, who did not respond to the notice, was terminated from service, Vyas told the High Court.
He, however, did not give the name or any other details of the staffer against whom the action was taken.
“Across India, only nine personnel have refused to take the vaccine. All of them were given show cause notice…one did not respond, so in view of the lack of response, his service is already terminated,” Vyas told the court.
He said as far as the vaccine in general is concerned, it is optional, but so far as the Air Force is concerned, it is now made a service condition, which is in continuation of the oath taken at the time of enrollment in the service.
Also, it is imperative to see to it that the Force is not put in a vulnerable state, and it is required for personnel to mandatorily get vaccinated, he told the court.
Vyas also said since corporal Yogendra Kumar has responded to the show-cause notice, he can either appear before a proper authority or the Armed Forces Tribunal, under provisions of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act.
On the plea of Kumar, challenging the notice after his unwillingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the HC on Wednesday directed the IAF to consider his case afresh.
The court disposed of his plea after ordering that the interim relief granted to the petitioner unwilling to get vaccinated shall continue until his case is decided by the IAF, and the same shall not be implemented for a period of two weeks from the date of service of the order to the petitioner.
Kumar had approached the court, seeking quashing of the show-cause notice, dated May 10, 2021, issued to him by the IAF after he declined to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
The IAF had asked him to show cause why he should not be dismissed for not taking Covid-19 vaccine.
He had also sought the court’s direction to direct the IAF to not take coercive action against him in furtherance of the show cause notice.
Kumar also requested the court to direct the IAF to follow the Central Government’s order that the vaccine is purely voluntary and not mandatory.
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India approves Tejas fighter jets deal worth Rs 48,000 crore
New Delhi (TIP): The PM Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Wednesday cleared indigenous defence deal worth Rs 48,000 crores to strengthen Indian Air Force’s fleet of LCA-Tejas fighter jets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. This will be the biggest deal ever in the indigenous military aviation sector.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh confirmed the development on Twitter, saying “the CCS chaired by the PM today approved the largest indigenous defence procurement deal worth about Rs 48,000 crore to strengthen IAF’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’. This deal will be a game-changer for self-reliance in Indian defence manufacturing.” The defence minister said Tejas is going to be the backbone of the fighter fleet of the Indian Air Force in years to come. Around three years back, the IAF had issued an initial tender for procurement of 83 Tejas aircraft, a four-and-half generation combat jet.
“LCA-Tejas incorporates a large number of new technologies many of which were never attempted in India. The indigenous content of LCA-Tejas is 50 percent in Mk1A variant which will be enhanced to 60 percent,’ Singh said.The defence minister said that aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has already set up second-line manufacturing facilities at its Nasik and Bengaluru divisions.
“Equipped with the augmented infrastructure the HAL will steer LCA-Mk1A production for timely deliveries to the IAF,” he said.
Singh said the Tejas programme would act as a catalyst for transforming the Indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant, self-sustaining one. “I thank the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi for this historic decision taken by the CCS today, ” the defence minister said.
Tejas More Advanced than China-Pakistan’s
JF-17 Fighter Jets, Better Equipped: IAF chief
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Thursday, Jan 14, said the indigenously-developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is far better and more advanced than China’s JF-17 fighter aircraft manufactured by Pakistan’s aeronautical company, adding that the newly added jets will be equipped for Balakot-type airstrikes.
Welcoming the government’s approval to the Rs 48,000 crore deal to procure 83 LCAs from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Chief of Air Staff in an interview to ANI said, “Indian aircraft Tejas is far better and more advanced than the Chinese and Pakistan joint venture JF-17 fighter. It will have top of the line Beyond Visual Range (BVR) class of air-to-air missile Astra, and other sensors and weapons.”
On being asked on the aircraft’s capabilities in carrying out Balakot-type airstrikes, the Air Chief Marshal said, “In terms of strike capability, it will have the capability of a standoff weapon which will be even beyond the capability we used that time.”
The Tejas Mk-1A will be equipped with active electronically scanned array radar, beyond visual range missile, electronic warfare suite and air-to-air refuelling and would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the IAF, according to official statements. The 83 aircraft will look after four squadrons, he said to question on the fighter aircraft’s deployment in the IAF. “The current strength of the two squadron plan of LCA will now increase to six. Essentially the deployment will be on the frontline,” he added.
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Pulwama attack: Politicizing a conflict for electoral gains
What we have witnessed following the strike , from the Government and the BJP leaders would not only sully the image of India but also the nation’s credibility through overt politicization of this conflict, as the country is preparing itself for a critical election.
By George Abraham Ever since the attack in Pulwama by a suicide bomber killing 42 of India’s security personnel, the country has been on the edge, fearing an all-out war with Pakistan. Any civilized person could view the barbarity of this dastardly terrorist act only with disgust and rage. However, a confrontation between these two nuclear powers is neither in the interest of these two nations nor does it bode well for the future of this turbulent region. Pakistan has been waging a proxy war with India over the Kashmir issue from the time of Independence, and a final solution to this crisis is not within sight.
Some would argue that this is the time of war and everyone should keep their apprehensions about its conduct or any other questions they may have close to their chest. However, a massive intelligence failure of this magnitude over the Pulwama tragedy should not be missed. How did a young man in his twenties, who was already on the radar of the Security personnel, come to possess, pack & conceal, and then drive 300KG explosives towards a military convoy undetected? Reports from the region suggest that a police advisory was already in effect a week before this, stating that the Central Reserve Police Force deployment would be targeted. Where is the accountability on these massive security lapses?
A recent New York Times report paints a scathing image of India’s vintage military equipment and its impact on military readiness. “India’s armed forces are in alarming shape. If intense warfare broke out tomorrow, India could supply its troops with only 10 days of ammunition, according to government estimates. And 68 percent of the army’s equipment is deplorably old. It is officially considered ‘vintage’”. A swollen bureaucracy together with lack of funding obviously rendered these procurement and training processes anything but cumbersome.
Nevertheless, India was left with no choice but to retaliate. Pakistan has been aiding and abetting Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar for long despite the pressure from the U.N. and other international bodies. The Air Force was tasked to strike the terror targets in Balakot region: an order that was carried out despite bad weather conditions. The Indian Military has been known for its professionalism and respect for civilian leadership in a democratic setup. Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa refused to give a casualty count saying “IAF doesn’t count the number of dead” and the “casualty figure in an air strike on Balakot camp will be given by the government,” referring to the air strike it had carried out on February 26, 2019.
Another shameful spectacle that is unfolding in India today is the blatant display of jingoism by the media and their networks to propel a wider war. Instead of bringing together the nation at a time of crisis, some of these news channels are creating divisions, promoting hate and sowing discord.
However, what we have witnessed following the strike , from the Government and the BJP leaders would not only sully the image of India but also the nation’s credibility through overt politicization of this conflict, as the country is preparing itself for a critical election. First, the leaked information from sources to the media put the casualty count at 300 to 350. Western intelligence sources and the International press immediately cast severe doubt on these numbers, and some reports directly from the ground characterized the damages as minimal.
However, in public speeches, Amit Shah, the President of the ruling party BJP, talked about 250 terrorists being wiped out. Other BJP leaders like BS Yeddyurappa said that his party would win 22 seats in Karnataka after the strike. It is as if BJP leaders are relishing these moments of war and salivating about the prospects of riding to victory in the fog of a protracted fight between the two nations. It boggles one’s mind to believe that after the Pulwama attack, the terrorists associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed just gathered together to sleep in one place, making an easy target of themselves for the IAF!
Anyone who questioned the veracity of the BJP leaders’ claims is called an anti-national and accused of doing Pakistan’s bidding. “At a time when our army is engaged in crushing terrorism, inside the country and outside, some people within the country are trying to break their morale, which is cheering our enemy,” Modi said at an election rally. “I want to know from Congress and its partners why they are making statements that are benefiting the enemies”, he added. Modi is apparently absent from the capital in managing the conflict. Instead, he is entirely taking advantage of the ongoing battle on his campaign trail, vilifying the opposition and questioning their patriotism for political advantage.
Another shameful spectacle that is unfolding in India today is the blatant display of jingoism by the media and their networks to propel a wider war. Instead of bringing together the nation at a time of crisis, some of these news channels are creating divisions, promoting hate and sowing discord. They broadcast manufactured news; shamelessly appropriate nationalism; and designate a segment as enemy’s allies. Many of them have become vassals of special interests mostly controlled by crony capitalists aligned with the ruling party.
It is also sad to hear that there is an atmosphere of fear and intimidation created for Kashmiri students across the country, as Sangh Parivar forces target them for revenge attacks. “It is no secret that the Bajrang Dal and the student wing of the Sangh were foremost in fomenting trouble against Kashmiri students in various parts of India. This was done keeping in mind the upcoming general election”, Omar Abdulla, former Chief Minister of Kashmir said. “It is obvious that BJP sees an advantage in such environments. It helps them paper over Modi’s mistakes like demonetization, joblessness, India’s poor economic growth and the distress faced by the country’s agricultural sector” he added.
We collectively admire the bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces. They are fighting to keep all Indians safe and protect the sovereignty of the nation from terrorists and a country that provides haven to them. Moreover, they are fighting to safeguard our democratic traditions and way of life. As Sashi Kumar, a commentator eloquently put it recently, “they are not fighting for this or that political party; they are not fighting for the electoral gains of the ruling party or of the opposition. However, they are, if anything, fighting the religious fundamentalism of one kind but not to replace it with the rampant religious fundamentalism of another kind, even of the majoritarian variety”.
The BJP’s strategy appears to be clear and straightforward: playing up Hindu nationalism; linking Kashmiri youth and Jihadi terrorists supported by an enemy, Pakistan; and providing ‘red meat’ to a large segment of the voting public, who are so disappointed with Modi’s failure to deliver his campaign promises. However, this is all at the risk of endangering India’s democratic and pluralistic values, and accelerating animosity between two armed nuclear neighbors, which may even put them on a path to potential disaster!
(The author is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations and current Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA)
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CAG on IAF purchases: Rafale reflects the need for major corrections
The Rafale tender stole the political thunder in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s (CAG) assessment of 11 capital acquisitions by the Indian Air Force over a time period that spanned both the UPA and Modi governments. Considering that previous CAG reports on coal and 2G had irrevocably damaged the credibility of the UPA government, the Modi government can consider itself fortunate to have escaped unscathed because of the inventiveness of the auditors. The CAG used a never-used formula (called alignment pricing) to declare the Modi tender cheaper than the UPA era’s now-cancelled 126 aircraft bid. An audit basically evaluates four criteria in a defense platform: quality, cost-effectiveness, delivery and objectivity. The CAG report gives conditional thumbs up on only two: cost-effectiveness and the delivery schedule. Even these are up for debate.
But the benchmark of objectivity, which includes intangibles such as transparency, fair play and integrity, stands in a grey zone. For instance, the comparison of UPA and NDA-era prices on the basis of a French index is debatable when payments are made in dollars. A dissent note alleging parallel negotiations (dismissed by then Defence Minister Parrikar as an overreaction) went unchallenged, while there was just a mild rap for not signing an integrity pact and succumbing to French refusal on opening an Escrow account. The Modi government was also easily let off the hook for failing to respond to a 20 per cent price cut by a Rafale competitor. Who knows whether Rafale would have still played tough if it had not been the single vendor?
Rafale was one of the 11 purchases studied by CAG and the common tale that emerges is of overambitious services whose requirements are frequently changed, leading to several vendors dropping out; the contract negotiations committee that rarely establishes the benchmark price, which, in turn, makes it difficult to establish the reasonability of the price. Complex and multi-level approval processes further add to the delays. Overall, the existing capital acquisition system is unlikely to effectively support the IAF in its war preparedness and modernization.
(Tribune, India)