Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — Indian military officials and analysts are decrying the creation of three committees set up to assist with defense reform, saying that the panels will only delay the reform and weapons acquisition processes.
In May, an 11-member committee led by retired Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar was tasked to modify the Indian military's manpower ratio of combat personnel to noncombat personnel in order to release additional funds to buy fresh weapons and equipment for modernization.
Another committee was created under Vivek Rae, former director general of defense procurement, to study the creation of a defense procurement organization with the aim to streamline the acquisition process.
"Time is indeed running out. The immediate task before MoD is to conclude contracts in respect of the procurement proposals that are already in the pipeline," Amit Cowshish, a former Ministry of Defense financial adviser, said. "That Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP) 2016 has not yet been released in its entirety does not come in the way of concluding contracts in respect of the ongoing cases. The deal for purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft is a case in point. Ultimately, everything depends on the speed at which decisions are taken."
A subcommittee was formed to recommend how private sector companies should be shortlisted as Strategic Partners (SP). The panel itself was a follow-up to the recommendations of the Dhirendra Singh Committee, which had recommended last year that SP status be given to select private sector companies. However, MoD is yet to draw the criteria to back up the recommendation.
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