Indian Navy needs a wider berth

The ocean confers advantages that the Army and Air Force cannot have. — PTI

The Navy is on a long-overdue expansion drive. But the Government remains far too focused on the Army and Air Force.

The new Chief of Naval Staff Admiral D. K. Joshi takes command at a time of extraordinary expansion for the Indian Navy.

He has also gone on to say that the Indian Navy — the fifth largest in the world — is ready to protect the country’s economic interests in the South China Sea, particularly the oil blocks off the coast of Vietnam being explored by ONGC.

India army loses half its firing ranges

The Indian army has lost half its firing ranges over the past three years due to urbanisation and encroachments, says an army spokesperson.

The number of ranges at different locations across the country available to the army, has gone from 106 to 51.