Rajnath Singh Holds High-Level Meet On Implementation Of Shekatkar Committee Recommendations On Armed Forces Reforms

Union Defence Minister (DM) Rajnath Singh on Monday (20 April) held a meeting on the implementation of major armed forces reforms recommended by the Shekatkar Committee which had been instituted by former defence minister Manohar Parrikar during his tenure, reports The Indian Express.

Parrikar had in mid-2016 ordered the institution of a Committee of Experts (CoE) under Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar to suggest measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance the defence expenditure of the nation's armed forces.

The crucial meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat, the chiefs of the three armed services and top rung officials from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

It should be noted that the committee had submitted its report to the MoD back in 2016 itself, following which many of its recommendations have already been implemented. These include the institution of the CDS and a dedicated Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

Various other recommendations of the committee are already in various stages of implementation. These include the optimisation of signals establishment, redeployment of ordnance echelons, closure of military farms and Army postal establishments in peace locations, and better utilisation of supply and transportation echelons among more.