Training establishments of the Indian Army were the best in the world according to Lieutenant General P.C.Bharadwaj, Vice Chief of Army Staff.
Speaking to reporters at Officers Training Academy in St. Thomas Mount on Saturday morning after reviewing a passing out parade, the senior Army officer said men and women cadets were trained by young instructors who had gained experience by serving in conflict areas, fighting insurgency and in the line of control.
“I have seen many institutions in the world and can say without a doubt that Indian Army’s training establishments are the best in the world,” he remarked. Not only its training establishments, the Indian Army was the only one that was carrying out varied roles, be it at the border, fighting insurgency or serving during peacetime in rescue and rehabilitation, Lt. Gen. Bharadwaj said.
On the issue of permanent commission for women, the officer said at present, the Indian Army had around 1,000 women officers. Expanding the role for talented young women in the Army was an on-going process and that the Army would progress on this count, based on needs.
Replying to a query on indigenisation in the Army, Lt. Gen. Bharadwaj said they were working on long-term plans to make all major defence equipment used in combat zones as part of its modernisation programme indigenously. Modernisation was of high priority to the Centre and there was a long-term perspective plan for this till 2027. He pointed out that the country had progressed in a big way in making indigenous defence equipment such as Brahmos supersonic cruise missile and that a lot of technical equipment were being made indigenously.
To a question on the Sukhna land scam, he said the matter was sub-judice. "The Army lives on discipline. Even if we see the smallest aberration, we take action immediately to investigate and rectify it,” Lt. Gen Bharadwaj said, adding there was no place for diluting standard.
