House panel asks Centre to ready armed forces for future wars

The parliamentary standing committee on defence urged the ministry of defence (MoD) on Thursday to prepare the armed forces to meet new-age challenges. In its action-taken report tabled in parliament, the committee expressed concern at the global security scenario and the changing nature of warfare due to technological advances.

It also reiterated the need for state-of-the-art training facilities and asked MoD to devise an effective mechanism to ensure the armed forces keep pace with the changing times and to provide adequate budgetary support to implement the mechanism in an efficient manner.

“Any constraints experienced in implementation of this strategy should be adequately addressed well in time, so that the schedule of imparting knowledge on upgraded technologies to armed forces personnel is not disturbed. The concept of joint-ness and tri-services training should also be taken into account to ensure effective integration of combat capabilities and better coordination in a situation of war,” the committee report says.

In reply, the government said training in the three services was an ongoing process.

“Keeping pace with strategic objectives and operational and tactical focus, armed forces have constantly refined and endeavoured to update training. Indian armed forces have been continuously refining the system of training to keep pace with technological advancements and the ever-changing face of the future battlefield,” MoD said.