Author: COMMODORE ANIL JAI SINGH (RETD)

The Indian Navy’s conventional sub-sea capability has some very visible deficiencies which need urgent attention but the current pace of progress is not telling an encouraging story. In an increasingly dense regional sub-sea environment with a clear and present threat to our maritime aspirations, this is a critical vulnerability which we can ill-afford. Current requirements require a submarine force level of five SSBNs, six SSNs and about 18 SSKs. This could, however, take the better part of two decades to materialise, thus leaving no room for complacency.

Author: LT GEN MUKESH SABHARWAL (RETD)

One area of concern that remains is the avoidable shortages in procurement of non-lethal weapons and crowd control equipment. The CAPFs are called in to support the State police forces on numerous occasions. In J&K especially, the selection, quality and efficacy of the non-lethal weapons and their availability in sufficient quantities leaves much to be desired and definitely needs to be looked into by the MHA and the State security establishments.