- After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in August that a peace accord has been signed with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to end the decades-old Naga insurgency, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday referred the accord as a “framework agreement” and said it would help in resolving the Naga problem.
- It is a framework agreement and the minor details are still being worked out. We have agreed on the basic fundamental ground on which the accord would be signed
Category: internal security
Defence
- A defence deal potentially worth Rs. 40,000 crore, one of the biggest of its kind to be approved by the Modi government, could be the highlight of Prime Minister’s visit to Russia beginning next week. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday cleared the purchase of five S-400 Triumf long-range air defence systems from Russia.
- Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Security gave the final approval for the purchase of Apache and Chinook helicopters from the U.S. worth over $2.5 billion, in addition to other deals in the pipeline.
- During his visit to France last year, he surprised everyone with the announcement for the direct purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets.
The S-400 missiles will enhance the national air defence capability and will help in warding off threats from long ranges - In other decisions, the DAC cleared the procurement of six additional Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launch Systems (MRLS) for Rs.14,600 to be jointly built by Tata Power Company Ltd (TPCL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML).
Saurabh Baranwal 