New Delhi: Amid the rising challenges at borders and international level, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday released an order which gives additional financial powers to the Defence Forces for revenue purchases.
The government statement said that “The order on Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services 2021 aims to empower field formations, focus on operational preparedness, promote ease of doing business and enhance jointness among services,”
On the new order, the Defence Minister described that the new order is another big step in the series of defense reforms undertaken by the government, will not just overcome procedural delays, but also bring about greater decentralisation and operational efficiency.
The last such enhancement at all levels for the defense services was done in 2016.
The government statement said that “There will be a 10 percent increase in delegated financial powers of vice-chief of services and up to a three-time increase in schedules related to indigenization and R&D to achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat,”
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar, and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
A new schedule on the hiring of aircraft and associated equipment has been introduced for the Air Force. This includes hiring air to air refuelers. Under this, the Vice Chief can now allocate up to ₹ 200 crores and the Air Officer In Charge Maintenance and the Air Officer Commanding in Chief can allocate ₹ 100 crores.
For the Navy, powers for replenishment of disaster management bricks have been delegated to the Command level for immediate response to natural disasters. As part of this, the Vice Chief can now allocate ₹ 27.50 crores, the Controller of Logistics ₹ 7.5 crores, the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief ₹ 7.5 crores,s and Chief Staff Officer (Personnel And Administration) ₹ 2 crores.