60% of rural India lives on less than Rs 35 a day

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/60-of-rural-india-lives-on-less-than-rs-35-a-day/articleshow/12980807.cms

4 May, 2012, 03.15AM IST, The writer has posted comments on this articlePTI

NEW DELHI: About 60 per cent of India's rural population lives on less than Rs 35 a day and nearly as many in cities live on Rs 66 a day, reveals a government survey on income and expenditure.

"In terms of average per capita daily expenditure, it comes out to be about Rs 35 in rural and Rs 66 in urban India. About 60 per cent of the population live with these expenditures or less in rural and urban areas," said Director General of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) J Dash in his preface to the report.

According to the 66th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) carried out between July 2009 and June 2010, all India average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) in rural areas was Rs 1,054 and urban areas Rs 1,984.

The survey also pointed out that 10 per cent of the population at the lowest rung in rural areas lives on Rs 15 a day, while in urban areas the figure is only a shade better at Rs 20 day.
"The poorest 10 per cent of India's rural population had an average MPCE of Rs 453. The poorest 10 per cent of the urban population had an average MPCE of Rs 599", it said.

The NSSO survey also revealed that average MPCE in rural areas was lowest in Bihar and Chhattisgarh at around Rs 780 followed by Orissa and Jharkhand at Rs 820.
Among other states, Kerala has the highest rural MPCE at 1,835 followed by Punjab and Haryana at Rs 1,649 and Rs 1,510 respectively.
The the highest urban MCPE was in Maharashtra at Rs 2,437 followed by Kerala at Rs 2,413 and Haryana at Rs 2,321. It was lowest in Bihar at Rs 1,238.

The median level of MCPE was Rs 895 in rural and Rs 1,502 in urban India, indicating consumption level of majority of population.

According to the study, food was estimated to account about 57 per cent of the value of the average rural Indian household consumption during 2009-10 whereas it was 44 per cent in cities.
The study reveals that the average monthly per capita consumption of cereals was 11.3 kg in rural areas and 9.4 kg in cities.
Based on NSSO estimates, the Planning Commission had pegged that poverty line at Rs 28.65 and Rs 22.42 daily consumption in urban and rural areas respectively in 2009-10.
As per the Commission's estimates the number of persons living below poverty line was 35.46 crore in 2009-10, as compared to 40.72 crore in 2004-05.

Indian Navy Cadet Sets Sail Onboard A Chinese Warship

http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.asp?get=new&id=1197

Thursday, May 03, 2012 /

By : SUJAN DUTTA

An Indian Navy cadet today set sail onboard a Chinese warship named after a 15th century eunuch admiral on a voyage to mark the anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Cadet David Veeravalli’s voyage typifies a military relationship with China that is marked by baby steps towards confidence-building and wariness about Beijing’s great power status.

This is a first for the two navies in modern history. In the last 60 years, the Indian and Chinese navies have maintained only formal contact restricted to port calls. Exactly 50 years ago, the Chinese PLA humiliated the Indian Army in war.

Cadet David Veeravalli embarked the Admiral Zheng He training ship at Port Kelang in Malaysia that is on a round-the-world voyage to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the PLAN.

David is a cadet with the Indian Navy's training squadron No.1 based in Kochi. He is now in the sailing phase of his course and attached to the Indian Navy's own training ship, the INS Tir, before he is commissioned as an officer.

Like the Ming dynasty admiral the Chinese ship is named after, the PLAN has set out to mark its presence across the globe. The voyage will mark history — the circumnavigation will also reflect a global influence — by retracing the travels of Zheng He who explored the Indian Ocean (called the "West Ocean" by the Chinese) seven times between 1405 and 1433.

On almost each of those voyages, Zheng He's fleet touched Kochi or Kozhikode in Kerala or both. By some unverified accounts, Kochi's celebrated tourism hotspot — the Chinese fishing nets — originated from the interaction with the Chinese commanded by the admiral.

David is on board the ship along with 110 Chinese cadets, including 13 girls, from PLAN's Dalian Naval Academy and a rear admiral who is the commanding officer. David will disembark at Kochi — likely on May 9 — not far from the coast of Kozhikode (referred to as Calicut by Europeans) where historians believe Zheng He was given a sea burial 579 years ago.

This is the second time in 10 years that a PLAN ship is circumnavigating the globe. The Admiral Zheng He is scheduled to leave Kochi on May 13 after the stopover.

Defence Minister AK Antony Reveals the Shoddy Track Record of MiG Fighters

http://www.defencenow.com/news/663/defence-minister-ak-antony-reveals-the-shoddy-track-record-of-mig-fighters.html Posted on: May 03, 2012   The Indian Defence Minister AK Antony has revealed the shoddy track record of the MiG fighters ever since their induction in the IAF. Defence Minister Antony has stated in the Parliament that 482 of the 872 Russian-origin MiGs procured since 1966 had crashed from 1971-72 onwards. Owing to these crashes, a total of 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel and one aircrew have lost their lives. The cause of these mishaps was both human error and technical defects, he added. While the phasing out of older MiG-21 interceptors, ground attack MiG-23 s and high-altitude strategic reconnaissance MiG-25 s has taken place, the IAF will still have the upgraded MiG-21 "Bisons" and medium-range strike MiG-27 s in its fleet till at least 2017 due to the shortage in the number of fighter squadrons. As for the roughly 60 MiG-29 air Defence fighters, these will be with the IAF till the next decade as they are undergoing an extensive mid-life upgrade under a $ 964-million contract inked with Russia in March, 2008. With the large number of crashes involved in connection to the MiG-21 fleet, Defence Minister AK Antony had announced earlier that the phasing out of the MiG-21 from IAF will begin from 2014. The older variants of the MiG-21’s are already getting phased out and the process will be over by 2017. The MiG 21s constitute around 40 per cent of the IAF fleet and its obsolete technology has severely hampered the performance of the IAF. The IAF Chief had also confirmed earlier that the last batch of trainee pilots flying the MiG-21s will finish their course in December 2012 and thereafter, only experienced pilots would be flying the MiG-21s till they are phased out completely. The delays in the delivery of Hawk trainer had forced the IAF to train young cadets on MiG21s. AK Antony had indicated earlier that the IAF will have a new and powerful fleet of next generation aircraft as the MiG-21’s will be completely phased out by 2017. AK Antony stated that the induction of modern next generation aircraft such as Su-30MKI, fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) and 126 new medium-multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA), the IAF will have complete overhaul in its fleet and will become a dynamic force. The MiG fighters have been in the IAF fleet for so long since their absence would diminish the force level significantly. With the MiGs still constituting around 50 per cent of India's combat fleet, their immediate exclusion from the fleet is not a viable option for India. The IAF is the world's fourth largest air force and has fighter squadron strength of about 34 against the sanctioned 39. Even this figure will fall to 31 fighter squadrons during the 12th Plan (2012-17), according to Defence analysts.

Indian and Japan Join Hands to Increase Maritime Security in Asia Pacific

http://www.defencenow.com/news/658/indian-and-japan-join-hands-to-increase-maritime-security-in-asia-pacific.html

Posted on: May 02, 2012

In a bid to step-up security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, India and Japan are paving the way to initiate new mechanisms for maritime and cyber security. As another round of strategic dialogue took place between foreign minister S M Krishna and his visiting Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba, special focus on maritime security was accorded besides cooperation to combat piracy. Both nations are also preparing for their first joint naval exercise off the coast of Japan this June.

The Japanese Minister Koichiro Gemba has reiterated the geo-political significance of India as it lies on the sea lanes of the communication linking West Asia with Japan. Japan plans to step-up the maritime security in the region to maintain the security of sea lanes of communication and facilitate unhindered trade by the sea routes. Japan is looking at India to expand cooperation in counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden as well.

During the Japanese Minister’s meet with the Indian PM Manmohan Singh, fresh dialogue mechanisms for maritime and cyber security was discussed as well. The Indian PM has also indicated that India has high expectations from the joint naval exercise to be held later.

The Indian PM and the Japanese Minister have also shared their thoughts about China and its growing presence in the Asia –Pacific region. While Chinese assertiveness was put in the back-burner during the discussions, Japan has insinuated the creation of a web of network in the Asia-Pacific to ensure rising powers were comfortable with each other. Japan has even proposed a Japan-China-US trilateral.

It may be recalled here that during the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony’s visit to Japan last year-end, various issues relating to maritime security, anti-piracy measures, freedom of navigation and maintaining the security of sea lanes were discussed. During the India-Japan Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo last year, the ministers had agreed to hold the first bilateral naval exercise in 2012 and charted out the course for future defence interactions.

India and Japan are looking at enhanced cooperation over a broad spectrum besides maritime cooperation. India and Japan discussed an entire gamut of issues including cooperation in infrastructure projects, railways and energy sectors. India and Japan also decided to take forward negotiations for civil nuclear energy cooperation. However, Japan is expected to address certain key elements before entering into this partnership.

Indian Defence Ministry to Create Data Base for Acquisitions

http://www.defencenow.com/news/657/indian-defence-ministry-to-create-data-base-for-acquisitions.html

Posted on: May 02, 2012

 

India's Defence Ministry has begun the process of creating a data base on the acquisitions it plans to make for its army, navy and air force.

 

This information was given to the parliamentary standing committee by Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, who deposed before it in April on the ministry's demands for grants for 2012-13.

The committee, while discussing the delay in defence procurement, noted that there was a suggestion of having the data bank for acquisition for the three services.

"In fact, some beginning has been made in the offices of the technical managers. They are collecting some sort of data, but I will admit that we have not perfected in that. There is scope for further improvement," Sharma was quoted by the committee in its report.

He also acknowledged to the panel that the data bank would certainly help in acquisitions and that "we must make progress on that."

Sharma also informed that on the issue of identifying the acquisitions under the 'make' category of the defence procurement procedure, of the 15-year long term integrated perspective plan (LTIPP), the ministry would cull out those cases which are from the 'make' category. For that, the ministry has already started preparation and in the last two or three years, a few cases have been taken up like the Tactical Communication System, Future Infantry Combat Vehicles and such.

"But I agree that a number of such cases must now increase and it will come out of the LTIPP," he said.

Arguing in favour of greater involvement of the private sector in defence production in India, the defence secretary also suggested that an industry version of the LTIPP would be put up in the public domain.

"Simultaneously, an exercise has also been taken up to identify the technologies on which Public Sector Undertakings and domestic private industries could consider working on. The cases identified as 'make' category are mostly for this purpose," he said.

He also predicted that the public version of the LTIPP would be out in six month’s time, as the plans were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in early April 2012.

"It will be the industry version only and not exactly how we are going to proceed, as this will disclose many of our future strategic plans," Sharma quantified.

India Sets Up New Navy Base in Lakshadweep

http://www.defencenow.com/news/656/india-sets-up-new-navy-base-in-lakshadweep.html

Posted on: May 02, 2012

 

After three years of planning, India has established a full-fledged navy base in the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, in an effort to have a robust security system and infrastructure in place to secure its island territories.

 

The move comes in the backdrop of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, when the need for strengthening the island territories' security got highlighted.

 

India already has a full-fledged naval base in it other island territories of Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal, but has been only operating a detachment at Kavaratti since the early 1980s.

 

The new base in Lakshadweep that was commissioned on Monday has been christened INS Dweeprakshak and it will have its headquarters at Kavaratti in the Lakshadweep archipelago.

 

The commissioning was done by Southern Naval Commander Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil, even as the base's first commanding officer, Captain S.M. Hanchinal, read out the commissioning warrant and hoisted the naval ensign.

 

The INS Dweeprakshak commanding officer will also function as naval officer in charge of Lakshadweep and Minicoy.

 

"Lakshadweep islands form the maritime frontiers of our country on the western side," Sushil said at the event, noting that the commissioning of a full-fledged naval base was another milestone in the commitment of the Indian Navy to maintain effective coastal surveillance and defence capability.

 

The officer also informed that the radar stations and other surveillance measures were in place for shipping traffic monitoring and intelligence gathering.

 

With the commissioning of INS Dweeprakshak, the island territories would see calibrated strengthening of assets in step with their growing relevance to the security calculus of the nation, the Indian Navy said.

 

A firmer footing in the islands, which are spread out astride some of the busiest shipping lanes of the world would provide the necessary wherewithal to the Indian Navy to suitably discharge its responsibilities, it added.

 

Indian naval warships, on anti-piracy patrol in the south Arabian Sea, would now extend their reach farther with base support from INS Dweeprakshak.

The Mysterious Iranian Threat

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/20120430.aspx

April 30, 2012: For the United States the most dangerous and unpredictable naval weapon Iran has is its fleet of twenty submarines. This is a relatively recent development and it's unknown how effective this force might be. The world may soon find out as Iran, under increasing economic sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program, has responded with threats of violence. The subs are a large part of that threat. The U.S. is not revealing what it knows of Iranian submarine warfare capabilities. That's normal, for if the Iranians knew what the Americans knew they could tweak their own plans to deal with likely U.S. countermeasures. Most likely (based on Cold War practices) the U.S. has been using aircraft, satellites, subs, and underwater sensors to monitor the activities of Iranian subs at sea. This would involve violating international law by quietly moving into Iranian territorial waters. But this has been done before, and the Iranians are probably aware of it (but not willing to publicize it and the fact that they have not been able to do anything to halt the American incursions). The Iranians tend to be smart when it comes to technical and military matters, and they are aware that the U.S. has over a century of experience in submarine operations. Have the Iranians come up with ways to overcome their shortages in technology and experience? No one will know unless the Iranian subs go to war.

Iranian efforts to build a submarine force began in the late 1980s, when the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy acquired a few midget subs from North Korea. These boats were capable of delivering frogmen covertly or carrying naval mines to attack shipping and harbors.

Iran took the big leap in the early 1990s when they acquired three Kilo Project 877/636 type diesel electric submarines from Russia. The 2300 ton Kilos are long range subs capable of operating throughout the Indian Ocean (from South Africa to Australia). The Kilos have six 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tubes and 18 torpedoes (including one or more Shkval rocket torpedoes) or 24 mines.

Very similar to the world-standard diesel submarine, the 1800-ton German Type 209, the Kilo is a formidable foe and can stay at sea for up to 45 days. The last of these three Kilos were delivered in 1996, which gives Iranian crews more than a decade of experience. Google Earth has often spotted the trio tied up in harbor at Bandar Abbas, however, they have made several training cruises to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

Russia agreed to stop selling subs to Iran in 1996, and since then Iran has been working on their own designs. After ten years of trial and error they produced the 100 ton Ghadir (Qadir) class vessels in 2005. Iran currently has 12 of these small diesel electric subs. These smaller Ghadir-class vessels are squarely between the old midget submarines and the Russian Kilos. The Iranians are not releasing specification sheets to anyone but they look very similar to the Italian made Cosmos SX-506B submarines that Columbia received in the 1980s. The 100-ton SX-506Bs are only large enough to carry commandos and mines. However, news photos show what looks like to be two torpedo tubes on the Iranian craft.

It should be remembered that Cosmos exported a number of larger vessels to Pakistan in the 1990s. Dubbed the SX-756, they may have been the design basis for these Ghadir. It should also be acknowledged that the North Korean Sang-O class submarine closely approximates the Ghadir type.

In 2007, North Korea gave Iran, outright, four of its Yugo-type midget submarines. These Yugos were well worn, 90-ton, 65-foot craft but Iran accepted them all the same.

There also appear to be five larger Nahang class subs. The first one appeared six years ago. At about 500-tons it is the same size as and closely resembled the old German Type-206 class. The Type 206s were produced in the 1960s for operations in the confined shallows of the Baltic. Denmark, Norway, Germany, and now Indonesia used variants for forty years. The Type 206’s size enabled it to carry eight torpedo tubes with no reloads. The Iranian version does not seem to be a success and little has been seen of this craft.

Under construction is what will be the third indigenous Iranian design. Laid down in 2008, the Qaaem is a 1000-ton boat and should be large enough to handle a full set of torpedo tubes along with a reload. They could be the possible replacement for Iran’s Kilos. The Kilo platform has a lifespan of 30-years and they are more than halfway there. But Iran has a mixed record when it comes to warship construction, and the Qadir boats are reported to be troublesome to use and not safe. The Iranians are enthusiastic about having more subs but developing that capability is very expensive and time consuming.