Full time defence minister in few weeks, says Jaitley

The defence modernisation had "slowed down" in the last few years and providing the required equipment to the armed forces in a speedy manner would be the top priority of the Modi government, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday.

"Speeding up the (procurement of) equipment required for their support are going to be priority areas as far as our government is concerned.

"We are certainly concerned that in last few years, some of these areas had actually slowed down and therefore expediting them would be a matter of top priority," he said while taking the "additional charge" of the ministry in New Delhi.

He did not elaborate but was apparently referring to the delay in acquisition of modern equipment for the armed forces such as the 126 multirole combat aircraft, 197 light helicopters and a number of other acquisitions stuck up in the ministry due to one reason or the other during his predecessor A K Antony's regime.

Jaitley, who primarily holds the portfolios of finance and corporate affairs, said the defence ministry is expected to get a full-time head in a "couple of weeks" after the expansion of the council of ministers.

Asked about the demand for raising the 26 per cent FDI cap in the defence sector, Jaitley said it needs a deeper look.

"This is an issue, which in both limbs, would be dealt by both my departments. It has already come up in preliminary discussions today and therefore I do not want to say anything more before I look deeply into the matter."

He said if the 26 per cent FDI in defence had been "introduced during the Vajpayee government... These are areas which I am personally willing to examine."

Soon after taking over, Jaitley held a series of meetings with the various departments of the defence ministry.

He held meetings with the three services chiefs, the defence secretary, secretary (ex-servicemen welfare) and secretary (defence production) and all the officers above the rank of joint secretary in the ministry.

Rao Inderjit Singh has also joined the defence ministry as the minister of state.

Image: Arun Jaitley takes charge in New Delhi on Tuesday

Photograph courtesy: PIB