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Fernandes revives defence minister's committee

In his first major initiative, Defence Minister George Fernandes today directed the revival of the defunct Defence Minister's Committee to actively involve the three service chiefs in the decision-making process.

The committee, formed soon after the country's independence in 1947, fell into disuse in the 1970s when the then defence minister Y B Chavan devised informal weekly meetings to discuss national security issues.

Fernandes issued the directive at his first weekly meeting since assumption of office as defence minister last week.

The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramaniam, Cabinet Secretary-designate Prabhat Kumar, Principal Secretary to the prime minister Brajesh Mishra, Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar, Scientific Advisor to the defence minister A P J Abdul Kalam and the three service chiefs.

The weekly meeting at the defence ministry is held to get a broad overview of the issues of national security in all its parameters.

UNI

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