As border tensions with China grow, India approves procurement of arms worth Rs 28,000 crore

India's defence ministry on Tuesday approved the proposal for procurement of arms worth Rs 28,000 crore. The procurement proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

India will procure swarm drones, bulletproof jackets, close-quarter battle carbines among others to bolster the overall combat prowess of the armed forces.

The Defence Acquisition Council meeting held today accorded AoN for Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 28,732 crores under Buy (Indian IDDM) & Buy (Indian) categories giving a further boost to self-reliance in Defence. https://t.co/1hGNMfJogp

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 26, 2022

The approval to the new procurement proposals came amid India's rising border tensions with China in eastern Ladakh.

List of weapons/equipment approved: Here is the list of weapons and equipment approved by the defence ministry for procurement:

• Among the proposals approved by DAC are three proposals of the Indian Army: Guided Extended Range Rocket Ammunition, Area Denial Munition Type I and Infantry Combat Vehicle. The total value of these three proposals is Rs 8,599 crore.
• Considering the demand of enhanced protection against the threat of enemy snipers to our troops deployed along the Line of Control and in close combat operations in counter-terrorism scenario, bullet-proof jackets with Indian Standard BIS VI level of protection has also been approved.

An Artificial Intelligence exhibition was organised today which provided an opportunity for innovators to display their capabilities, products and state-of-the-art technologies.

Glad that the Industry is making meaningful efforts to provide innovative and indigenous solutions. pic.twitter.com/WoUaUqgaXc

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 11, 2022

• The ministry has also approved the induction of approximately four lakh of close quarter battle carbines. This will provide major impetus to the small arms manufacturing industry in India.
• To improve the Indian Army’s capability in modern warfare, procurement of autonomous surveillance and armed drone swarms has been approved by the ministry. These will also be made in India.

• The DAC also approved the Navy's proposal to procure an upgraded 1250 KW capacity marine gas turbine generator for power generation application onboard the Kolkata class of ships.
• In order to enhance the security in the coastal region of the country, the DAC also approved the proposal of procurement of 14 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard.

India-China border disputes: The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

• The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017, which triggered fears of a war between the two neighbours.
• In 2020, India and China troops clashed in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh. India lost 20 soldiers, and there were casualties on the other side too. It was India's first violent clash since 1962.
• Since then, both sides have increased deployment near the LAC and there have been several rounds of talk