Mr PM Nair took over as Secretary, Defence Production and Supplies in the Ministry of Defence. Earlier, Mr Nair was Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources. He has also served in the Ministry of Defence as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary. He is a post-graduate in Economics and hails from Kerala.

Mr Nair succeeds Mr Subir Dutta who has moved over as Defence Secretary.

- PIB (DW)

In consonance with the commitment of the nation to fight global terrorism and support operation Enduring Freedom, Indian Navy's contribution has been significant. Ships of the Indian Navy, in conjunction with the US Navy, have been deployed to undertake escort operations in the Straits of Malacca.

The escort duties have been divided between ships of the Indian Navy and the US Navy for a period of six months each. Accordingly, INS Sharda, an offshore patrol vessel of the Southern Naval Command, based at Kochi, became the first coalition warship to be deployed for escort operations in the Straits of Malacca. Sharda was deployed for a period of three months since April this year and she successfully escorted high value vessels transiting the Straits of Malacca. INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel of the Eastern Naval Command, based at Visakhapatnam, has relieved INS Sharda and will undertake escort missions for the next three months.

- PIB (DW)

The Navy undertook a casualty evacuation mission in the high seas to evacuate a patient from the Romanian tanker MV Eagle. A Seaking helicopter operating from INS Gomati 270 nautical miles from Mumbai, was pressed into action.

Mr Ionciubotau, a seaman, aged 35 years, was suffering from an arterial damage in his knee leading to profuse bleeding. An SOS call was received from the strip’s agent in Mumbai at the midenight. INS Gomati, which was operating at sea, was diverted by the Navy to undertake the evacuation with its Seaking helicopter. The patient was brought the Naval Air Station, to Kunjali and later was handed over to Breach Candy Hospital authorities.

-PIB(DW)

The 35-knot Fast Patrol Vessel, designed and manufactured by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), was launched in Panjim. This is the second vessel of the class and the fastest in its category with a minimum endurance of 1500 nautical miles. The vessel is primarily designed for patrolling anti-smuggling and anti-terrorist operations, fisheries protection and search and rescue. It can also support the Navy during wartime as a coastal convoy escort and a communication link.

The vessel is fitted with 30-mm gun forward, machine-guns on port starboard and state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment. Options are also available to fit naval stabilisied gun system of various makes with multi-sensor stabilised integrated system as well as night vision device. For hot pursuit and capture operation requiring high speed and excellent manoeuvrability, the vessel is powered by three 2720 kw MTU diesel engines.

- PIB (DW)

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Mountaineering Expedition to Bandarpunch Peak-II (21,831 ft) was flagged-in in New Delhi by the then Defence Secretary, Mr Yogendra Narain. The team of officers and cadets of the NCC successfully scaled the peak on June 12 this year. It is one of the most technically difficult peaks, which required specialised skill and fitness on part of the climbers. During the climb, the team faced extreme weather conditions including snowstorm, glare and diminished oxygen in the atmosphere.

Maj Gen TPS Brar, the officiating Director General of NCC informed that this was the 49th mountaineering expedition undertaken by the NCC. He said every year two mountaineering expeditions, one for the boys and the other for girls are undertaken by their organisation. In 1970, for the first time, a NCC mountaineering expedition for boys was undertaken. The first expedition for the NCC girls cadets was conducted in 1979. Hitherto, 29 mountaineering expeditions for boys and 20 expeditions for girls have been undertaken by the NCC.

Maj Jasbir Singh Thind, leader of the team gave a brief account of the expedition. On the way back, the team doctor along with his medical staff conducted a free medical camp for the local villagers.

- PIB (DW)

Cadets of 4 (Maharashtra) Naval Union, NCC, Nagpur brought laurels to the unit by winning overall runners-up trophy at the Pre-Nau Sainik Camp held at Ratnagiri. Cadets from units at Pune, Mumbai and Ratnagiri competed for coveted honours at the Inter Naval Unit Competition for naval units of Maharashtra Directorate.

A team of 30 boys and 10 girls cadets represented 4 (Mah) Naval Unit at the camp in Ratnagiri. Training and competitions on various events like sailing, pulling, firing, ship modelling and semaphore were conducted.

Commanding Officer of No 4 (Mah) Naval NCC Unit, Lt Cdr Shrikant Puranik praised the cadets and the instructional staff for their hardwork and devotion in bringing home the trophy. Gp Capt S Hooda, Group Commander, NCC Group Headquarters, Nagpur congratulated the team for its excellent performance.