Indian Army and Navy has shortage of 274 pilots: Government
Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State in the Defense Ministry, today informed Lok Sabha that there is a shortage of 274 pilots in the Army and the Navy. The sanctioned strength of pilots in the Army is 794; however, it has 192 vacant posts. The Navy has a sanctioned strength of 735 pilots and has 82 vacant posts. Here are more details.
IAF has marginal shortage of pilots
"There is a marginal shortage of pilots in Indian Air Force against the authorized establishment. However, the available strength in the IAF is sufficient to meet the current operational requirements," he said. Bhamre also said, "Indian Navy closely monitors the maritime areas of our interest and regularly deploys ships for Presence and Surveillance Missions, off critical choke points/sea lanes in Indian Ocean Region (IOR)."
Government has identified 73 roads as ICBR
The minister said the government has identified 73 roads as "strategic Indo-China Border Roads (ICBRs), of which 34 roads are completed and in the remaining 39 ICBRs, work in progress." He added the government took measures to expedite the construction of border roads in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, J&K, HP, and Uttarakhand and has constituted an Empowered Committee to resolve the issues pertaining to BRO.
22,225-km road has been entrusted to the BRO
Bhamre added that a 22,225.17km road has been entrusted to the Border Roads Organization (BRO), of which 7,122km is in Jammu and Kashmir and 5,267km in Arunachal Pradesh. Replying to whether there has been an increase in Chinese transgressions over the last one year, Bhamre said, "Due to different perception about LAC, both sides undertake patrolling and as a result transgressions do occur."
