Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra Mesmerises Delhi Audience

Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra Mesmerises Delhi Audience 

Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra captured the hearts and minds of the music aficionados of New Delhi during an Annual Symphonic Musical Extravangza held at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi this evening (19 Feb 16). The world famous band regaled and enthralled the audience with a wide range of repertoire of stirring Martial Music, arrangements of Western Classical, Indian Classical and other forms of contemporary popular and folk music. 


During the melodious evening the band continued to relate closely to the audience, incorporating varied choices like fanfare, overture, jazz, fantasia, pop, swing music and patriotic music, while maintaining high standard of professionalism. The highlight of the evening was the signature performance by the young drummers of the Navy who presented the Drummers Line ‘Light Tattoo’ to everyone’s delight. The band performed admirably under the baton of Commander VC D’Cruz, Director of Music, who is an alumnus of Pilar Music School, Goa and Trinity College of Music, London. 

The harmonious evening was organised as part of the Navy Week Activities - 2015, at Siri Fort Auditorium. Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Rao Inderjit Singh, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. 

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Defence Ministry Exchanges MoU on Skill Development with SDN Trust 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged here today between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Skill Development Network (SDN) Trust for Collaboration on Technical and Program Management Support for the Skill Development programmes of the MoD. The SDN Trust is an initiative of Wadhwani Foundation and is engaged in Skills Development related activities and aims to drive economic growth in India through large-scale initiatives in job creation and skill development. The MoU was exchanged between the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar and Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, Chairman of the Wadhwani Foundation. Speaking on the occasion the Defence Minister said “skill development is an important aspect of the overall policy of the Government of India”. 

Approximately 60,000 service personnel retire or are released every year at a comparatively young age. Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) assists service personnel (due for retirement/release in one to two years) and Ex- Servicemen (ESM) to acquire additional skills and facilitate their resettlement through a financially viable career serving the civil society. Skill Development would go a long way towards supporting gainful employment of these ESM. 

SDN Trust will provide the programme management support to MOD in its Skill Development initiatives like successful roll out of National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) based skill training to ESM, supporting NSQF compliant training programmes through Ordinance Factory Boards (OFBs), Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs) and introduction of vocational education in schools run by defence forces. 

The goals of this MoU are as follows: 

• Overall program management support to the MoD Skill Development for achieving the objectives of the Ministry. 

• Integrate e-content in the curriculum of the various training programs to improve the employability of the trainees. 

• Train the faculty members in NSQF aligned program, using the e-content, etc. 

• Training and development of the key officials or institutional heads within MoD and its affiliates for knowledge and capacity enhancement for skill development and entrepreneurship training. 

• Monitoring and evaluation of the overall program implementation to bring quality assurance and impact analysis. 

• Promote skill development and job fulfilment in any other areas identified by the parties during the term of this MoU. 

The SDN will help in the programme management of the MoD Skill Development initiative. These are:- 

• Coordinate with program stakeholders –MSDE, NSDC, SSCs and other agencies for effective design and implementation of NSQF aligned program. 

• Support in industry connect, identifying job-role demand and curriculum alignment. 

• Provide required professional advice and inputs for effective implementation of the program. 

• Support the State Rajya Sainik Board and Zilla Sainik Boards in the skill development initiatives. 

This collaboration aims to train and provide gainful employment to approximately 3, 00,000 ESM and their families, school students and youth in five years starting from Financial Year 2015-16

The SDN commits to spend on Program Management activities including the Teacher training, e-content, training of ESM, training of other officials, technology platform etc. for leveraging the MoD funding towards Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiatives and schemes. SDN will provide over 1000 hours of online and e-learning modules. 

The MoU shall remain in force for a period of five years. 


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Indo-Nepal Battalion level combined Exercise Surya Kiran IX 

          The Ninth Indo-Nepal Combined Battalion level Military Training Exercise SURYA KIRAN is being conducted at Pithoragarh from 08 February to 21 February 2016 under the aegis of Panchshul Brigade of Central Command. During the exercise, an Infantry battalion each from Indian Army and the Nepalese Army would be training together and sharing their experiences of Counter Terrorism operations and Jungle Warfare in mountain terrain.

          The Surya Kiran series of exercises is a bi-annual event which is conducted alternatively in Nepal and India. The aim of this combined training exercise is to enhance inter-operability between the Indian and the Nepalese Army units in Jungle Warfare and Counter Terrorism operations in mountainous terrain. The training will also focus on Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief including medical and aviation support. Both the Armies will stand to benefit mutually from shared experiences.

          The combined training, mutual interaction and sharing of experiences between both the countries shall further strengthen the historical military and strategic ties, giving further fillip to the bilateral relations and existing strong bonding between both countries.















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2nd Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC) meeting between India & United States concludes in New Delhi 

The 2nd meeting of the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Co-operation (JWGACTC), constituted under the auspices of the Indo – US Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, was organised in India from 15 to 18 Feb 16. An 11 member delegation of the US Side, headed by Rear Admiral Thomas J Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers (United States Navy), visited various defence/ industrial installations in India including the Shore Based Test Facility at Goa, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. The delegation also visited the first Indian Indigenous Aircraft Carrier being constructed at CSL. 

The concluding session of the Joint Working Group Meeting was held on 18 Feb 16 at New Delhi and was co-chaired by Vice Admiral GS Pabby, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition and Rear Admiral Thomas J Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers (United States Navy). During this meeting, various aspects of cooperation in the field of aircraft carrier technology were discussed and a joint statement signed. 

The meeting was attended by members of the Joint Working Group and relevant representatives from IHQ MoD (N), HQIDS, DRDO and Ministry of External Affairs, India.