New Delhi, Oct 24 : Defence Minister A. K. Antony today said that the private sector participation in defence production has been allowed and foreign direct investment is allowed upto 26 per cent.

Addressing the National Seminar on defence offsets being organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) here, Antony said that private sector will henceforth require industrial licence only if it is stipulated under the requirement for defence industry.

New Delhi, Oct 20 : Defence Minister A K Antony today informed Lok Sabha that no armed forces officer sought pre mature retirement due to resentment against Sixth Pay Commission Report.

“No officer of the Navy, the Air Force has sought pre-mature retirement (PMR) on the ground of dissatisfaction with the Sixth Central Pay Commission Report,” Antony said.

New Delhi, Oct 20 : Defence Minister A K Antony today said in the Lok Sabha that the Armed Forces are facing a shortage of 13,830 officers.

“There is a shortage of 11,119 officers in Army, 1,359 officers in Navy and 1,352 officers in Air Force. Armed Forces have 53,849 officers against a sanctioned strength of 67, 679,” Antony said.

The Defence Minister listed the various steps taken up to tackle the shortfall of officers by the government.

These steps include extension of Short Service Commission (SSC) officers, implementation of both phases of A V Singh Committee report and implementation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC) report, he added.

New Delhi, Oct. 20 : Defence Minister A. K. Anthony on Monday told Members of Parliament that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire on 58 occasions since November 26, 2003.

Replying to a question in Parliament, Antony said that since January 2008, Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) have been fired upon 34 times, while the total ceasefire violation by Pakistan has occurred on 58 counts.

Antony said that on each occasion, the Government of India had registered its protest with the Government of Pakistanthrough the established mechanisms of hotline, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Director General of Military Operations.

New Delhi, Oct 4 : Defense Minister A. K. Antony on Saturday praised the high standard and professionalism shown by the Territorial Army on the occasion of the 59th Anniversary of the Territorial Army Day Parade in New Delhi.

Antony said, “The Infantry Battalions raised on the Home and Hearth concept in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, have been very successful.”

New Delhi, Oct 1 : Defence Minister AK Antony has urged the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) to render prompt and efficient dispersal of pensions services to over two million ex-servicemen and their dependents.

Addressing the Annual Day Celebrations of Defence Accounts Department in New Delhi today, Antony said that during the last couple of years the Government has introduced several measures towards the welfare of defence pensioners.