Some major reforms introduced by Defence Minister of India

Rajnath Singh the current Defence Minister of India has a remarkable journey that spans from being a physics lecturer to being the Defence Minister of IndiaBorn on July 10 1951 in the Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh Singh celebrates his 72nd birthday on Wednesday He holds a Masterrsquos degree in Physics from the University of Gorakhpur where he honed his analytical skills and scientific acumenBefore entering politics Singh worked as a physics lecturer Singh joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS as a swayamsevak marking the beginning of his political journeyOver the years Singh held several key positions within the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP He served as the 8th President of the BJP from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2014 His leadership skills and dedication to the party earned him respect and recognitionSingh as Indias Defence Minister since 2019 has led several critical reforms during his tenureAgnipath Recruitment Scheme Under ScrutinyThe Agnipath scheme launched in 2022 under the Human Resource Management of the Indian Army is a transformational reform for the Armed Forces and the nation According to the Press Information Bureau Defence Wing the youth male or female selected under this scheme would be known as Agniveers The Agnipath allowed patriotic and motivated youth 175 to 21 years old to serve in the Armed Forces for a period of 4 years However the scheme has faced criticism over concerns about job security and longterm career prospectsAdvancing Theatre Command ReformsRajnath Singh has prioritized unifying theater commands to enhance joint operations It aimed for better coordination among the Army Navy and Air Force Chief of Defence Staff CDS Gen Anil Chauhan had said that Theatre Commands would lay the foundation for catapulting the armed forces into the next orbit of military preparedness and war fighting Jointness 20 that is developing joint culture in the armed forces is the way forward calling upon the three services to create a joint culture as they move towards forming joint operational structuresFocus on Indigenous Military ProductionTo reduce reliance on imports Singh emphasized indigenous defense manufacturing through Make in India The government restricted imports of various defense items promoting critical weapons domestic productionManaging China RelationsGiven tensions with China Singh strengthened Indias combat readiness along the border Aggressive infrastructure development in sensitive sectors facilitated faster military mobilizationThese reforms reflect Singhs commitment to selfreliance defense modernization and strategic preparedness His tenure has been marked by significant advancements in Indias defense sector