Defence and Security

CURRENT AFFAIRS july 2020

Patrolling Points

Issue
The standoffs between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh on the Line of
Actual Control (LAC), where initial steps towards disengagement have taken
place, are around a number of patrolling points or PPs in Galwan, Hot
Springs and Gogra areas.

Details
 PPs are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC, which are
patrolled with a stipulated frequency by the security forces.
 They serve as a guide to the location of the LAC for the soldiers, acting
as indicators of the extent of ‘actual control’ exercised on the territory by
India.
 By regularly patrolling up to these PPs, the Indian side is able to
establish and assert its physical claim about the LAC.
 Some of the PPs are prominent and identifiable geographical features,
such as a pass, or a nala junction where no numerals are given. Only those
PPs, where there are no prominent features, are numbered as in the case of
PP14 in Galwan Valley.
 The PPs are not posts and thus not manned. Unlike on the Line of
Control (LoC) with Pakistan, the border with China is not physically held by
the Army all along.
 They are just physical markers on the ground, chosen for their location
and have no defensive potential or tactical importance for the Army.
 The claim is asserted by the Army or joint Army-ITBP patrols as they
show more visible presence in these areas. This is done by physically visiting

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PPs with a higher frequency, as the deployment has moved closer to the LAC
and due to improved infrastructure.
 These PPs have been identified by the high-powered China Study
Group, starting from 1975 when patrolling limits for Indian forces were
specified.
 The frequency of reaching various PPs are given in the annual
patrolling programme. Based on the terrain, the ground situation and the
location of the LAC, the duration for visiting each PP is specified – it can
vary from once a month to twice a year.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS july 2020

India and Nepal military ties

Issue
On July 10, a soldier from Nepal serving in the Ghurkha regiment, was
killed in cross-border firing along the Line of Control in Nowshera sector of
Jammu. This comes amidst strain in Indo-Nepali ties.

Background
The soldier’s supreme sacrifice is a reminder about the strong ties between
the Indian and Nepalese armed forces. Soldiers from Nepal form a
significant part of the Indian Army’s legendary Ghurkha regiment.

Details
 India’s military connection with the Himalayan country goes back to the
reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh whose army in Lahore enlisted Nepalese
soldiers called Lahure or soldiers of fortune.
 British India raised the first battalion of the Ghurkha Regiment as the
Nasiri regiment on April 24, 1815. By the time the First World War started,
there were 10 Ghurkha regiments in the British Indian Army.
 When India got freedom, these regiments were divided between the
British and Indian armies as per the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite
Agreement signed in November 1947.
 Nepalis can join the Indian Army, both as a jawan and as an officer. A
citizen of Nepal can take the National Defence Academy or Combined
Defence Services exams and join the Indian Army as an officer.

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 The Nepalese army also sends its officers for training to India’s
military academies and combat colleges. The Ghurkha regiments, which
have 35 battalions, recruit a large number of troops from Nepal.
 Nepali soldiers enjoy the same benefits as the India troops both
during service and after retirement. They get the same medical facilities as
the Indian soldiers, and often medical teams from the Indian Army tour
Nepal.
 Unlike the British, who started giving the Nepalese soldiers pension
only a few years ago, the Indian Army has never discriminated against the
Nepalese soldiers, who can avail of healthcare facilities in India as well.
The Indian Army also runs welfare projects in Nepal villages, including
small water and power projects.
 There is a convention that dates back to 1972 when then Field
Marshal Sam Manekshaw, a Ghurkha regiment officer was made the
honorary chief of the Nepalese army. Ever since, the Army chief of India is
the honorary chief of the Nepalese army and vice-versa.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS july 2020

New weapons deployed by government

Issue
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajanth
Singh has cleared several proposals that will boost the combat capabilities of
all three services—Army, Navy and the Air Force.

Background
As the government expects the standoff with China to continue well into the
winters, the armed forces are ready for the long-haul.

Details
Pinaka missile system
It will enable raising additional regiments over and above the ones already
inducted. It is an all-weather, indirect fire, free flight artillery rocket system.
The Pinaka weapon system consists of Rocket, Multi Barrel Rocket launcher,
Battery Command Post, Loader cum Replenishment Vehicle, Replenishment
Vehicle and Digicora MET Radar.

Astra Missiles
Astra Missiles, with Beyond Visual Range capability will serve as a force
multiplier and immensely add to the strike capability of Navy and Air Force.
The BVR class of Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) system is designed to be mounted
on fighter aircraft and can be engaged to destroy highly manoeuvring
supersonic aircraft.

MIG 29 and Su-30 MKI

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It is a twin-engine, multirole fighter jets, developed by the Soviets in

1970s, but has been upgraded since. Russia will also upgrade existing 59
Mig-29 aircraft of India.

Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems (LRLACM)

It is aimed at enhancing India’s firing range from between 400 km and
500 km of the Brahmos to 1000 km. The seeker development and testing
by DRDO laboratories, it said, are demonstrated and is at a high-level of
readiness.
The proposed development of fully indigenous long-range land attack
cruise missile can greatly enhance the operational capability of services.

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CURRENT AFFAIRS july 2020

Winter diesel

Issue
India’s armed forces may soon be using winter diesel for operations in high
altitude areas such as Ladakh, where winter temperatures plummet to
extremely low levels.

Background
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has sought approval from the Directorate
General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) of the armed forces to approve winter
diesel that is said to be usable at temperatures as low as -30° celsius.

Details
 Winter diesel is a specialised fuel that was introduced by IOCL last year
specifically for high altitude regions and low-temperature regions such as
Ladakh, where ordinary diesel can become unusable.
 The flow characteristics of regular diesel change at such low
temperatures and using it may be detrimental to vehicles. Winter diesel which
contains additives to maintain lower viscosity can be used in temperatures as
low as -30°C.
 Besides a low pour point, it had higher cetane rating, an indicator of
combustion speed of diesel and compression needed for ignition— and lower
sulphur content, which would lead to lower deposits in engines and better
performance.
 Before the launch of winter diesel, consumers in areas that reached such
low temperatures were using kerosene to dilute diesel to make it usable,
which would lead to more air pollution.
 IOC may begin supplying winter diesel to the armed forces once its use

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is approved by the Controllerate of Quality Assurance for petroleum products

under the Directorate General for Quality Assurance of the armed forces.
 While experts expect that demand may rise given the border tensions,
the demand for DHPP-W from the armed forces has not increased
significantly since the clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in the
Galwan valley in Ladakh.

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