6 % decline in annual budget of Indian Navy in past 5 years

New Delhi: The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh on Tuesday said that the annual  budgetary allocation of Indian Navy has come down to 12 percent from 18 percent in the last five years.

Addressing the annual press conference here, Admiral Singh assured the nation that the Navy is fully prepared to deal with national security challenges. The Navy's long-term plan is to have three aircraft carriers, the first indigenous will be operational by 2022, he added.

Talking about the challenges before the Force, he further said no action of any other player in the region should impact us. "We are ready to work with like-minded countries," he said.

Reacting to the massive expansion of the Chinese Navy, the Naval Chief said "They are moving at the pace they are capable of and we are moving at what we are capable of".

When asked about the Chinese ship entered in to the Special Economic Zone (EEG) and was sent back recently, Admiral Singh said that anyone operating in 'our region' will have to notify Indian Navy.

Responding to question whether China's PLA Navy will be participating in the annual naval exercise MILAN 2019, the Navy Chief categorically said that only 'like-minded' countries will be part of the upcoming Milan Exercise for which Indian Navy has sent invites to 41 countries.

Admiral Singh also said that seven to eight ships of PLA Navy are always present in the Indian Ocean Region.

Admiral Singh also said that the Force is fully committed to 'Make in India' vision and right from December 2018, something close to 88 per cent of Indian Navy's contracts and acceptance of necessity (AoN) by value have been concluded with or accorded to Indian vendors.(UNI)