Financial power of army vice chiefs enhanced five times

It gives a fillip to procurement of arms and ammunition and upgrade of defence preparedness

The Defence Ministry on Thursday increased the financial powers of the Vice Chiefs of the three Services for buying essential items ranging from ammunition to fuel.

“With the new delegation, the Vice Chiefs will be able to exercise financial powers up to five times more than the existing powers with an enhanced ceiling of Rs 500 crores. This is likely to give another fillip to the capacity of the three Armed Forces,” the defence ministry said in a statement. In each of the Services, the Vice Chiefs are in charge of the operations.

The revenue procurement of the armed forces are meant to buy day-to-day items required to run the Army, Air Force and Navy.

The delegation of greater financial power to the Vice Chief would expedite the procurement of such items and enhance the operational preparedness of the three services, the ministry statement added.

Last year, the Defence Ministry authorised the Vice Chiefs to spend close to Rs 800 crore to improve the perimeter security of military stations without any ministerial approval.