Combined Commanders Conference on INS Vikramaditya
Combined
Commanders Conference, an annual tri-services event chaired by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was held on board INS Vikramaditya about 50 kms
off Kochi coast. This is the first time when the conference was held
outside New Delhi. It was attended by Union Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, all three services
chiefs and other senior officers of three armed services. The
Conference is also known as the Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC).
During this conference India’s defence policy, doctrine and operational
challenges are discussed in detail. Prime minister also reviewed
exercise like firing of surface-to-surface missile by INS Nirghat during
this conference. Prior to conference PM revived the tri-services guard
of honour at Southern Naval Command.
34-nation Islamic Military Coalition to counter terrorism
Saudi
Arabia on 15 December 2015 announced the launch of Islamic Military
Coalition to counter terrorism. The coalition will be led by Saudi
Arabia and see the participation of 34 nations. It will have a joint
operations center based in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. The coalition
includes nations with large and established armies such as Pakistan,
Turkey and Egypt as well as war-torn countries such as Libya and Yemen.
More than ten other Islamic countries have expressed their support for
this alliance and will take the necessary measures in this regard,
including Indonesia.
Apurvi Chandela won Gold at 59th National Shooting Championship
Rajasthan’s
Apurvi Chandela on 15 December 2015 won a Gold medal in the 10-metre
Air Rifle event on the final day of the 59th National Shooting
Championship in Delhi. While Geetakshi claimed the silver, Anjum had to
settle for a Bronze. Army man Chain Singh won the Gold in the 50-metre
Rifle 3 Positions event at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
Arun Kumar Jain appointed Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairman
Senior
revenue service officer Arun Kumar Jain on 15 December 2015 was
appointed Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Jain will
have short tenure of two months, till January 2016. Arun Kumar Jain is a
1978 batch Indian Revenue Services officer. He was made acting Chairman
of the board following superannuation of Anita Kapur on 30 November
2015.