The recent order of 73,000 SIG Sauer rifles has triggered debate on India’s long quest for a modern rifle. The India-Russia AK-203 joint production under ‘Make in India’ holds the key.
Army has put in fresh order for 73,000 SIG 716 G2 patrol assault or battlefield rifles, chambered for 7.62x51 mm rounds from US firm SIG Sauer, attracting criticism for continued imports.
In February 2019, 72,400 SiG 716 rifles of 7.62 x 51mm calibre were contracted from SIG Sauer Inc, USA, under government's 'Buy (Global) category', through fast track procedure.
The SiG 716 rifles lacked certain add-ons when first handed to soldiers at LoC in Dec 2019. However, minor tweaks to equip it with night sight, better grip & more cost-effective ammunition has made it formidable.
By the 2024 US Open, ESPN noted that Djokovic had advanced via opponent retirements or walkovers 16 times at Majors, the most of any male player in the Open Era.
In AICC report ‘Real State of the Economy 2026’, Congress flags ‘central contradiction’ in economy, calls for data review pointing to jobs, FDI, manufacturing slump & inequality.
Shield AI will provide V-BAT vertical takeoff & landing drones along with licences for software, which will be integrated into aircraft and made available to select Indian partners.
No nation other than China can negotiate one-on-one with Trump on an equal footing. That’s why the middle powers who so far formed the core of multilateral bodies now feel orphaned.
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