The Centre is understood to have bestowed sweeping financial powers on the army to meet critical deficiencies in ammunition, spares and different types of armament following a security review conducted after last year’s Uri terror strike. Sources said that the financial powers conferred by the government would facilitate the emergency procurement of ammunition and spares worth an estimated ₹40,000 crore over the next few years, subject to availability of budgetary support. Buying ammunition and spares for in-service equipment is less complicated than making a purchase from scratch, army officers said. “After the Uri attack, the army was given similar financial powers for three months and then extended for another three months till March 31, 2017. The sources said the grant of enhanced financial powers to the army’s vice chief would be used to buy 46 types of ammunition including that for tanks and artillery guns and spares for 10 types of weapons.

Source: Hindustan Times July 12, 2017 18:06 UTC