The Indian armed forces have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the “entire spectrum of warfare,” IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said on Sunday.
In his address at an event hosted here to mark the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day, he also asserted that resilient spirit, leadership, and vision of its veterans have laid the foundation of today’s armed forces.
The programme held at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment was also attended by Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, various senior officers of the three Services, a large number of veterans or their family members.
“The Indian armed forces, we will all agree, are one of the finest in the world, and have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the entire spectrum of warfare,” he said.
The Indian Air Force, in particular, has grown from a very modest beginning just about 90 years ago, to being “one of the most formidable air forces in the world”, the IAF chief said.
This has been possible only through the “sustained efforts and yeoman services” rendered by the forces’ veterans over the years, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari added.
“I acknowledge with gratitude the sterling contributions made by all our veterans, whose resilient spirit, leadership, and vision have laid the foundation of today’s armed forces,” he said.
Today is also a day to poignantly remember all the veterans who laid down their lives for the nation, the IAF chief said, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty”.
The IAF, the youngest of the Services, is only 91-years-old. And, as of December 31, 2023, “we have on record, 2,21,204 veterans,” he said.
The IAF chief shared that it has been a diligent effort to reach out to each and every veteran.
“I am aware there are teething issues, we are taking up these issues constantly with the service providers and the Controller General of Defence Accounts,” he said.
In his address, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari also shared some data regarding SPARSH and other initiatives. The System for Pension Administration (Raksha) or SPARSH is a web-based system for processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary.
“In the year gone by, 1.85 lakh legacy pensioners have been migrated onto SPARSH,” the IAF chief said.