indian defence
Who’s Who in Indian Defence
Pranab Mukherjee
President of India & Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces A man of unparalleled experience in governance with the rare distinction of having served at different times as Foreign, Defence, Commerce and Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee assumed office as the 13th President of India on July 25, 2012. After his post-graduation in history and political science, and a degree in law from the University of Calcutta, he embarked on his professional life as a college teacher and journalist. In 1969, he plunged into full-time public life following his election to the Upper House of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Mukherjee was elected to the Rajya Sabha five times and twice to the Lower House of the Parliament (Lok Sabha). He was a member of the Congress Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party, for 23 years. During the period 2004-12, Mukherjee was instru-
mental in spearheading critical decisions of the government on a range of issues such as administrative reforms, right to information, right to employment, food security, energy security, information technology and telecommunication, setting up of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Metro Rail Corporation, etc, through chairmanship of over 95 Groups of Ministers (GoMs) constituted for the purpose. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was instrumental in setting up the Regional Rural Banks (1975) and the EXIM Bank of India as well as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (1981-82). An eloquent orator and scholar, Mukherjee’s intellectual and political prowess as well as remarkable knowledge of international relations, financial affairs and parliamentary process are widely admired.
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India On October 2, 2014, Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary, the Prime Minister launched ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ a mass movement for cleanliness across the nation. His foreign policy initiatives have realised the true potential and role of world’s largest democracy, India, on the world stage. Born on September 17, 1950, in a small town in Gujarat, he grew up in a poor but loving family ‘without a spare rupee’. The initial hardships of life not only taught the value of hard work but also exposed him to the avoidable sufferings of the common people. This inspired him from a very young age to immerse himself in service of people and the nation. In the year 2001, he became the Chief Minister of his home state Gujarat and went on to serve a record four terms as Chief Minister. He transformed Gujarat into a growth engine that makes a strong contribution to India’s development. Narendra Modi is a ‘People’s Leader’, dedicated solving their problems and improving their well-being.
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On May 26, 2014, Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India, becoming the first ever Prime Minister to be born after India attained Independence. Dynamic, dedicated and determined, Narendra Modi reflects the aspiration and hope of over a billion Indians. Ever since he assumed office in May 2014, Prime Minister Modi has embarked on a journey of all-round and inclusive development where every Indian can realise her/his hopes and aspirations. He remains deeply inspired by the principle of ‘Antyodaya’, of serving the last person in the queue. He has launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana marking a paradigm shift in ensuring that every citizen is included in the financial system of the nation. His clarion call for ‘Make in India’ complimented by a focus on making business easy has stimulated unprecedented vigour and enterprise among investors and entrepreneurs. Labour reforms and dignity of labour under the ‘Shrameva Jayate’ initiative has empowered several workers of small and medium industries, also providing a boost to our skilled youth.
268 | SP's Military Yearbook | 2015-2016 | 43rd Issue
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