Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India]: Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Friday honored Major General Alok Raj (Retd) and Havildar Gurprem Singh (Retd) with the ‘Veterans Achievers Award’ during his visit to Jaipur Military Station.
During his visit, General Dwivedi interacted with a large number of veterans, acknowledging their service and urging them to continue contributing towards nation-building and the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’
Recognition for Republic Day 2025 Performers
Last week, General Dwivedi felicitated the Indian Army contingents and bands for their outstanding performances during Republic Day 2025 and the Beating Retreat Ceremony, the Indian Army said in a statement.
- Best Marching Contingent Award – Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
- Runner-up – Jat Regiment
- Best Military Band – Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre
- Runner-up – 14 Gorkha Training Centre
- Best Pipe Band – Madras Regimental Centre
- Runner-up – Sikh Regimental Centre
While interacting with the troops, General Dwivedi praised their dedication and encouraged them to strive for excellence.
To ensure a fair assessment, three expert panels of judges were constituted to evaluate the performances of Marching Contingents from Services, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), auxiliary forces, and tableaux from various States, UTs, and Central Government Ministries.
Boost to Indian Army’s Pinaka Rocket System
Meanwhile, last month, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a ₹10,000 crore project to procure ammunition for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems.
At his annual press conference on January 13, General Dwivedi had stated that the contract for Pinaka munitions was expected to be cleared soon. This includes:
- ₹5,700 crore for high-explosive ammunition
- ₹4,500 crore for area-denial munitions
This significant investment aims to bolster India’s defence capabilities and enhance the Indian Army’s firepower.