Nirmala Sitharaman meets IAF Commanders, addresses bi-annual conference

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacting with IAF Commanders during a conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. The three-day-long IAF commanders conference is taking place amid an evolving regional security scenario and growing assertiveness by China in some parts of the Sino-India border.

In an address at the bi-annual conference of IAF commanders, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the powers given to the service chiefs should be "fully utilised" in achieving required capabilities of the forces.

Union Minister for Defence Nirmala Sitharaman interacts with the IAF Commanders during the inaugural session of Air Force Commanders’ Conference, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Also seen are MoS for Defence, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa.

Inaugurating the conference, Sitharaman said that the budgetary allocations "should not be viewed as a constraint and should be looked at to acquire what is absolutely necessary