IETE Governing Council

Dear All,
1. We are delighted to learn that certain members of IETE have sought the candidature of Lt Gen SP Kochhar, AVSM**, SM, VSM, ADC our SO-in-C for the election as member of IETE Governing Council 2012-15.
2. We are sanguine that all our esteemed members of IETE will whole heartedly support the election of SO-in-C to the IETE Governing Council.
Visit webpage: IETE
Governing Council 2011- 12
What is IETE?
The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE) is India's leading recognised professional society devoted to the advancement of Science and Technology of Electronics, Telecommunication & IT. Founded in 1953, it serves more than 70,000 members through various centres, whose number is 62, spread all over India and abroad. The Institution provides leadership in Scientific and Technical areas of direct importance to the national development and economy. Government of India has recognised IETE as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) and also notified as an educational Institution of national eminence. The objectives of IETE focus on advancing electro-technology. The IETE conducts and sponsors technical meetings, conferences, symposia, and exhibitions all over India, publishes technical journals and provides continuing education as well as career advancement opportunities to its members.

ISRO’s new `satellite’ called `scam band’

By R Shankar, India Syndicate, 08/02/2011
India’s premier space organisation is in the eye of a storm over allocation of S band to a pvt company

Bangalore-based Indian Space Research Organisation, that is busy planning to send another satellite to the moon and take a shot at Mars, is now caught in an orbit of a scam that is of astronomical proposition.

In a season that has made scams highly infectious, the `virus' of scandals orbiting huge chunks of money has touched India's premier research organisation, once considered to be sanitised from the influence of politics or purse.

The latest scam involves ISRO's deal with a Bangalore-based company called Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. This company got the scarce S-band spectrum for 20 years for a pittance. The company, not surprisingly, is owned by M G Chandrasekhar, a former scientific secretary at ISRO. Deutsche Telekom is a minority equity stakeholder.

ISRO managed to hide the agreement entered into by the space agency's commercial arm Antrix Corporation Ltd and Devas for six long years until the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) smelt a rat and called for the files. The media then scooped it out into public space, forcing ISRO and the Prime Minister's Office scramble for an explanation.

The estimated loss, according to The Hindu which exposed the deal, is a whopping Rs 2 lakh crore!! By comparison, the presumptive loss incurred in the allocation of 2G spectrum by the DoT, as estimated by the CAG, is Rs 1.76 lakh crore.
ISRO’s new `satellite’ called `scam band’

Corps of Signals- The “21st century arm of our forces"

Ministry of Defence 17-February, 2011 18:59 IST
Antony Asks Forces to gear up to Fight Cyber Wars
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has called upon the Armed Forces to be vigilant against emerging cyber threats. Addressing the centenary celebrations of the Corps of Signals here today, he called upon the forces to keep abreast of latest technologies. Terming the Corps of Signals as the “21st century arm of our forces”, Shri Antony said it has a major role in promoting inter-Service synergy and joint operations.

“The Corps is at the forefront of transforming the Indian Army to a network-centric force. It must continuously enhance its ability to absorb latest technologies in collaboration with the Industry and R&D establishment. The Corps has done commendable work, be it in fielding futuristic strategic defence communication networks, or development of state-of-the-art tactical communication systems. The contribution of the Corps in enhancing cyber security is worth a mention. However, the Corps needs to be ever vigilant, as cyber threats continue to multiply and intensify by the day,” Shri Antony said.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju said that besides being vital to the Armed Forces, Telecommunication and Cyber Infrastructure is a national and strategic asset as various other key sectors such as the Railways, Airlines, Banks and Industry depend on it. Shri Pallam Raju said that I&CT will be a key factor in reshaping the methodology of war fighting in the future.

“Any serious disruption can jeopardise our functioning including our responses to the war being raised by our adversaries. The ramification of cyber attacks launched by an unknown adversary or individual has necessitated a relook at the planning and security of Command and Control infrastructure at the highest levels of national governance,” Shri Pallam Raju said.

Underlining that the modern warfare has undergone a paradigm shift, the Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh said that the Corps of Signals has emerged as the proverbial “nervous system” of the Armed Forces in contemporary times.

“In all future wars, information superiority will be one of the key battle winning factors and future battlefield milieu would require communication system that are secure, responsive and reliable,” said General Singh. HH/NN (Release ID :69874)
Antony Asks Forces to gear up to Fight Cyber Wars

Definition: Nervous System
System of specialized cells (neurons, or nerve cells) that conduct stimuli from a sensory receptor through a neuron network to the site (e.g., a gland or muscle) where the response occurs. In humans, it consists of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the former consisting of the brain and spinal cord and the latter of the nerves, which carry impulses to and from the central nervous system. The cranial nerves handle head and neck sensory and motor activities, except the vagus nerve, which conducts signals to visceral organs. Each spinal nerve is attached to the spinal cord by a sensory and a motor root. These exit between the vertebrae and merge to form a large mixed nerve, which branches to supply a defined area of the body. Disorders include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chorea, epilepsy, myasthenia gravis, neural tube defect, parkinsonism, and poliomyelitis. Effects of disorders range from transient tics and minor personality changes to major personality disruptions, seizures, paralysis, and death.
Read more: Answer. com

Base Jump: Corps of Signals Centenary Celebrations

NEW DELHI: In a daring effort, Lt Col Satyendra Verma is India's first BASE jumper leaping off the 235-metre-tall Pitampura Tower here.
BASE jumping, considered one of the most dangerous adventure sports in the world, differs from the more popular sky-diving in that the former is made from a much lower altitude giving the jumper only a few seconds to deploy the parachute.
An expert
Col Verma is the captain of the Army Sports sky diving team and undertook the BASE jump as part of the centenary celebrations of the Indian Army's Corps of Signals. He has attempted more than 1,200 sky-diving jumps and is an expert in hand-gliding, para-gliding, hot-air ballooning, sky-diving and BASE jumping.
He has participated in World Military Parachuting Championships in Russia and Switzerland. Backed by his massive sky-diving experience which is considered a pre-requisite, Col. Verma trained in Malaysia and the US before venturing on his first BASE jump. He has earlier performed BASE jumps from K L Tower in Kuala Lumpur and Perrine Bridge in the US.
Elated by his success, a proud Col. Verma said he hoped his effort would make sky-diving and BASE jumping more popular in India. “I have done many such jumps outside India but this one being the first in our country makes it truly special,” he gushed. “My attempt reiterates the famed daredevilry of the Army and the Corps of Signals. I hope this invites the attention of youth seeking adventure and inspires them to join the armed forces.”
Corps of Signals, known as the “nerves” of the Indian Army, shoulders the responsibility for providing to the Indian Army peace-time static and combat communication.
Besides providing conventional communication, the Corps is also responsible for IT-related activities including networking, automated message switching and handling system and installation of state-of-the-art exchanges with latest interactive voice response systems.
The Hindu: Armyman dares country's first BASE jump

Qualcomm: The Future is an Internet of Everything

Paul Jacobs, Chairman and CEO, Qualcomm
Qualcomm based in San Diego California invented CDMA Technology. They proved the technology in New Delhi in collaboration with BSNL. The Company Celebrates 25 years of existence.

The Future is an Internet of Everything
Wireless has become the largest technology platform in human history and Qualcomm is the world leader in the development of the underlying technologies that enable next-generation mobile devices and experiences. As it celebrates its 25th anniversary, San Diego-based Qualcomm continues to drive the evolution of wireless worldwide and accelerate mobile growth and progress by pioneering exciting new solutions that are redefining what is possible in mobile.

This session highlights Qualcomm's vision for an "Internet of Everything" and what the Company is doing now to make vision of a totally connected world possible. Among the topics and trends expected to be covered are augmented reality, mobile social networking and recommendations, opportunities in emerging markets, wireless health, Qualcomm's breakthrough screen display technology, advanced network topology and of course, next-generation wireless air interfaces.

Milestones
A Qualcomm Quarter-Century By Joseph Perkins1985: Qualcomm founded in the den of former UCSD professor Irwin Jacobs’ La Jolla home.
1986: Files for a patent on using code division multiple access (CDMA) for mobile communications.
1987: Qualcomm records $6.5 million in revenue and $208,000 in net income for first full year.
1988: Introduces first commercial product, OmniTRACS, a satellite tracking system used by long-haul trucking companies.
1989: Brings some 250 cell phone executives to San Diego to demonstrate its CDMA technology, which allows 10 times more calls in the same amount of radio spectrum as a competing cellular technology.
1991: IPO raises $73.6 million. Trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol QCOM.
1993: CDMA is adopted by the Telecommunications Industry Association as a North American digital standard for cell phones.
1997: Pays $18 million to rename the San Diego Chargers' home to Qualcomm Stadium.
1998: Spins off Leap Wireless, today the nation’s seventh largest wireless carrier, on the strength of its subsidiary, Cricket Wireless.
1999: Joins the exalted ranks of both the Fortune 500 and S&P 500.
1999: Stock price increases an exponential 2,619 percent in a 12-month period, as several dozen local investors become “Quillionaires.”
2004: Creates MediaFLO division, which uses Qualcomm technology to transmit video and data to mobile devices, enabling users to watch live television on their cell phones.
2005: Irwin Jacobs retires as CEO, succeeded by Paul Jacobs, his third son.
2005: Becomes the world’s largest mobile chipset provider.
2010: San Diego’s largest company celebrates its 25th anniversary, with more than 16,000 employees worldwide and market capitalization of $60 billion.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Qualcomm
•Qualcomm stands for Quality Communications.
•Chairman and CEO Paul Jacobs boasts more patents than his father, founder Irwin Jacobs.
•Famed actress Hedy Lamarr was co-inventor of the technology that led to Qualcomm’s commercial development of CDMA, the nation’s cellular communications standard.
•Qualcomm’s first office was in a humble La Jolla strip mall, above a dry cleaner and pizza parlor, in Holiday Court off La Jolla Village Drive.
•Hal and Jeff Jacobs, second and fourth sons of founder Irwin, are members of the Pelican Group, a San Diego production company that helped bankroll the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys
A Qualcomm Quarter-Century
More about Qualcomm- Click here

Photographs for Corps History

Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
Volume II of the Corps History covering the period 1947-72 has been completed. The only thing we lack is photographs. I request veterans to kndly help. I am sure there must be many who have personal albums. The photos can be scanned and sent to us by e mail. Alternately, they can be delivered to the Corps History Cell, in Signals Enclave, They will be returned after scanning.
We need photos of the following:

J&K ops in 1947-48

Sino-Indian conflict, 1962.

Bangladesh ops, 1971.

Training activity in MCTE, STC and units.
I would be grateful if this can be circulated. This will probably be the last appeal for help with the Corps History.
Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)
Corps of Signals History Cell

Indira Gandhi International Airport: Integrated Gate 3 an engineering marvel

Terminal 3
The state-of-the-art integrated terminal, called T3, of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi is poised to be the world’s third-largest, after Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Beijing in China, in terms of size. Once T3 starts operations in July 2010, IGIA will become the world’s sixth-largest in terms of capacity. T3 would increase the capacity of IGIA to 60 million passengers annually, from 23 million after it starts commercial operation in July 2010.

Designed by HOK working in consultation with Mott MacDonald, the new Terminal 3 will be a two-tier building, with the bottom floor being the arrivals area, and the top being a departures area. This terminal will have 168 check-in counters, 74 aerobridges, 30 parking bays, 72 immigration counters, 15 X-ray screening areas, for less waiting times, duty-free shops, and other features. Over 90% of passengers will use this terminal when completed. This new terminal has been completed in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are to be held in Delhi, and will be connected to Delhi by an eight-lane motorway (National Highway 8), and the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System. Terminal 3 will cater to 34 million passengers a year.

Specifications

1 million trees planted in and around T3

aluminium cladding covering 80,000 sq m

will feature 74 aerobridges, 30 remote parking bays for passenger movement to and from the aircraft and 78 boarding bridges. Six of the aerobridges will be compatible with the A380.

five level in-line baggage handling system and 160 check-in counters as well as 70 desks for immigration. Siemens Mobility has won the contract to supply the baggage handling system, which can handle more than 11,300 pieces of baggage per hour.

two levels with departures on the upper floor and arrivals on the lower. Passengers that have checked-in will pass over a bridge to the airside and will be able to look down to the arrivals floor from the bridge

have extensive shopping areas (Alpha has the duty free contract), with many restaurants and bars and executive lounges to relax in. There will also be a business centre with state-of-the-art IT and communications equipment for the business traveller

covered parking for 4000 motor vehicles

cost Rs 9,000 cores and project completion in 37 months

The new T3 will become operational from July 3, 2010 after which all international airlines and India's full cost carriers Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines will start their operations from the terminal in a phased manner. Members of the Oneworld alliance will also operate from this terminal as a result of Kingfisher Airline's entry into the alliance.

Terminal 3 will form the first phase of the airport expansion in which a 'U' horseshoe shaped building will be developed in a modular manner. In 2010, all international and full service domestic carriers will operate from Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 will be dedicated to low cost operations. In subsequent stages, the low cost carriers will also move to the new terminal complex.
Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi, India

A Soldier's Journey: Book Review

“A Soldier’s Journey through Life with Two Wives” by Brigadier Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd) (NOIDA : BLS Publishers, 2009) pp..306, Rs. 450, ISBN 978-81-901855-1-6.
BOOK REVIEW by Major O A Pereira (Retd)
This is a largely factual story, mostly autobiographical, written in the author’s endearingly open, honest and frank style. He comes across as a superb – and fearless – raconteur!
While the book could have done with some serious proof-reading and grammatical reconstruction, nothing can detract from the fact that the story itself emanates straight from the heart and is laid out without any undue camouflage or prevarication! It is a gripping account of a soldier’s life, in peacetime and in war – a very touching story indeed!
It depicts, vividly, the searing tensions that invariably exist between soldiers and their families due the prolonged periods of separation, brought on by the operational demands of the Army. While it is set in the Indian context, it could well apply to any country with long and difficult borders to defend.
The author has a uniquely special flair for bringing to life, as it were, the situations he describes. From the very outset, the reader is drawn into the story, experiencing all the emotions the author feels as he lays bare his soul! He does this not only with regard to his professional experiences but also with his personal feelings for the wife to whom he was so devoted – and to whom his devotion remains undimmed, a full decade after she had succumbed to cancer!
One’s heart goes out to him as he struggles to live with and reconcile the impossibly divided loyalties with which he has to contend right through his life. This book would be a thrilling revelation to those in civilian life who have not had any contact with personnel in the Armed Forces.
I commend this book to readers of all categories, whether in the Forces or elsewhere, in service or retired, young or old, male or female – it is indeed a very captivating story! It will move you to tears – as it did in my case!
Major O A Pereira (Retd)
20th June 2010

2G Spectrum Scam: License for Corruption

Yechury draws PM into 2G scam
Mail Today Bureau New Delhi, June 2, 2010
The telecom scam heat threatens to scald Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after he indirectly defended the actions of controversial minister A. Raja in the sale of 2G spectrum.

Days after the PM's press conference, where he said Raja had acted according to the guidelines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury raised the issue.

"If the PM gives Raja a clean chit, he has to answer the questions raised by us on the scam. The PM's premium is his value based politics, so if he wants value as his premium, he has to act against Raja." Releasing an audit report by the post and telecommunications audit office dated March 31, 2010, Yechury said the document supplemented the growing evidence against Raja.

Yechury also released an open letter, his third, to the PM outlining the case against Raja. Anticipating Raja's mentor, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi's stand that he was being targeted as he was a Dalit, Yechury said: "We are targeting Raja as the minister for telecommunications. Caste, community are totally unrelated."
2G License for Corruption
Read more:2G SPECTRUM SCAM. PM-Sonia, sack Raja, recover loss of Rs. 1.9 lakh crores

Moderator comment
Draining the nation of Rs 1.9 crores for personal and corrupt purposes is unpardonable by the citizens of the Nation. The predator needs to be apprehended before the Nation is sold out to criminals. It is the poor who have been cheated by the rich and the mighty! Is the Nation incapable of tracking the footprints of the illegal money trail?

National Security: Expat Pilots

23/05/2010
AI crash: Focus back on expat pilots
Mangalore: The crash of the Air India Express plane piloted by a Serbian national on Saturday has put the focus back on whether foreign pilots with various Indian air carriers are able to operate in a country with a diverse topography.
There are around 560 expat pilots currently employed with various airlines in India and they account for 10 per cent of the total strength of 5,500 civilian pilots.

Air India Express, the low-cost arm of the national carrier, has 125 expat pilots and they reportedly face a number of problems while operating a flight in the country when they are in the cockpit. In all, Air India has 250 expat pilots.

"Expat pilots should be removed because they are not familiar with the diverse topography in India," a retired Indian Airlines pilot, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The common problems that expat pilots face are related to communication and lack of knowledge of topography of Indian terrain, a senior pilot association official said. According to ATC sources, air traffic controllers find it hard to communicate with expat pilots.

"Many a times, foreign pilots are unable to follow the instructions because of the difference in our accent. Also we find it hard to understand what an expat pilot is saying in his hard accent," an ATC source said.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association of erstwhile Indian Airlines has been often demanding that expat pilots must be asked to go home as there is no shortage of pilots in the country.

"We have been asking the DGCA for their removal and induction of Indian pilots. But every time, the deadline for their removal is extended due to some pressure of the airline companies," an ICA official said.

The government recently extended the time-frame for phasing out foreign pilots employed by Indian carriers by one year up to July 31, 2011. The move came in the wake of demands by Air India and other airlines that the time be extended beyond July 31, 2010.

The existing policy for validation of foreign (pilots) licences is valid up to July 31, 2010. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had requested airline operators to submit their plan for phasing out expatriate pilots along with net requirement of these pilots beyond that date, according to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Patel said that since 2008, the number of foreign pilots has come down considerably and gradually Indian pilots, who have mostly been co-pilots, would soon be elevated to the status of commanding pilots.

Overseas pilots were allowed to fly Indian aircraft initially as during 2004-05, there was stagnation in the aviation sector.

However, after the sector started looking up, in order to maintain the momentum, foreign pilots continued to be inducted. The DGCA has started a programme for phased reduction of the expat pilots.

According to Patel, Indian pilots are capable of flying under any condition and their training and qualification can be compared to the best in the world.
AI crash: Focus back on expat pilots

National Air Space Security Threat
Does the MHA give security clearance for the expat pilots before being employed by the Indian Air Carriers? Employing 500 expat pilots without proper int background check will prove disastrous in the long run. The complete air space of India can be compromised or jeopardised. Why are our Intelligence Agencies not objecting to deployment of expat pilots in our skies? The Military Intelligence in coordination with Air force authorities need to actively engage in detecting security lapses from this angle. There is a need to keep a tab and be extra vigilant. Past experience indicates that spies, terrorists and Hawala operators take advantage of the Recruitment Agencies whose only mission is to make huge commissions. Moderator

Jairam Ramesh and the assassin's mace

This write up deals with Cyber/ Electronic Warfare. It will be of great interest to Signal Officers

Bhaskar Roy | 2010-05-13 20:17:36
What Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in Beijing on the evening of May 8 must alarm India's security establishment.

For no apparent reason, Ramesh told a group of journalists that the policies of the Home and Defence Ministries, and other Indian security agencies towards China were "overly defensive", "alarmist" and "paranoid", and could freeze relations between the two countries.

Jairam Ramesh was talking about unverified reports that the Chinese telecommunication company Huawei technologies was being blocked from expanding its business because of India's Home Ministry and other security agencies. Ramesh came across as acting as an advocate of China or its telecommunication company.

Ramesh offers to resign, PM turns it down
China's telecommunication and informatization warfare is known as the "Assassin's Mace" weapon. This is an ancient warfare tactic, where an agent is embedded in an adversary's nerve center, to act on remote-controlled signal.

The US had done this through export of electronically controlled oil pipeline control systems in Russia. They also used the tactic during the first Iraq war, and neutralized Saddam Hussein's electronic and computer command-and-communications equipment, supplied earlier by US companies.

More by Bhaskar Roy
The same thing can be done with electronically-operated port and airport facilities, including waterworks. This does not mean India has to close everything to foreign participation. But decisions must be taken on companies and countries that have suspect track records.

The other question that raises red flags is why China is so insistent on access to India's telecommunication sector, ports and airports, and projects along the borders.

The Chinese have sophisticated ways of finding out the weaknesses of foreign interlocutors, and using these to influence them. Their methods include using women, wining and dining, paying attention to the interlocutor's frustrations and pampering his or her ego. "You are the greatest and you are our friend, and you can do it for both of us", is a popular line.
Jairam Ramesh needs to study China's strategy of deception. Thanks to his gaffe, India has been severely harmed.

Bhaskar Roy, who retired recently as a senior government official with decades of national and international experience, is an expert on international relations and Indian strategic interests.

Read the full article:
Jairam Ramesh and the assassin's mace

Related article
US Army Reorganizes Training for Intelligence Units

Corps of Signals celebrate centenary

Rajeev Khanna Tribune News Service Nainital, April 18
As the sun set in the mountains amid fast blowing winds on Saturday evening, the Central Support Signal Unit’s sport complex came alive with an exhilarating performance by the No. 1 Pipes and Drums Band of the Corps of Signals. The performance was part of the centenary celebrations of the corps coming into existence.

The band came up with one melodious tune after the other in perfect synchronisation. The ambiance of the mountains all around added to the charm of the event in which Army officers, jawans, their families and several civilian dignitaries had their appetite for good music satiated.

The performance began with all-time popular military tunes and the bagpipers and the drummers went on to play several popular tunes from Bollywood drawing a thunderous applause every time. The performers were led by Naib Subedar SA Kumbhar.

The No.1 Band of the corps has an interesting history. It was in 1918 when eight buglers from Corps of Sappers and Miners were selected to form the band.

Since some of the buglers could play pipes, they were used for playing the instrument from 1921 to 1926.

The band was originally known as Shehnai Band. It was formally set up in 1927, but the establishment effectively came into being only in 1940.
Corps of Signals celebrate centenary

Dantewada Massacre: Remedial measures to mute Maoists

Dear Sir,
I am enclosing an article on 'Dantewada Massacre: What next'. I have tried to analyse what is wrong with the CRPF`s training, equipment and leadership. As well as what the state and Union Govt must to resolve the Maoist menace, to the extent of setting up a commission to resolve the above issues, providing free food to the tribals till they have the purchasing power to buy food. Finally, establishing an unified command to conduct the fight against the Maoist.
Lt Gen Kamaljit Singh (Retd)

Dantewade Massacre: What Next
The CRPF massacre in Dantewade in Chhatisgarh cannot be attributed to the Union Home Minister, he must stay as he is doing good job as Home minister, with out doubt. The fault lies with the successive State Govts who have totally neglected the tribal areas, sans development. Allowing the outsiders and the state administration to milk the simple tribal people and providing no semblance of governance and development. Poverty of the area is shocking, no civilized society can condone the state of the tribals/locals. Now,that we have to deal with the Maoist threat as a National threat, which has been created due to lack of development and maladministration by the State Govts. The additional reason being, that the Maoists having established themselves in the tribal and in accessible areas now have a pipe dream to take control of the country, which of course is far fetched and will not succeed. The Maoist are getting both arms and financial support from foreign countries and our neighbours.
With this background, both the Central and State Govts of all the effected states will have to proceed to work out their strategy. Which could be based on the basic premise of gaining control of the areas in a deliberate manner, while building up a strong intelligence network, which is the sin qua non for effective counter insurgency operations. The danger of initially spreading all forces too thinly in the entire area must be guarded against. while regaining administrative control and development in the area by constructing schools , hospitals and roads in a deliberate manner. A caring administration will certainly gain the confidence of the locals. The tribals must perceive tangible improvement in their lives, with the implementation of the various govt schemes for employment ( NREGA), National Rural Health Mission for Health and provision of free food for a year or two, till (NREGA) is properly implemented in the area. So that people are in position to pay for the subsidized food under the BPL scheme . This may seem to be weird, but is the way out, as the tribals do not have the buying capacity. This is the minimum price that the country will have to pay to eliminate the Maoist threat, after long years of total neglect.

While all this is going on to win the heart and minds of the locals and the tribals. The state police and CRPF must create an effective intelligence step up to gain information of the Maoists, which is vital for Conduct of operations to eliminate the Maoist from amongst the people and in of the area. Having broadly analysed the methodology to fight the Maoists. The question arises, are the Govt forces namely the local police and the CRPF suitable for the task required of them?. This in my opinion is where the main problem lies with the CRPF. The top leadership of the CRPF has basically being drawn from the IPS with it`s police ethos. Being a paramilitary force, it has been used for election duties, road protection, dealing with communal violence and protection of installations etc. It has never been a fighting force like the Army. The subordinate leadership is trained as a police force to help the state police force, when requested by the State Govt from the Union Govt.

The leadership of the CRPF does not lead from the front, which is an essential requirement for counter-insurgency operations (CI ops). This ethos will have to be developed as most operation are at company or platoon level (ie small groups). The second short coming is in the training of the force, it should have undergone jungle warfare and counter insurgency operations (CI Ops) training as a sub- unit and unit level. The man who is going to lead his men into action must be trained with them and lead them in operations. A short training in counter insurgency by CRPF or the Army will Not fully qualify them to carry out the task, it takes time to train raw units to conduct CI Ops. The third shortcoming, is units must be adequately equipped by way of proper small arms, radio set, light transport, bullet proof vests and night vision devices to give greater mobility and quick reaction capability to reinforce forces in contact with the Maoists. Contact once established. It must lead to elimination of the Maoist. It is therefore essential to have a radio network. This will allow all units and subunits to remain in communication and know what is happening in the area, so as to take immediate action to prevent the Maoist from slipping away in a relentless battle or chase. This method proved most effective in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir counter Insurgency operations. The fourth short is coming, is by way of administration of the CRPF. The CRPF units are responsible for their own administration, in that the Commanding officer has to make all arrangement for the accommodation, rations, water and fuel, as well as there defence stores for setting up defended camps. There is no system of the superior headquarter being responsible for supply of these items including ammunition. This difficulty will get accentuated in the underdeveloped area, where the Maoist threat exist, as there are no facilities or commodities available for their requirements. There would be possibly more issues that need to be resolved before the CRPF will be able to take on the Maoist. It would be in National interest, if a commission consisting of an Army, CRPF, Rashtra Rifles(RR), Counter Insurgency Warfare School and state police representatives of the minimum rank of Maj Gen and equivalent are tasked to recommend, what all needs to be done to make the CRPF capable of taking on the task of defeating the Maoist. There is bound to cause consternation and rejection of the idea, but the Home Minister must view this dispassionately of the CRPF learning from good practices.

All over the world, multinationals and smaller companies are always on the lookout to emulate good practices of successful companies to improve their performance. Why can`t the CRPF learn from the Indian Army and RR success model to fight insurgency, when other countries armies are learning from us. The Home Minister and his Ministry must not see this as a turf war, but a necessity to rid the country of the Maoist menace. At the National Level or the strategic level, the Union Govt will have to impress on the State Govts, that the creation of an unified command for intelligence gathering and operations is a vital necessity, if the country has to eliminate the Maoist. As it is, the writ of the State Govts does not run in the 80 districts of the various states, where the Maoist rules the roost. They are therefore not really surrendering any real authority of the state. All that is required is that the intelligence gathering and anti-Maoist operations in these 80 districts be conducted under the Unified Command Authority. Should it come to the crunch issue, the Army will bail out the countries chestnuts out of the Maoist fire as a last resort. All agree that the Maoist have to be eliminated and have given their considered views. However, it is the mindset, training, equipment and small details and deficiencies at the unit level of the CRPF which need to be resolved, so as to create the capability of the CRPF to eventually eliminate the Maoists in due course, but this may not be possible as quickly as we would like them to achieve it. The CRPF has to be rejuvenated to carry out the task that the national policy envisages for it, that is the responsibility of internal policing of the country with State Police Force, including counter insurgency operations. While, the BSF guards the frontiers of the country, and the Armed Forces are responsible to defend the country from external aggression.
Lt Gen Kamaljit Singh (Retd)

Corps of Signals Centenary Celebrations Chandigarh

A motorcycle rider shows his skills during the centenary celebrations at Chandi Mandir on Sunday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Corps of Signals: Martial arts, skydiving mark centenary celebrations
Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, April 11, 2010

As part of the ongoing celebrations to mark 100 years of the Corps of Signals, a thrilling display by skydivers, martial arts experts and motorcycle riders was organised at Chandi Mandir near here today.

The show was kicked off by kalariyapattu, an ancient martial art. The eight-member team led by Hav KP Dhanesh performed with daggers, swords and sticks. This was followed by a display of taekwondo skills by a team led by Hav Arup Shaikhiya.

Next to come in was the silent drill team, the first of its kind in the Army. Based on the silent drill teams in the US military, the team executed synchronised and coordinated moves with weapons but without any word of command or accompanying music.

Commanded by Sub AC Gogoi, the 20-member team gave its first performance at Delhi in February this year.

Paratroopers from the Army’s skydiving team stole the show. Six of them led by Lt Col Satyendra Verma jumped from two Chetak helicopters hovering at an altitude of 10,000 feet and touched down with a precision at the designated landing point after opening their parachutes at 3,000 feet.

Dare devils of the Corps motorcycle rider display team put up a scintillating performance with their high-speed precision maneuovers and formations. Led by Capt Rahul Saini, their display included a group as well as individual stunts like jumping through a ring of fire and smashing through glass barriers.

The Corps regimental pipes and drums band was also in attendance. A large number of serving as well as retired military personnel and their families attended the event.

A series of events, including public displays and technical seminars, have been planned throughout the year at various locations across the country to mark the Signals’ centenary. The Corps was raised on February 15, 1911, with the formation of 31st and 32nd Divisional Signals Companies at Fatehgarh. Also known as information warriors of the Army, the Corps of Signals is responsible for secure and reliable communication at the tactical and strategic level.
Corps of Signals: Martial arts, skydiving mark centenary celebrations

Indian Express Report
Acrobats on speeding motorcycles to sky jumps from 10,000 feet above the ground, martial art presentations to a one-of-a-kind silent drill, it wasn’t for no reason that Chandimandir’s enormous Raina stadium was bursting at its seams this Sunday afternoon. The display by various Corps of Signals teams was organised as part of the ongoing centenary celebrations of the Corps being held across the country.

The first signal units, 31st and 32nd Divisional Signal Companies, were raised on February 15, 1911 at Fatehgarh and this year the Corps of Signals has entered 100 years of its journey, achieving significant milestones in fields of strategic, tactical and operational communications. Putting forth an enthralling display of daredevilry and team spirit were various groups comprising both officers and men.

The special showcase kicked off with presentations on martial arts such as Kalariyapattu, where an eight-member team performed battle acts using daggers, swords, spears and flexible swords. That was followed by a Taekwondo display that saw the Signals team break burning tiles and the like.

What truly got the massive crowd applauding, However, was the sky diving event. A team of six sky divers, led by Lt Col Satyendra Verma, jumped from a height of 10,000 ft from two hovering Chetak helicopters. Keeping pace with the high-adrenaline action was a 30-minute show by the motorcycle riders, more popularly known as the dare devils.

The team consists of volunteer Dispatch Riders (DR) and on Sunday afternoon, the 31-member team showcased acrobats as well as tricks and stunts all astride their thundering motorcycles. Captain Rahul Saini led the dare devils as they displayed high levels of precision and timing during the course of the event. Another highlight of the well-attended show was the silent drill. Formed in the Corps of Signals, the team is first of its kind in the Indian Army. The main attraction was that it was performed with perfect coordination and synchronisation, but without any word of command.

Given the boisterous nature of the Army drills, where commands by the leader can be heard from far away, the silent drill took most by surprise. The event was attended Lt Gen S R Ghosh, AVSM, SM, GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt Gen MS Bhuttar, VSM, Chief of Staff, Western Command, Maj Gen TK Das, VSM as well as senior serving and retired officers with their families.
Corps of Signals celebrate centenary anniversary at Chandimandir

The largest military solar power center in Nevada

The US Federal Government has built the largest solar power center yet in the Air Force base in Nevada. The Nellis Air Force houses 140 acres of solar panels. The Nevada solar power plant beats out Serpa Power Plant in Portugal, which previously held the record as the largest solar farm in the world. Portugal's power plant can generate 11 megawatt of power a day while Nevada boasts of 14.2MW.

However, Nevada's solar farm powers only 25% of the camp. Nonetheless, this is already a great feat considering that the camp would save as much as $83,000.00 for a fully-commissioned solar farm.

The flexible solar panels in tactical missions
The Solar energy and military relationship is not limited to powering up bases; it is eyed as the power source that the troops can use during tactical missions.

In today's world wherein the best army or naval troops are those who have the latest gadgets in tow, the biggest problem that should be solved is how the troops (who are in mission) could power their telecommunication and tactical gadgets without carrying bagfuls of batteries.

Today, with the advent of flexible solar panels, the US Military uses tents with flexible solar panels that power all the sophisticated equipment under the solar tent. Their troops, on the other hand carry a universal solar recharger connected to flexible solar cells to power up some of their carried equipment.
The largest military solar power center in Nevada

Indian Naval Officer is Padma Bhushan Awardee 2010

Congratulations to Prof A. J Paulraj
Brief Bio
PhD Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, 1973
BE Naval college Engineering, Lonavala, 1966
Montfort, AI High School, Yercaud, 1957- 1960
Cmde AJ Paulraj Arogyaswami (Retd) is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University since 1993. His group has developed many key fundamentals of a new field called space-time communications theory and has helped shape a worldwide research and development focus on this technology.
Paulraj's career in India included development of military sonar systems (1971-82), massively parallel computers (1987-91), and the founding three national level laboratories -- Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Center for Advanced Computing, and Central Research Laboratories (1986-91). He has received over a dozen national awards in India for his contributions and is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering.
Paulraj moved to Stanford University in 1992, and his interests has since focused on space-time wireless communications. He is the author of over 320 research papers and holds thirty US patents in wireless. He has authored two books in wireless.
In 1999, Paulraj founded Iospan Wireless Inc., which pioneered MIMOOFDMA fixed wireless technology and developed chip sets for fixed wireless systems. Iospan was acquired by Intel Corporation in 2002. In 2004, Paulraj co-founded Beceem Communications, Inc. to develop base band and RF chips sets for WIMAX 802.16e standard. The company has emerged as the leading supplier of Mobile WIMAX chip sets worldwide.
Paulraj is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering where he was elected for his pioneering leadership in MIMO wireless. He received the IEEE Technical Achievement Award in 2003 and several best paper awards from the IEEE and is a Fellow of the IEEE. He was recently acclaimed as the “father of WIMAX” by Business Week.
Paulraj currently serves on Board of Directors for 3 wireless companies and on several advisory boards of companies, universities and foundations.

Padma Bhushan Authority:
34. Prof. Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj Science and Engineering USA
link: Padma Bhushan Awardees 2010
The Indigenous Panoramic Sonar APSOH: Indian Navy

Corps of Signals: Group Photographs 1948-1949

Photographs kind courtesy Col Rangaraj Jairam (Retd)
Sitting L to R: Maj Gen Thakur Nathu Singh, Lt Gen Maharaj Shiri Rajendra Sinhji, DSO, IA. Lt Col Kamta Prasad, MC
Standing L to R: Maj Rattan Singh, MILO, Maj R Singh Rai, Maj T...
Sitting L to R: Maj Gen Thakur Nathu Singh, Lt Gen KM Cariappa OBE, Lt Col Kampta Prasad MC
Standing L to R(2nd Row): Maj Rattan Singh, Maj TW King, Maj HL Bhatia MC
Standing L to R(3rd Row): Capt Mohinder Singh, Lt H Lal, Lt TN Rangaraj, Capt Harnam Singh
Sitting L to R: Lt Col DC Saker, Brig AC Iyappa MBE, Maj SN Atal
Standing L to R: 2/Lt Satish Chandra, Lt RA Bhola, Lt KL Suri
L to R: Lt Col AC Misra, Maj Gen Hiralal Atal, Lt Gen Thakur Nathu Singh

Why should MoD Surrender Frequency Spectrum to Anti- Nationalist Scammers?

Spectrum on Sale to Scammers
22 oct 2009 New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation Thursday conducted searches in the offices of the telecom ministry to probe the alleged "criminal conspiracy" between some officials and private companies in giving wireless radio spectrum to telecommunication firms.

"It has been alleged that there had been serious irregularities in the award of Unified Excess Services Licences to private companies," a CBI spokesperson said.

"As per information received, there was a criminal conspiracy between certain officials of Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and private persons/companies and others to award licences to these companies," the spokesperson said.

He said the officials had put a cap on the number of applicants against recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and "awarded licences to private companies on first come first serve basis on the rates of 2001 without any competitive bidding".

Telecom firms in India offering second-generation (2G) mobile services get some spectrum to start with after they take a telecom licence. Subsequent allocation is done in slabs linked to the firm's subscriber numbers.

The agency registered a case Wednesday against unknown telecom officials and private companies.

Searches were conducted by the CBI in the Wireless Planning Cell (WPC) and in the office of deputy director general (access services), Sanchar Bhawan, Ashoka Road in the capital.

Source: Indo-Asian News Service
CBI probes irregularities in spectrum distribution

Military Frequency Spectrum being Auctioned
Allotting Defence Frequency Spectrum for 2G and 3G Services is likely to adversely affect Armed Forces Mobile Digital Communications in future wars/ skirmishes. WPC is an agency mostly headed by bureaucrats who see a big picture in getting cuts to be credited in Secret Swiss Banks by auctioning off the Frequency Spectrum to Telecom Operators and generally the successful bidders are the culprits who have succeeded surreptitiously in greasing the palms of Bureaucrats.

Report My Signal

Dear Members of the RMS forum,
My email server is temporarily out of order for last 15 hours or so. Therefore, I cannot send out usual RMS emails and will resume on restoration of the server.
Regards,
Chander Kamboj

Corps of Signals "Silver Stride" Motor Cycle Expedition Scales 18632 Feet Himalayan Pass

ARMY MOTOR CYCLE EXPEDITION BY SILVER KNIGHTS ON THE OCASSION OF SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF 21 SIGNAL GROUP
New Delhi, July 28th 2009
On the auspicious occasion of silver jubilee of 21 Signal Group, an adventurous motorcycle expedition covering a total distance of 4047 Kilometers is being conducted from 28 Jul to 12 Aug 2009. “Silver Stride”, the motor cycle expedition team of 21 Signal Group is a challenging stride towards developing leadership qualities and fostering a spirit of adventure among all ranks of the Group. The motor cycle expedition which was flagged off by Lt Gen P Mohapatra, AVSM, Signal Officer in Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant Corps of Signals on 28 Jul 2009 at India Gate Lawns, New Delhi. The adventure activity encompasses the perils of biking through tough and challenging desert and mountainous terrains of the Indian subcontinent. The route comprises of desert terrain of 940 kilometers and mountainous terrain of 1310 kilometers covering eight states. The motor cycle expedition involves crossing of nearly ten high altitude passes- Rohtang (13,360 feet), Baralacha-La(16040 feet), Nakee-La (15,547 feet), Lachung-La(16616 feet), Tanglang-La (17,582 feet), Chang-La (17,800 feet), Marsimik-La(18632 feet) Polokhang-La, Jalori Pass and Khardung-La (18,380 feet) which is the highest motorable road of the world and will be negotiated via Kullu, Manali and Leh axis. The aim of this expedition is to promote the spirit of adventure and to spread the theme of national integration, peace, harmony and create awareness amongst the youth about the Indian Army.

The team consists of participation from Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other ranks to demonstrate the seamless established fact of supreme team work and leadership under constrained conditions. The mega event was eye witnessed by a number of retired and serving distinguished Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other ranks of defence forces, MD of sponsors and media persons.

The expedition encompasses the locations of historic presence of the group to mark the silver jubilee celebration on one hand while on the other would expose the motorcyclists to the challenging and adventurous terrain of mountains and deserts developing their stress skills, leadership and team spirit. The expedition was sponsored by M/S Hero Honda, M/S Bharat Electronics Limited, M/S Shepherd Realms and Miracle Enterprises. The SO-in-C, in his speech during the flag off ceremony lauded the achievement of the group for being one of the most elite units of the Indian Army and Corps of Signals.

Silver Knights en-route would meet ex servicemen and interact with locals to foster a spirit of pride for the Indian Army and would motivate the youth of the places they visit to join the elite Indian Army.
Lt Col S Khanna
21 Sig Gp
Media Reports
ARMY MOTOR CYCLE EXPEDITION BY SILVER KNIGHTS ON THE OCASSION OF SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF 21 SIGNAL GROUP
Motorcycle expedition by Silver Knights of 21 Signal Army Group kicks off from New Delhi
Joint Doctrine for Amphibious Operations released today


Ready for futuristic communication challenges