About the author

Lt Gen P R Shankar (Retd)

Lt Gen P R Shankar is a retired Director General of Artillery. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakvasala, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Army War College, Mhow, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterrey and National Defence College, New Delhi. He has held many important command, staff and instructional appointments in the Army. He has vast operational experience having served in all kinds of terrain and operational situations which has confronted the Indian Army in the past four decades.

Read More About: Lt Gen P R Shankar (Retd)

13 Comments

  1. Harimohan

    Excellent article sir straight from the heart. Wished your resume mentioned your long association with procurement and your success whatever the DPP version it may be

    Reply
  2. Gajjar

    Well penned…Excellent in depth understanding of this opague Def procurement process….We need to find positive solutions if we want our soldiers to benefit from good fighting equipment which enhances their efficiency. The Gen should reach out to the PM and MOD to suggest solutions to get this sloth moving at a faster pace in keeping with the ever changing battlefield environment..

    Reply
  3. Pradeep Roy

    The intent of your article is noble and the message is direct. Do write more on who should do what, how, from within, and without creating another defunct agency.
    Hope you can bring about a change in outlook and attitude.

    Reply
  4. Rajat Kumar

    A relevant and timely article. I hope it attracts the attention of the Defence Minister and PMO.

    Reply
  5. suhani

    The pitfalls of Army procurement can be corrected in one go if you understand this article. It is absolutely true and precise. Hopefully the author will continue educating us in subsequent articles and we will get a solution on How to succeed.

    Reply
  6. Chitta Rohini Kumar

    Very lucidly articulated and expressed.

    Reply
  7. Shailendra

    Never came across such a well intended & articulated article abt defense sector where author hit all the targets with laser precision . The article not only implies for defence establishment but also very helpful for other areas where PSUs casts their shadow ( exception is ISRO) . Keep writing sir !!

    Reply
  8. Surya

    Well written..Straight from heart. Would like to add– there are so many agencies(atleast they were there in 2008-09), even the GSQR cannot be finalised within a year.
    The Prize to indian industries could be specified keeping in mind cost of importing. We do it Food items– Procurement price..something on these lines. There is great that private sector not withstanding money. Initially may be it is costly but with time and competition, things shall fall in place.As far as, things stand Burecrats have No accountability and this needs major looking into. Nothing shall be done till these lot improves..

    Reply
  9. CRR Sastry

    A very well argued article presenting lucid thoughts. The article will be must read for every student in a staff course to get a birds eye view on the procurement process of equipment they need.

    Reply
  10. Murali Gopalakrishnan

    Organisation and coordination have been the bane of our country. While policies are framed in tune with the discovery of an issue, the support structure is never thought of. Add to it is the element of distrust. Wish such ideas are taken up with a sense of understanding and urgency. Nicely articulated thought Shankar.

    Reply
    1. Ajit

      Great eye opening article…well articulated with an extensive coverage of all stakeholders in the process. The divergence between each stakeholder is because each sees it from their perspective only. Till all agencies or stakeholders do not see it from the same angle, this divergence shall remain

      Reply
  11. chitta srinivas

    Clarity of thought and Brevity in articulation are your forte. Its amazingly arranged.

    Reply
  12. Sudarshan Shrikhande

    General Shankar, this is a remarkable article because the human dimension, including our capability for superb involvement or supreme indifference, great efficiency in some quarters,countered by equally debilitating inefficiency elsewhere all do mark some achievements and the more numerous missed goals. The human dimension, in the areas that you bring out, remains the key. In some paper written while in Service I had mentioned that even corruption does not lie in the processes and procedures but in the minds of men and so to devise any procedure, say like DPPs, to make corruption difficult is less likely than to give the space for people of integrity, drive and determination to function with greater constraints. The point you make about time as a vital dimension is so very important.
    Sudarshan Shrikhande

    Reply

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