New Delhi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the MoU signed between Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and Indian Air Force will help in creating an efficient logistics system for armed forces. He said that this MoU will also fulfil the aim of making India “aatmnirbhar” in the defence sector.
Indian Army and Indian Air Force signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, in the presence of the Raksha Mantri and Railways Minister, to enhance the skills of personnel in logistics operations.
The MoU will enable the two services to acquire higher expertise on logistics. It will ensure development of in-house expertise on various facets of logistics operations and contribute effectively towards the national development plans – PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and National Logistics Policy 2022.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Today is an important day for all of us as we are witnessing the MoU that is being signed between Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Indian Air Force. I believe that for defence sector this is important in so many ways. Our armed forces and logistics experts will work together after this MoU signing. Logistics is not just a support function nowadays, rather it’s an important factor of military operation and national security. An efficient logistic system will quickly mobilise armed forces and also help in transporting the resources to the correct place within a short time. We all know that the way in which our military functions, they need a seamless movement for certain equipment, troops and supplies. This MoU will play an important role on increasing the needs of our military forces through knowledge, innovation and collaboration.”
“It’s our aim to make defence sector Aatmnirbhar (independent) and this MoU will help in fulfil this aim. When we talk about Aatmnirbhar Bharat in defence sector, then it means that the needs of our military services gets completed by our own sources. For logistics, if we need expertise, then we get training from the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. If we need equipment, then it should be made in industries of India. We believe that foundation for strong India can be laid only if we are Aatmnirbhar. This MoU will help us in achieving that goal….” Rajnath Singh said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, ” Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya is focused on logistics as a domain. The entire theme by which this university is being developed is, every line of item of the course curriculum should be industry-focused. So, the target which we have given to Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya…is that students who pass out of this university must have at least two job offers by the time they are in 3rd year of the course and they should be deciding where to go for the employment or be self-employed rather than the industry trying to decide that. That’s a very different way of thinking, I am so glad that progress so far has been so good. Airbus is a good example in the latest development. Airbus will be taking 15,000 engineers from the university. Entire course curriculum will be as per requirement of Airbus, the MoU has been signed, infrastructure is getting ready. The lab, infrastructure, classrooms everything is being done by the university, but the course curriculum, mentorship, internship will be decided by Airbus.”
The event was attended by senior officers of Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways, including CDS, Air Force Chief, Army Chief, Defence Secretary, Chairman, Railway Board & Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), a newly created Central University and is India’s first university in the transportation and logistics sectors. The university offers a unique value proposition in applied education, training, skilling and research through experiential learning and academia-industry interface to build top quality manpower.
