India boosts women empowerment Nirmala Sitharaman appointed defence minister taking charge priorities military preparedness.

Nirmala Sitharaman appointed by PM Modi, assumes charges as Defence minister in South block on Thursday in presence of predecessor Arun Jaitley. In short statement after taking over Nirmala Sitharaman said focus would be on Military preparedness, resolving longstanding  defence issues, ’Make in India ‘and the welfare of soldiers and their families.

Nirmala Sitharaman will be India 1stwoman full time Defence minister appointed by PM Modi’s ware upon now PM cabinet has six women minister in teaming. Prior to Nirmala Sitharaman, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi held the defence minister portfolio as an additional charge on two occasions but was not full term. Though it came as big surprise from PM Modi reshuffle cabinet minister. Nirmala Sitharaman soft spoken 58year old influential but articulate BJP spokesperson during 2014 Modi campaign and was minister of state with independent charge for commerce replaced the experienced Arun Jaitley who continues as finance minister. Nirmala Sitharaman an MA in Economics, with Sushma swaraj  as external minister she is second woman member of Cabinet Committee on Security an elite PM Modi group.

Nirmala Sitharaman achievements go long back to JNU, Price water house Coopers, thinks tanks and even a short stint with BBC in London. She has traveled the long and winding path to become India’s first Defence minister after Indira Gandhi who then was even PM.

She from Madurai and Tamil Nadu family was Rajya Sabha member, has done Ph.D. thesis Indo-European textile trade, stint with agricultural Engineers Association in London, senior manager with Price water Coopers in the city, she served as deputy director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies at Hyderabad, member of the National Commission for Women from2003-2005 soon followed in politics after that. Nirmala Sitharaman was the council of ministers on May 26, 2014 as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry.

The ex JNU MA graduate Nirmala Sitharaman will have to deal with critical issues in defence ministry includes enhancing combat prowess of armed forces to deal with an aggressive China along the northern border and Pakistan’s when India has continuous proxy war. She also has to take step to keep the morale of the armed forces high and ensure speedy military modernization so that the country can effectively deal with various challenges says defence experts.

On Thursday as assuming the sit Nirmala Sitharaman said military priorities would be well attended and she shall be round-the clock available. This comment from her when the military is struggling to fill capabilities gaps with induction of new fighters, submarines, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns and even assault rifles.

On Thursday after the taking charge attended event organised by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) it was mark by Home minister Rajnath Singh present, where armored buses, bullet proof jackets, unmanned aerial vehicles and small arms were handed over to Central Armed Police Force(CAPFs). Nirmala Sitharaman referring to event said it was privilege to hand over indigenous products on her first engagement after assuming office as media reports.