Every year on December 4, India observes Navy Day to honour the Indian Navy's great achievements and heroic efforts. The day is significant as it commemorates the Navy's victorious Maval Mission in 1971 when it demonstrated its prowess and valour on the high seas

The Indian Navy, one of the country's most important defence forces, is critical in protecting maritime borders, preserving national security, and maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. Navy Day honours the devotion and sacrifice of Navy personnel who tirelessly preserve the nation's interests at sea

This year, for the first time since India began observing Navy Day was celebrated in a place that is not a naval base; the function was held at Maharashtra's Sindhudurg Fort

Meanwhile, in a major boost to the firepower of soldiers, the Indian Army will get 70,000 more Sig Sauer assault rifles which will be given to troops deployed in counterterrorism operations and other duties

The approval for the procurement was given at a high-level meeting of the Defence Ministry held recently and attended by the top brass of the military, government sources told the ANI

The approval for the Indian Army to buy more than 70,000 of these assault rifles worth over Rs 800 crore has come at a time when the forces are deployed in a military standoff with China and are carrying out extensive counter-terrorism operations along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir against Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities, they said

India has already indicted over 70,000 of these American-made assault rifles, which are being used by forces in the Ladakh sector along the China front and also in Kashmir valley

In February 2019, 72,400 SiG 716 rifles -- 66,400 for the Army, 4,000 for the Air Force and 2,000 for the Navy -- of 7.62 x 51mm calibre were bought from SIG Sauer of the US

Indian forces have recently also acquired the Russian AK-103 in significant numbers to bolster their capabilities against terrorists and for conventional operations