Armed forces given emergency financial powers to tackle Covid situation

'These powers will help Formation Commanders to establish and operate quarantine facilities/hospitals,' says govt

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday invoked special provisions and granted emergency financial powers to the armed forces to empower them and speed up their efforts to tide over the prevailing Covid situation in the country

"These powers will help Formation Commanders to establish and operate quarantine facilities/hospitals and undertake procurement/repair of equipment/items/material/stores, besides provisioning of various services and works required to support the ongoing effort against the pandemic," said Ministry of Defence in a statement.

Under these powers, vice chiefs of armed forces, including Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CISC) and General