Taking over as the 36th Defence Minister of the country, Parrikar said, his predecessor Arun Jaitley has initiated work on many issues relating to Defence despite several constraints and that he is confident of taking these steps forward with speed. 

Parrikar expressed his thanks to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing confidence in him and entrusting him with this important and sensitive Ministry.

Referring to the ‘Make in India’ drive of the Government, Parrikar said, the measure will not only lead to self-reliance in Defence manufacturing but also generate employment and would ultimately contribute to economic development.

He said, earlier technical skills used to be handed over from one generation to the other but that tradition is gradually vanishing. It is for this reason, we have to train people to acquire not only traditional skills but also new skills.

Parrikar expressed his anguish at the sinking of a Naval vessel off the Coast of Visakhapatnam and the earlier incident of an explosion in a submarine. 

Earlier, on his arrival at the South Block, this afternoon, Parrikar was received by the senior officials of the Ministry of Defence including the Defence Secretary RK Mathur. The Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and the three Service Chiefs also called on him and greeted on assumption of office.