www.thestatesman.com | India’s National Newspaper since 1818 FOLLOW US: | @TheStatesmanLtd Pages 16 | ` 5.00 8th Day Ramachandra Guha’s new book on Gandhi @thestatesmanltd | KOLKATA LC People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 04 October 2026 S P O RT S Moshai Dayal: The non-Bengali Bengali India sign off from Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, finish fourth Page 16 Air Chief: IAF hopes to seal MRFA deal this financial year PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 3 October T he Indian Air Force is hopeful of signing the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contract during the current financial year, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday, even as he acknowledged that the declining strength of the fighter fleet remained a concern for the force. “If things go well, MRFA, we should be able to sign this financially. That’s what my hope is,” ACM Singh said while addressing a press conference ahead of the 94th Air Force Day. The Air Chief said negotiations on the MRFA programme were progressing, with the proposed acquisition of 114 fighter aircraft expected to augment the IAF’s combat fleet. The MRFA programme is part of the IAF’s efforts to arrest the decline in its fighter squadron strength, which Air Chief Marshal A P Singh addresses a press conference at the Air Force auditorium in New Delhi on Saturday. IANS ACM Singh said had been affected by the phasing out of older aircraft as well as delays in planned inductions. “Our numbers are decreasing. The aircrafts that we were relying on, they have also come down,” he said, adding that delays in planned programmes had “increased a bit” and “it is going to hurt us, no doubt.” ACM Singh said the IAF would require an induction rate of around 36 to 40 fighter aircraft annually in the coming years to halt the decline and move towards the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. “If we have to stop going down from 30 fighter squadrons and start improving towards the stated target of 42, actually, we need even more than that,” he said. He stressed that the IAF would need a mix of aircraft rather than relying on a single platform to meet its operational requirements. “One aircraft cannot do all the things that we want it to. And it may not be even very cost effective,” he said. “So we have to have a happy mix of three or four types at least for us to do all our roles in a good manner.” The emerging fleet mix would include the Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk-2, MRFA and other indigenous platforms, he said. On the delayed induction of Tejas Mk-1A fighters, ACM Singh acknowledged that the slippage had been longer than expected and said the IAF was also looking towards the Mk-2 variant to address capability gaps. “It happens that you plan something, but things get delayed. But this time, the delay has been much. We are also looking towards Mark 2. All these will be able to fill in the gaps that exist,” he said. CJP announces nationwide protest from 10 October Five Indian nationals rescued from Strait of Hormuz: MEA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 3 October The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday announced a nationwide protest on 10 October, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over what it alleged were irregularities in electoral rolls. The announcement came after a protest organised by the CJP at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Saturday, where thousands of citizens participated despite police restrictions. CJP founder and convener Abhijeet Dipke said members and supporters from across the country would converge on the national capital if the Chief Election Commissioner did not step down and stage a mass demonstration at Jantar Mantar. "If Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi and protest at Jantar Mantar on 10 October," Mr Dipke said. He said the proposed demonstration would remain peaceful and accused the authorities of attempting to prevent citizens from exercising their right to protest. "And if the Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar. Ours will be a peaceful protest. We will walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi. It is up to the
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.
