The most severe fallout has been the fact that the NSG has failed to keep pace with technological advances and upgrade its armoury either in comparison with commando forces in other countries or with the arms and ammunition now available with terror groups.

Officials reveal that some foreign equipment and weapons provided to them at the time of their inception are still in use, and have already been repaired and refitted several times.

“Every important requirement of the NSG has been bogged down in a bureaucratic paper chase and scrutiny by the Expenditure Department. Other intelligence agencies and the SPG have to go through nothing like this for making purchases,” complained one senior NSG official.

The NSG, for example, has for years been demanding an airborne fleet to be stationed at Manesar (comprising both transport aircraft and helicopters) and the Mumbai operations have only highlighted the legitimacy of this requirement.

But as The Indian Express has reported, the Home Ministry is in the process of purchasing three new aircraft to be used by “all” paramilitary forces for urgent transportation. The NSG, according to the proposal, is among the forces meant to use aircraft from this common pool.

Also, a Cabinet note for the creation of rapid action NSG commando units in different metropolitan towns is ready and the public announcement of this in the wake of the Mumbai attack has taken many in the NSG by surprise. The NSG is basically a deputationist force required to impart round-the-clock combat training to its units and has since long been pressing the Government for additional strength.

... contd.