‘Cannot reveal Rafale details due to new pact’

‘Cannot reveal Rafale details due to new pact’

What has happened?

The Union government cannot disclose details of the Rafale deal as India and France had recently signed an agreement to protect classified information exchanged between the two sides, according to officials

Govt. cites secrecy deal with France

The government told Parliament this week that the two sides signed the agreement when French President Emmanuel Macron visited India on March 10.

Exchange and Reciprocal Protection of Classified or Protected Information

• This new treaty would replace an agreement of 2008 and is the reason why the government would not disclose details of the deal for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France, officials point out.
• This agreement defines the common security regulations applicable to any exchange of classified and protected information between the two countries
• The new pact is significant in the wake of the Opposition, especially the Congress, alleging a financial scandal in the purchase of the 36 Rafale fighter jets through a government-to-government deal, instead of the 126 fighter aircraft deal through competitive tendering that was under way.