India, Feb. 24 -- The defence ministry has constituted a top committee of experts to fix the problems that have delayed the entry of India's newest fighter jet - the light combat aircraft (LCA Mk-1A) - into service and recommend measures to boost the production of the planes, including through increased participation of the private sector, to meet the Indian Air Force's growing needs and address its concerns about a steady decline in the number of fighter squadrons, two officials aware of the matter said on Sunday.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh ordered the setting up of the five-member committee under defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in early February and set a one-month deadline for it to submit a report on what needs to be done to...