Whats Happening
Char Dham helicopter operators halt services over DGCA’s two-pilot rule
Helicopter operators have suspended Char Dham services, calling the DGCA’s two-pilot mandate financially unviable and questioning its impact on
China’s tunnel-machine curbs put India’s infrastructure ambitions on uncertain ground
China’s forthcoming tunnelling-equipment controls expose supply risks for India’s infrastructure projects and strengthen the case for domestic manufacturing.
SC allows green crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, full ban returns November 9
Certified green crackers can be used for limited hours on November 7 and 8 as the Supreme Court imposes
Hormuz under fire: Tanker attacks widen, but Iran’s mine claims face scrutiny
Tanker attacks around Hormuz have exposed Indian crews to danger, while gaps in vessel identification complicate verification of Iran’s mine-strike claims.
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
India, Brazil strengthen military ties as 41-member army delegation visits Delhi, Agra
The Brazilian military delegation visited defence establishments in Delhi and Agra as India and Brazil expand military exchanges, institutional
Pakistan’s India imports rise despite trade ban: How third-country routes work
Pakistan’s imports from India rose to $61.74 million despite trade restrictions.
L&T, BAE Systems begin production of BvS10 Sindhu vehicles for Indian Army’s border
India has begun manufacturing specialized all-terrain vehicles designed to transport troops and supplies through Ladakh’s snowbound mountains and Kutch’s marshlands.
Ladakh’s thin-air challenge: Indian Army sharpens tank and mechanized combat readiness
The Indian Army’s latest Ladakh drills focus on crew proficiency, armoured manoeuvres and equipment reliability to strengthen high-altitude combat readiness.
Exercise Austrahind – 2026: Canberra’s envoy commends India-Australia joint army drills in Keralam
Australian high commissioner, Philip Green, has highlighted the growing importance of joint Army training during his visit to Austrahind 2026
Exercise Garuda Shakti – 2026: Indian and Indonesian special forces begin jungle-warfare drills
Indian and Indonesian armies’ special forces have begun Garuda Shakti 2026 in Banyuwangi, focusing on jungle warfare, air assault training
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Pakistan’s India imports rise despite trade ban: How third-country routes work
Pakistan’s imports from India rose to $61.74 million despite trade restrictions.
Navy
INS Sudarshini returns to Kochi after completing 22,000 nautical mile Lokayan 26 voyage
The Indian Navy's sail training ship completed 17 port calls across 11 countries, two transatlantic crossings and major
Defence ministry signs ₹53,866 crore contracts for eight next-generation corvettes for Indian Navy
GRSE will build five warships and Goa Shipyard three under the indigenous naval programme, which is expected to
INS Trishul arrives in Greece’s Souda Bay for naval exchanges
INS Trishul’s Mediterranean deployment continues with a visit to Greece’s Souda Bay for naval exchanges and familiarization with maritime training
Water ingress reported onboard INS Kesari at Visakhapatnam naval dockyard, no injuries
Water entered INS Kesari while the ship was berthed at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Navy said. No
Bimstec maritime exercise begins in Andaman, 7 nations join regional security drill
Seven Bimstec nations have joined India's first maritime security exercise in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to strengthen regional coordination
Rafale M lands on INS Vikrant on maiden attempt: Why it matters for Indian Navy
The Rafale M fighter jet successfully landed on INS Vikrant on its maiden attempt, marking a key step in the
Airforce
Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal takes charge of Eastern Air Command. Who is the new
Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal, a fighter pilot with over 3,200 flying hours and former air attaché in
IAF chief Ashutosh Dixit outlines Vayu vision in first address, puts combat readiness and self-reliance
In his first address as IAF chief, ACM Ashutosh Dixit unveiled the Vayu vision, outlining priorities for combat
ACM Ashutosh Dixit assumes IAF command as ACM AP Singh bids farewell after 42 years
Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit takes charge as the 29th chief of air staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal AP Singh,
Who is Air Marshal PV Iyer? Rajnath Singh wishes ‘Running Air Marshal’ on 97th birthday
Rajnath Singh wished Air Marshal PV Iyer on his 97th birthday, describing the veteran officer known as the “Running Air
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia appointed IAF vice-chief, to take charge on November 1
Eastern Air Command AOC-in-C Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia will become the Indian Air Force’s vice-chief on November 1, following
AP Singh meets president ahead of retirement as IAF shifts farewell ceremony amid golf course
The outgoing Air Chief’s meetings with president and defence minister come amid speculation over his cancelled “golfing out” farewell, even
Russia Launches Record 479 UAVs On Ukraine, Shows Growing Mettle Of Drone Warfare
Russia launched a record-breaking 479 drones in overnight attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, including for the first
IAF, USAF Sharpen Joint Special Ops Skills in First-Ever Exercise Tiger Claw
Exercise Tiger Claw 2025 marked the first-ever independent Special Forces exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Air Force
International
Hormuz under fire: Tanker attacks widen, but Iran’s mine claims face scrutiny
Tanker attacks around Hormuz have exposed Indian crews to danger, while gaps in vessel identification complicate verification of Iran’s
Iran calls US greatest threat to nuclear non-proliferation amid renewed strike warnings
Tehran reaffirms its NPT membership but resists renewed nuclear inspections as Washington considers further military action and Gulf countries
Russia’s rare MiG-35 fighters reportedly join the hunt for Ukrainian drones
Russia’s small MiG-35 fleet is reportedly intercepting Ukrainian drones, but its combat results and claimed cost advantage remain unverified.
China and Oman push for Iran dialogue, explore new trade agreement
China and Oman have called for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and renewed US-Iran dialogue as Xi Jinping
Nato bracing up for Trump backlash if Republicans lose US midterms, report says
European allies fear a Republican midterm setback could prompt Trump to intensify pressure on Nato as Washington reviews its troop
Israeli forces pull back from Hebron after 10-day siege, displaced families return
Displaced Palestinians begin returning to Hebron neighbourhoods after Israeli forces withdraw following a 10-day operation that damaged homes and disrupted
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Pakistan’s India imports rise despite trade ban: How third-country routes work
Pakistan’s imports from India rose to $61.74 million despite trade restrictions.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard rescues six in Odisha floods as Cyclone Arnab damages Chhattisgarh crops
Six people were airlifted from a flooded health centre in Odisha as Cyclone Arnab’s rains left villages inaccessible
Coast Guard seizes 526kg drugs worth over ₹3,000 crore off Lakshadweep, five Pakistanis held
The Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat ATS have seized about 526kg of heroin and methamphetamine worth more than
Two Chinese survivors reach Paradip after MV Ocean Winner sinking, search continues
Two Chinese survivors of sunken cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner were brought safely to Paradip, while the search for the
Rajnath Singh announces gender-neutral entry and faster ex gratia rules for Coast Guard
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, has announced gender-neutral officer induction and faster ex gratia payouts for the Indian Coast Guard,
Coast Guard Commissions Indigenous Patrol Vessel ICGS Akshay
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, an indigenous fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited, strengthening India's maritime
Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenous hovercraft H-561 in major maritime Boost
The Indian Coast Guard has inducted H-561, its first indigenous hovercraft, boosting maritime operations and strengthening India's self-reliance in defence
Paramilitary
ITBP’s 12,333 vacancies draw scrutiny as India-China face-offs persist in Arunachal
Parliamentary data showing 12,333 ITBP vacancies has drawn renewed attention after the force’s chief acknowledged continuing face-offs in
Assam Rifles soldier from Odisha dies of gunshot wound on duty in Nagaland; organs donated
Rifleman V Teja of the 15 Assam Rifles, from Odisha’s Rayagada, died of a gunshot wound on duty
In J&K’s Kathua, CISF head constable shoots dead four colleagues including assistant commandant
Four CISF personnel died after a colleague allegedly opened fire at a Kathua hydroelectric project unit, with the cause of
CRPF women in combat: Four decades, six battalions and a widening frontline
CRPF will honour serving and retired women personnel on September 25, marking four decades of expanding operational roles.
CISF head constable dies after rifle discharges while cleaning in Dantewada
The service rifle reportedly discharged while the CISF personnel was cleaning it at a camp in Bacheli, police are investigating
CRPF set to replace Army at 21 ‘hypersensitive’ posts in Jammu’s Kathua-Udhampur belt, CoBRA units
The CRPF is preparing to take over counterinsurgency duties from the Indian Army at 21 hypersensitive locations in Jammu’s Kathua
Defence r&d
DRDO hosts first international conference on military wireless communications in Dehradun
Wicomm-26 brings together defence scientists, military personnel and industry experts to explore wireless technologies critical to secure battlefield
India’s indigenous AIP system advances towards Kalvari-class submarine integration in 2027
India’s indigenous AIP energy module has entered a new preparation phase ahead of power-generation trials and planned integration
India developing military AI layer, expanding missile production for future warfare, defence secretary says
Rajesh Kumar Singh said India is developing indigenous military AI while strengthening networked air defence and expanding missile production to
BrahMos plans lighter missile prototype by 2028, explores 1,500km range
BrahMos Aerospace aims to develop its next-generation missile prototype by 2028 while exploring a 1,500km range variant and expanding production
DRDO tests quantum key distribution on live network to protect weapons trial data. What is
DRDO’s successful Chandipur trial brings quantum key distribution into a live weapons-testing network, advancing protection for sensitive defence data.
DRDO to showcase homegrown chips at ESTIC 2026 as India pursues semiconductor self-reliance
DRDO will showcase indigenous semiconductor technologies at ESTIC 2026, highlighting their defence applications and India’s efforts to strengthen domestic chip
Defence Industry
HSL signs MoU with Kakinada Seaports to build ships at Kakinada facility
Hindustan Shipyard Limited and Kakinada Seaports Limited have agreed to collaborate on shipbuilding using the port's existing slipways
Miniratna HSL chairman proposes ‘digital birth certificate’ for every Indian-built ship
A single lifetime record, including a hazardous materials inventory, would serve surveyors, owners, repair yards and recyclers for
HAL tests LUH emergency-landing capability at maximum weight as certification continues
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has demonstrated an emergency landing manoeuvre involving its indigenous Light Utility Helicopter. The trials assess the aircraft’s
Rajnath Singh clears ₹2.12 lakh crore worth of defence procurement proposals, 82% to be sourced
Rajnath Singh clears proposals worth ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force, with 82 per cent of
IAF’s new HTT-40 trainers: Why full-scale pilot training is still two years away
HAL’s first deliveries advance India’s indigenous trainer programme, but the IAF must prepare instructors and build a larger fleet before
Zorawar light tank delayed to 2028–2029. What the armour rethink means for India’s China border
Zorawar’s revised 2028–2029 induction timeline exposes the challenge of strengthening armour without sacrificing the mobility India needs along its China
Cyber
Russia, Ukraine blame each other for hacking emergency alert apps after truce ends
Russia and Ukraine traded accusations of cyberattacks on their emergency alert apps as a temporary ceasefire in the
Binance restores more crypto withdrawals after $6.3 billion hack
Binance has added ZEC, TON and SUI to its list of cryptocurrencies available for withdrawal as it restores
Binance covers 95% of $6.3bn crypto heist losses as FBI blames North Korea
Binance says it has replaced 95% of assets lost in the $6.3 billion heist and plans phased withdrawals as the
How did hackers breach Binance? Co-CEO shares details of $6.3 billion heist
Binance’s co-CEO has revealed how hackers bypassed the exchange’s security during the $6.3 billion heist. The company is rebuilding its
Binance links $6.3 billion crypto breach to engineer’s compromised laptop, North Korea suspected
Binance is investigating a $6.3 billion security breach that may have originated from an engineer’s compromised laptop. The exchange has
Nvidia chief Jensen Huang was target of Chinese spy plot, US intelligence found – and
US spy agencies reportedly found that a Megaspeed executive close to Nvidia chief Jensen Huang was passing information to Beijing,
Space
Two rockets, one Moon landing: China details plan to put astronauts on lunar surface before
China has detailed a two-launch lunar mission that would send three astronauts towards the Moon and land two
Nasa’s Swift observatory set to fall to Earth after failed rescue, with India in possible
Nasa's Swift observatory is nearing its return to Earth after a failed rescue mission. While most of the
India’s NavIC regains four-satellite strength with Isro’s NVS-03 launch
Isro's successful launch of NVS-03 has restored NavIC to four operational satellites, strengthening India's independent navigation capabilities.
China’s secret spaceplane comes into focus. What is it doing in orbit?
A newly released orbital image and satellite-tracking data offer fresh clues to China’s secretive reusable spaceplane and its possible satellite-recovery
China launches 28th internet satellite batch, expands its answer to Starlink
China’s latest Long March-8A mission deployed its 28th internet satellite batch as Beijing builds a domestic alternative to foreign broadband
SpaceX gains sensitive US military tracking data, triggers space safety and competition concerns
SpaceX’s access to sensitive US military orbital data could strengthen satellite safety while raising questions about competition and dependence on