Whats Happening
Defence ministry makes Aadhaar verification mandatory for ECHS, ex-servicemen welfare benefits
Veterans and eligible dependents face new Aadhaar-linked identity checks for healthcare and welfare assistance. Government safeguards allow alternatives when
Brazil presidential election goes down the wire as Lula fights for fourth term as Bolsonaro’s son Flavio pushes
Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro face a tight Brazilian presidential runoff shaped by economic anxiety, security concerns and
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
US orders non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks on airports, oil facilities
Washington has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia following attacks on airports and energy facilities. The decision comes as Riyadh partially restores flights and Saudi forces report fresh missile interceptions and strikes in Yemen.
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
Indian Army’s new land-warfare doctrine sets course for future conflicts, Rajnath Singh urges
India’s updated land-warfare doctrine puts technology and joint operations at the centre of preparations for future conflicts while retaining
Indian Army to train 600 civil-defence trainers across 12 states, UTs, target 60,000
The three-day initiative will combine Army expertise with civilian emergency response, covering drone threats, air raids, hazardous materials and
Indian Army opens 75-day defence technology internships with ₹75,000 stipend
Northern Command is inviting applications for internships in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drones and specialized fields, with opportunities in Udhampur, Srinagar
Rajnath Singh to unveil India’s new land-warfare doctrine. What changes are expected in
The Indian Army’s senior commanders are reviewing operational preparedness and emerging battlefield challenges ahead of the release of a new
Army commanders’ conference begins in Delhi, Rajnath Singh to release Land Warfare Doctrine
The Indian Army's top leadership is reviewing operational readiness, emerging security challenges and military modernization. A new Land Warfare Doctrine
India, Australia begin Austrahind 2026 in Kerala, with New Zealand as observer for
About 240 Indian and Australian soldiers are participating in the fifth edition of Exercise Austrahind in Kerala, focusing on joint
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 –
Navy
Indian Navy’s fifth edition of Swavlamban 2026 to focus on AI, defence self-reliance and indigenous
The Indian Navy will hold the fifth edition of Swavlamban on October 26-27 in New Delhi, focusing on
IPRD 2026: Indian Navy to host Indo-Pacific dialogue with experts from 18 countries, Rajnath Singh
The Indian Navy will host a three-day Indo-Pacific Dialogue from November 3 to 5, bringing together experts from
Rafale Marine jets on trial in Goa for INS Vikrant: What India’s Navy gets from
The Indian Navy is conducting Rafale M (Rafale Marine) trials in Goa to prepare the fighter jets for operations from
Simbex – 2026: India, Singapore begin maritime-warfare drills in Bay of Bengal
The six-day bilateral naval exercise began in Visakhapatnam with professional exchanges and operational planning. Both navies will undertake anti-submarine, anti-surface
Swavlamban 2026: Navy turns to quantum positioning and ramjets as iDEX proposals cross 4,000, vice-chief
The Indian Navy’s innovation drive now spans quantum positioning, directed-energy systems and ramjets, with over 4,000 iDEX proposals received, says
India-UK Konkan 2026 naval exercise ends after joint warfare drills
India and the UK have concluded the Konkan-26 naval exercise off Plymouth after joint drills involving INS Trishul and HMS
Airforce
PM Modi, ACM AP Singh watch fighter jets paint tricolour skies at Varanasi airshow
PM Modi and IAF chief AP Singh witness fighter jets and aerobatic teams at the Wings Over Ganga
IAF chief AP Singh calls for phased theaterization, stresses need to protect air power flexibility
IAF chief ACM AP Singh has called for phased theaterization, stressing that India must protect air power flexibility
Wings Over Ganga in pictures: Rafale, Sukhoi jets and Sarang helicopters soar over Varanasi’s ghats
Thousands gathered from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat as IAF fighter jets and Sarang helicopters performed aerial displays over the
Wings Over Ganga airshow starts in Varanasi, 100 IAF aircraft to take to the skies
The IAF’s Wings Over Ganga airshow begins in Varanasi on October 22, featuring 100 aircraft, with displays continuing on October
IAF chief AP Singh flies final sortie with his first instructor, four decades after his
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh completed his final Indian Air Force (IAF) flying sortie in a Kiran Mk-1 trainer with
From iDEX SPRINT to the Indian Air Force: Swadeshi Empresa’s Firefighting Robots Delivered in 11
India's FF Bot firefighting robot, developed by Swadeshi Empresa, has been deployed with the armed forces to tackle fires at
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
US orders non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks on airports,
Washington has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia following attacks on airports and energy
Ukraine rejects Musk’s Starlink drone-strike claim after satellite service restored
Ukraine disputes Musk’s claim of offensive Starlink misuse after satellite connectivity supporting drone operations and frontline communications is restored.
Brazil presidential election goes down the wire as Lula fights for fourth term
Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro face a tight Brazilian presidential runoff shaped by economic anxiety, security concerns and competing
Iran says fresh US-Israeli strikes can’t force Tehran to shift policy as Hormuz
The Iranian foreign minister said renewed US-Israeli attacks will not change its policies as the Hormuz standoff complicates efforts to
Trump warns of possible Iran strike ‘tomorrow’, leaves door open for ‘beautiful agreement’
Donald Trump has warned that Washington could strike Iran as soon as Sunday, while leaving open the possibility of a
Pakistan reopens key Iran trade crossing after weeklong halt as LPG shortages bite
Pakistan has reopened the Gabd-Rimdan crossing with Iran for eligible cargo after a weeklong trade halt disrupted essential supplies and
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 –
Coast Guard
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
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
Despite US Sanctions, India Signs Rs 2,182 Cr Missile Deal With Russia; Rs 2,901 Cr
Worth mentioning here is that the major defence procurement decision comes at a time when the United States is tightening
Paramilitary
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
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
NSG launches first ‘Mahila Commando’ course for women police, CAPF personnel
Women serving in state police forces and CAPFs will undergo 12 weeks of training at Manesar in weapons, marksmanship, tactical
Defence r&d
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
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
DRDO’s high-altitude surveillance platform reaches 21 kilometres in test-flight
India’s experimental stratospheric platform reached 21 kilometres and maintained an altitude of 20 kilometres for more than 30 minutes, advancing
Defence Industry
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
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
Munitions India executive Anil Kumar suspended as CBI widens ₹500 crore ammunition deal probe
The defence ministry has suspended Munitions India Limited executive Anil Kumar as the CBI widens its investigation into alleged bribery
CBI arrests Munitions India executive, SMPP CEO in ₹500 crore ammunition contract probe
The CBI has arrested three people in a bribery probe linked to a ₹500 crore ammunition contract, with alleged defence
India signs ₹4,106 crore defence contracts for Air Force satellite, Varunastra torpedoes
The defence ministry has signed contracts for a dedicated Air Force communication satellite and indigenous heavyweight torpedoes for the Navy,
India, Czech Republic seek wider defence-manufacturing ties after Rajnath Singh-Havlicek talks
The two countries plan to expand defence industrial cooperation through their joint defence committee, building on existing partnerships without announcing
Cyber
PHP security crisis: Recovery could take weeks as governments widen cybersecurity alerts
PHP recovery efforts face lengthy testing as governments widen cyber alerts and security providers track attempts to evade
PHP flaws trigger millions of hacking attempts, governments and companies shut down websites worldwide
Cloudflare reported millions of attempts to exploit critical PHP flaws as governments and businesses suspend websites and race
PHP flaws trigger worldwide website shutdowns. What went wrong and who is at risk?
Critical PHP flaws have prompted worldwide website shutdowns, exposing the risks of shared web software and triggering an urgent race
SBI data leak: 3,897 customer records identified, what was exposed and are accounts safe?
SBI has identified personal information in 3,897 customer records among approximately 3.75 lakh records found on the dark web. While
Anthropic in talks with India over AI safety testing, seeks binding transparency rules
Anthropic is discussing model access for India’s AI safety institute while seeking mandatory transparency rules for domestic and foreign developers.
Israeli firm Discover-Tech linked to zero-click spyware attacks through online ads
Israeli firm Discover-Tech helped deliver zero-click spyware through online ads, researchers say, linking the system to attacks on Al Jazeera.
Space
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
Japan’s MMX mission targets Mars moon Phobos in historic sample-return bid
Japan’s MMX mission aims to return the first Phobos samples to Earth, investigating the origins of Mars’s moons
Pakistan announces first astronaut mission to Chinese space station, sets 2035 moon-landing goal
Pakistan plans to send its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station on November 25. Ahsan Iqbal also announced a
Nasa’s Perseverance rover breaks Mars driving record, can eventually cover 100 kilometres
Nasa’s Perseverance rover has surpassed Opportunity’s off-world driving record, with engineers optimistic that the Mars rover could eventually travel 100
US races China and Russia to put nuclear reactors on Moon
The US and China-Russia partnership are pursuing lunar nuclear reactors to power sustained exploration, raising safety and access questions.
SpaceX Starship reaches orbit for first time despite engine failure, deploys 26 Starlink satellites
SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink satellites despite an engine shutdown, before controllers opted