Whats Happening
Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: India, UAE begin drills with drones, high-altitude warfare
The two armies have deployed 92 personnel in equal strength for a two-week exercise in Uttarakhand combining mountain warfare,
Spain’s Sanchez calls November 29 snap election as housing crisis becomes major national issue
Pedro Sanchez has called a November 29 snap election after housing protests, and the defeat of tenant-protection measures exposed
California woman arrested for spying for China before catching flight to Shanghai, FBI says ‘not happening in US’
A California real estate agent was arrested at LAX over allegations of spying on Taiwan president’s son for Chinese
Nobel medicine prize 2026 honours trio who gave brain scientists a light switch
Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel won the 2026 Nobel medicine prize for discoveries that enable precise control of nerve cells using light.
Latest News & Analysis
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: India, UAE begin drills with drones, high-altitude warfare
The two armies have deployed 92 personnel in equal strength for a two-week exercise in Uttarakhand combining mountain warfare,
Army veteran among two arrested in Assam over alleged defence leaks to Pakistan
Two arrests in Assam over alleged defence leaks to Pakistan follow a separate Navy honeytrap case during the same
Soldier’s final journey ends in tragedy: Four killed in Purvanchal Expressway ambulance crash
Three relatives of Subedar Major Satyawan Singh and an ambulance driver died while bringing his body home to Deoria in
Lt Gen Akhilesh Kumar takes command of Army’s Strike One Corps at Mathura
Lieutenant General Akhilesh Kumar has taken over the Mathura based 1 Corps, bringing more than three decades of operational and
Lt Gen Mohit Seth takes command of White Knight Corps overseeing key Jammu
Lt Gen Mohit Seth succeeds Lt Gen Pratik Kumar Mishra as White Knight Corps commander, overseeing key border and counterterrorism
From platforms to battlefield effects, CDS Gen Subramani pushes integrated ‘system of systems’
The chief of defence staff, General NS Raja Subramani is pushing a “system of systems” approach to future warfare, arguing
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 sailor arrested over alleged Pakistan honeytrap and naval data leak
An Indian Navy sailor was arrested in Coimbatore over an alleged Pakistan-linked honeytrap involving sensitive information about the
INS Sahyadri, Kulish conclude AIME-2026 after HADR, boarding and helicopter drills
INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish have completed coordinated maritime training with Asean forces at Subic Bay, including disaster
INS Trishul reaches Spain after Varuna, continues Indian Navy’s Mediterranean deployment
INS Trishul has arrived at Valencia for engagements with the Spanish navy after completing Exercise Varuna with France, continuing a
AIME-2026: Asean-India maritime exercise begins in Philippines with INS Sahyadri and Kulish
India and Asean maritime forces are conducting their second joint exercise in the Philippines, with training focused on operational coordination,
Rajnath Singh cites warships from South China Sea to Atlantic to underline Navy’s blue-water reach
Rajnath Singh has highlighted the Indian Navy’s expanding blue-water reach, pointing to warship deployments from the South China Sea to
Navy commanders to review combat readiness, energy security amid West Asia conflicts
The Indian Navy’s September 29–October 1 conference will examine operational readiness, protection of energy supplies and the integration of emerging
Airforce
India brings F-35s, Rafales, Sukhoi and Tejas together in rare air power display
India showcases its growing air power as F 35s, Rafales, Sukhois and Tejas fly together during Tarang Shakti
‘A lesson for us’: AP Singh praises Smit Machchhar’s courage after Flydubai attack
ACM AP Singh praised Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar for showing exceptional courage and resolve after surviving a cockpit
IAF needs 36 to 40 fighters a year to halt fleet decline, looks to Mk-2
The Indian Air Force is looking towards the Tejas Mk-2 to fill capability gaps amid delays in deliveries of the
IAF to use drones alongside fighters and air defence, not as a separate force, says
The Indian Air Force is increasing the number and types of drones and loitering munitions, but they will remain part
Operation Sindoor lessons drive France’s push for longer-range Rafale missiles
France is examining Operation Sindoor’s air-combat lessons while pressing MBDA for longer-range missiles to counter evolving Chinese and Russian weapons.
US F-35A makes India exercise debut at Tarang Shakti, opens new training window with IAF
The US Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II has made its exercise debut in India at Tarang Shakti 2026, opening a
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
British Airways BA295 lands back at Heathrow after 28,000 foot emergency descent over
A London-Chicago British Airways service returned to Heathrow after declaring a general emergency over Ireland and descending rapidly to
India-US trade talks reach ‘plateau’ as room for further concessions narrows, Nirmala Sitharaman
The finance minister said negotiations remain underway but both sides appear to have reached a stage where further give
Japan PM demands strict discipline among US troops after Okinawa woman’s murder
Sanae Takaichi condemned the alleged killing of a woman in Okinawa and demanded strict discipline among US military personnel.
Spain’s Sanchez calls November 29 snap election as housing crisis becomes major national
Pedro Sanchez has called a November 29 snap election after housing protests, and the defeat of tenant-protection measures exposed his
California woman arrested for spying for China before catching flight to Shanghai, FBI
A California real estate agent was arrested at LAX over allegations of spying on Taiwan president’s son for Chinese officials
PM, Swiss president broaden ties across trade, defence, technology and nuclear energy
The prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the Swiss president, Guy Parmelin, reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties in New
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
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
In Manipur, 46 members of militant group surrender with arms as state intensifies peace push
Forty-six cadres of the KCP Taibanganba faction have laid down arms in Imphal, adding momentum to a surrender and rehabilitation
Defence r&d
Kaveri engine clears Russian trials, opens path to India’s Ghatak stealth drone
Kaveri’s reported success in Russian trials advances India’s Ghatak propulsion effort, with aircraft integration and operational qualification still
₹50 crore DRDO-CSIR project develops lighter bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles
DRDO and CSIR-CGCRI are developing a new generation of lightweight transparent armour that could cut the weight and
DRDO develops indigenous software-defined radio for IAF fighter aircraft
DRDO is developing an indigenous Software Defined Radio for the IAF to enable secure communication between fighter aircraft and ground
DRDO inks ₹500 crore TDF’s first high value deal for indigenous quantum refrigerator
DRDO has signed its first high-value deep-tech agreement under the Technology Development Fund with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India to
DRDO showcases Astra MkI, Akash-NG and surveillance systems at AAD 2026 in South Africa
India Pavilion in Tshwane features indigenous technologies across airborne surveillance, air defence, maritime reconnaissance and underwater detection
DRDO to build new missile testing range at Junput in Bengal to ease pressure on
DRDO is set to build a new missile and weapons testing range at Junput in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district,
Defence Industry
BrahMos exports set to cross $600 million as India expands Southeast Asian sales, defence secretary
BrahMos exports are expected to exceed $600 million as Philippine deliveries and sales arrangements with Vietnam and Indonesia
Asean envoys visit Brahmos headquarters in Delhi as missile exports expand in Southeast Asia
Three Asean envoys have visited Brahmos Aerospace headquarters in New Delhi as India’s missile exports gain momentum across
India-Germany $8 billion submarine deal nears signing as Berlin’s envoy Jasper Wieck sets out vision
Germany’s $8 billion submarine deal with India nears signing as new envoy Jasper Wieck outlines a broader push on defence,
IAF to get 160 indigenous SAT-SAAW weapons as MoD signs ₹811 crore BDL deal
The Indian Air Force is set to receive 160 indigenous SAT-SAAW precision weapons under an ₹810.79 crore contract with Bharat
DRDO’s 5km drone-killing laser moves towards production, industry partner search next
DRDO plans to seek an industry partner for its 30-kilowatt counterdrone laser, advancing the 5km-range weapon towards production.
Tejas-Mk1A enters final testing phase, induction expected soon: IAF vice-chief
The Indian Air Force is expected to begin inducting the indigenous Tejas-Mk1A fighter within one to two months, with engine
Cyber
Anthropic takes Claude’s ethics to a Vedantic monk, priests and counsellors. The harder question is
Swami Sarvapriyananda of Vendanta Society says Anthropic flew him to San Francisco to join theologians and mental health
OpenAI fires three safety researchers over allegedly sharing confidential information
OpenAI has dismissed three researchers over alleged mishandling of confidential information as scrutiny grows over AI safety and
China-linked hackers pose as AI experts to target US policy insiders
China-linked hackers impersonated prominent AI policy figures to target US experts with deceptive invitations and cloud-account phishing attacks.
Trump rejects China AI cooperation; renames technology ‘super intelligence’ in US government
Trump rejects AI governance cooperation with China while ordering “super intelligence” terminology across US agencies and backing voluntary industry safeguards.
OpenAI scraps GPT-6.1 Astra launch after safety tests expose problems with agent behaviour
OpenAI has shelved GPT-6.1 Astra after tests found that the more persistent AI model fell short on respecting task limits
OpenAI pauses advanced AI training again as rogue agents expose gaps in safeguards
OpenAI has paused advanced AI training again after an agent bypassed internet controls, as investigations widen into unauthorized activity on
Space
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
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
China’s Shenlong spaceplane appears to recapture satellite twice in orbital tests
China’s Shenlong spaceplane appears to have retrieved a satellite twice, highlighting advances in orbital manoeuvring with civilian and military applications.
China warns of space arms race after US confirms weapons in orbit
China warns of an accelerating space arms race after the US confirms orbital weapons but withholds details of their capabilities.
China’s Kinetica-1 places nine satellites in orbit as six launches in six days signal rising
China’s Kinetica-1 carried nine satellites into orbit, completing six successful launches in six days as Beijing accelerates constellation deployment and
China conducts two space launches in four hours, advances internet constellation and radar remote-sensing capabilities
China carried out two space launches within just over two hours on Thursday, deploying another low-orbit internet-satellite group and two