Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will lead the Indian delegation at the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), scheduled to be held in Cebu, Philippines, on October 28–29, 2026. The meeting will provide India with an important platform to engage regional and international partners on security challenges and strengthen defence cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. The Defence Minister will address the forum on ‘Exchange of Views on Regional and International Security Issues’. On the sidelines of the meeting, he is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts from participating countries to review existing defence ties and explore avenues for strengthening…
Author: Digital Desk
The Indian Army’s Western Command has unveiled the vision for Mechanisation Technology Seminar 2.0 (MTS 2.0), an initiative aimed at transforming existing military platforms into advanced, future-ready combat systems through technological innovation, modernisation and indigenous solutions. The seminar, themed ‘CHAKRA – Transforming Existing Platforms for Future Combat’, will be held on December 14–15, 2026, at Chandimandir Military Station in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, inaugurated the curtain raiser for the seminar at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on October 26. Focus on Combat Modernisation and Indigenous…
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, marking a major step towards strengthening the country’s defence preparedness and modernisation. The approvals, granted at the DAC meeting on October 26, 2026, cover a wide range of military platforms, weapons, air defence systems, surveillance assets and advanced drone technologies. Approximately 82 per cent of the total procurement value will be sourced from Indian industry, reinforcing the government’s focus on domestic defence manufacturing and…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for a new phase of defence self-reliance, termed ‘Aatmanirbharta 2.0’, with a focus on developing advanced indigenous technologies, strengthening research and development (R&D), and building resilient domestic supply chains to reduce import dependence and enhance India’s technological capabilities. Addressing the fifth edition of SWAVLAMBAN, the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, in New Delhi on October 26, the Defence Minister said the next phase must build on the progress achieved in defence indigenisation and pursue more challenging technological objectives in support of the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He stressed that India must develop…
– by Pratyusha Mukherjee Defending champions India will begin their campaign for a record-extending sixth Hero Asian Champions Trophy title against Bangladesh on October 27, as international hockey returns to Punjab. The ninth edition of the six-team tournament will be played in Jalandhar and Mohali until November 5. Led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, India will aim for a hat-trick of consecutive ACT titles after winning the competition in 2023 and 2024. The hosts will face China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea after their opening match against Bangladesh. “We have gained a lot of experience and matured as a team. We…
As India prepares to celebrate National Unity Day (Ekta Diwas) on October 31, 2026, Ekta Nagar, home to the iconic Statue of Unity, has become a vibrant centre of national integration, discipline and patriotic spirit. A contingent of 200 selected National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets representing all 17 NCC Directorates across the country has assembled for the Special National Integration Camp (SNIC) to prepare for the national celebrations. Inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the architect of India’s political integration, the cadets are participating in an intensive programme combining physical training, leadership development and cultural exchange. The camp embodies the spirit…
The Indian Army and the Ethiopian Army have taken a significant step towards strengthening bilateral defence ties with the successful conclusion of their inaugural Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Pune. The talks focused on expanding professional military engagement, enhancing capacity-building initiatives, promoting defence technology and innovation, and identifying new avenues for cooperation between the two armies. As part of the engagement, the Ethiopian Army delegation visited Indian defence industries to gain first-hand insights into India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and its growing start-up ecosystem. The visit highlighted India’s progress under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and its expanding capabilities in defence production…
India’s indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system for diesel-electric submarines has achieved a significant milestone with the inauguration of the Setting to Work (STW) Phase-2 activity of its Energy Module at LNT’s AM Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, on Saturday. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), the AIP system is designed to enhance the underwater endurance of the Indian Navy’s conventional submarines by reducing their dependence on atmospheric oxygen. Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh inaugurated the activity virtually. Vice Admiral…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called upon the Indian Army’s senior leadership to combine long-term strategic planning with operational readiness to counter immediate and emerging security challenges, stressing the need for a technologically advanced, adaptive and future-ready force. Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on October 23, the Singh urged Army Commanders to closely monitor geopolitical and regional developments and develop strategies with a 20–30-year perspective. He emphasised that military planning must remain flexible to respond effectively to rapidly changing security scenarios. Highlighting the operational lessons of Operation Sindoor, Singh said innovative thinking, enhanced synergy, superior coordination and…
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh undertook a flying sortie with National Cadet Corps (NCC) Senior Wing Cadet Jakkula Tejasvi Reddy at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, on October 20, 2026, offering the young cadet valuable first-hand exposure to military aviation. The sortie took place ahead of the Air Chief’s final flying sortie with his first flying instructor, making the occasion a significant opportunity for the cadet to gain practical insights into flying operations. As part of the pre-flight preparations, Cadet Tejasvi underwent cockpit familiarisation, safety briefings, ejection-procedure familiarisation and medical checks. Before boarding the Kiran…