Director General of the Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, visited the Headquarters Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) on Thursday to commemorate the formation’s 15th Raising Day and lauded its contributions to national security and internal stability. Headquarters IGAR (East) was raised on July 23, 2012, at Laitumkhrah, Shillong. Over the past 14 years, the formation has established itself as a key operational arm of the Assam Rifles, earning recognition for its professionalism in addressing internal security challenges, conducting disaster relief operations, spearheading anti-narcotics missions, and safeguarding India’s international borders. During the visit, the Director General was briefed…
Author: Digital Desk
Group Captain Pankaj Upadhyay on Thursday assumed charge as the Commandant of Embarkation Headquarters, Kolkata, succeeding Group Captain A.L. Kishore, who completed his tenure after serving the organisation with distinction. The change of command ceremony marked the formal transfer of leadership at the strategically important Embarkation Headquarters, which is responsible for coordinating the movement of personnel, equipment and military stores for the Army, Navy and Air Force across the eastern region through rail, air and sea routes. The establishment plays a crucial role in ensuring seamless logistical support for tri-services operations and deployments. An officer of the Logistics Branch of…
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today signed two major contracts with industry partners to advance the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening India’s indigenous airborne surveillance capabilities. The Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS), the DRDO laboratory leading the programme, signed a contract with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) for the conversion of six Airbus A321 aircraft from commercial to green configuration. The modified aircraft will serve as the platform for the development and production of the AEW&C Mk-II system. In a separate agreement, CABS signed a contract with Adani…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today flagged in ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the country’s first-ever Tri-Service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, marking the successful completion of a 314-day global voyage by nine women officers of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. The officers, sailing aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, returned to Mumbai after covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans. The expedition had been virtually flagged off by the Defence Minister from Mumbai on September 11, 2025. Addressing the crew through video conferencing, Singh described the successful completion of the mission as a testament to India’s Nari Shakti, a…
A major accident at the under-construction Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim’s Namchi district has claimed multiple lives after a suspected methane gas explosion and tunnel collapse trapped workers undergroundAt least 20 casualties have been reported so far after a section of the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project collapsed yesterday at Samardung in Namchi district in Sikkim. According to officials, the incident occurred on Monday at the tunnel construction site in Samardung village. Initial reports indicate that a buildup of methane gas triggered an explosion, leading to the collapse…
High in the rugged mountains of East Sikkim, where winding roads, unpredictable weather, and difficult terrain often place quality healthcare beyond easy reach, a different kind of mission recently unfolded. It was not a military exercise or a security operation, but a humanitarian effort that brought doctors, dentists, and preventive healthcare specialists directly to people living in some of the region’s most inaccessible villages. The initiative, organised by Trishakti Corps under the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, reflected a broader philosophy that national security extends beyond defending borders—it also includes strengthening the health and resilience of the communities that…
The Central Government has introduced a dedicated recruitment category for retired Agniveers in the recruitment of Constable (General Duty) and Rifleman posts in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles. Under the new provisions, retired Agniveers will receive 50% reservation in vacancies. They will also be eligible for three years of age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit, while candidates from the first batch of Ex-Agniveers will receive an extended five-year age relaxation. In addition, Ex-Agniveers will be exempted from the Physical Standards Test (PST), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), and the written examination during the recruitment process.…
President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu today held bilateral talks with President of North Macedonia H.E. Dr. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the Balkan nation. President Murmu, who arrived in Skopje today as part of her State Visits to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Villa Vodno, the official residence and office of the President of North Macedonia. She was received by North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Mr. Timcho Mucunski, upon her arrival at Skopje International Airport. During the one-to-one meeting and delegation-level discussions, the…
The Indian Navy has commenced Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training programme, at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The exercise began on July 20 and is being conducted under the aegis of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154) in collaboration with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The maiden edition of Operation Southern Readiness being hosted in India has brought together 254 participants from 26 countries, along with 74 facilitators, representatives from four international organisations and subject matter experts. The engagement marks a significant milestone in the expanding cooperation between the Indian Navy…
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday held bilateral talks with President Maia Sandu of Moldova during the first-ever State Visit by an Indian President to the East European nation, marking a significant milestone in India-Moldova relations. President Murmu, who arrived in Chisinau on the first leg of her State Visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania, was received at Chisinau International Airport by Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi. At the Presidential Palace, President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour before holding one-to-one discussions with President Sandu, followed by delegation-level talks. The…