President Droupadi Murmu presented the President’s Cup of the Durand Cup 2026 to champions East Bengal Football Club at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking the team’s triumph in the prestigious tournament. The ceremony was attended by senior defence officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, President of the Durand Football Tournament Society, along with Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, who serve as Vice Presidents of the Society. Officials and players of East Bengal Football Club were…
Author: Digital Desk
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday held talks with Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, highlighting the growing partnership between India and Luxembourg amid a period of heightened global uncertainty. During the meeting in New Delhi, Jaishankar said the relationship between the two countries was built on trust and had expanded significantly in recent years. He described Bettel’s three-day visit, accompanied by Luxembourg’s Minister of Economy, as a reflection of the deepening bilateral partnership. Jaishankar said trade, investment and financial cooperation have remained at the core of India-Luxembourg relations, while the two sides are now exploring…
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.10 lakh crore for the Armed Forces. Around 98 per cent of the approved procurements will be sourced from Indian industry, in a major boost to indigenous defence manufacturing. For the Indian Army, the approvals cover CBRN reconnaissance vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MMLs), Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), Trawl Tanks and Sarvatra Bridge Systems. The CBRN reconnaissance vehicles will provide capabilities to detect, identify, monitor and mark areas contaminated by chemical, biological,…
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the men’s international friendly between India and Panama, scheduled to be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, will now take place on September 25, 2026, instead of the previously announced date of September 26. The fixture remains part of the FIFA Men’s International Match Window, with the Blue Tigers set to face 44th-ranked Panama, who featured at the FIFA World Cup 2026. (AIFF)
A Corps of Signals mountaineering expedition has successfully summited three Himalayan peaks in Ladakh, including Mt Chamser Kangri at 6,622 metres, over a 17-day period in August 2026, marking a significant high-altitude mountaineering achievement by the Indian Army. The expedition scaled Mt Kiagar Ri (6,100 metres) on August 13, Mt Mentok Kangri (6,250 metres) on August 24 and Mt Chamser Kangri (6,622 metres) on August 29. Flagged off by Signal Officer-in-Chief Lt Gen Vivek Dogra, SM, on June 18, the expedition involved operations in extreme high-altitude conditions and demonstrated the participants’ endurance, technical mountaineering skills, leadership and teamwork. The expedition…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka from 08 to 10 September 2026, leading a high-level Indian delegation comprising senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of External Affairs. During the visit, he will hold high-level consultations with the Sri Lankan leadership on a wide range of bilateral and regional security issues. He will also interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo. The visit assumes significance in the context of India and Sri Lanka’s longstanding defence and maritime security partnership, underpinned by deep civilisational, cultural and people-to-people ties. Defence…
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sarang Helicopter Display Team has arrived in Egypt to participate in the 2nd edition of the El Alamein International Airshow, scheduled to be held from 08 to 10 September 2026 at El Alamein International Airport. Renowned as the world’s only five-helicopter aerobatic display team, Sarang will showcase the operational precision, flying discipline and exceptional airmanship of the Indian Air Force through a series of meticulously choreographed aerial displays. Operating the indigenously designed and manufactured Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, the team is recognised globally for its demanding formation manoeuvres, close-proximity flying and highly synchronised aerial…
The fourth Passing Out Parade of the Short Service Commission (Technical Entry) Men and Women courses was conducted at the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Gaya, on Saturday, marking the commissioning of 253 Officer Cadets into the Indian Army. The Passing Out Parade witnessed 218 Officer Cadets of SSC (Tech) Men-65 and 35 Officer Cadets of SSC (Tech) Women-36 marching through the historic Antim Pag, signifying the culmination of their rigorous military training and their transition into commissioned leadership. Lieutenant General Le Van Huong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Vietnam People’s Army, reviewed the parade. The immaculate turnout, precise drill…
The Indian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will conduct the second edition of bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian 2026 at Jodhpur from September 9 to 22. Two JASDF C-2 transport aircraft landed at Air Force Station Jodhpur, carrying the Japanese contingent for the exercise. The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational synergy between the two air forces while strengthening mutual understanding and coordination. The drills are also expected to further deepen the longstanding defence partnership and bonds of friendship between India and Japan.
Sports can help engage Ladakh’s youth, promote healthy lifestyles and keep them away from drugs and other social evils, Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan said on Saturday, calling for greater opportunities to identify and nurture sporting talent in the Union Territory. Speaking on the sidelines of the Ladakh Sports Festival 2026, National Sports Day and Youth Engagement Month at the Astro Turf Ground in Khel Gaon Kurbathang, Jan said the month-long programme aims to bring more young people into sports and provide them platforms to showcase their talent. He said sporting events are being organised across all seven districts of…