The Indian Navy is set to host the fifth edition of its flagship Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar, Swavlamban 2026, on October 26 and 27 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, with a focus on accelerating indigenous defence technologies and strengthening Aatmanirbharta. The curtain-raiser press conference for the event was held in New Delhi on October 19 under the chairmanship of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS). Swavlamban has evolved since 2022 into a key platform connecting the Indian Navy’s operational requirements with the technological capabilities of Indian industry and academia. Addressing the media,…
Author: Digital Desk
The India-UAE Joint Military Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026 concluded at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, Uttarakhand, following two weeks of intensive joint training conducted from October 5 to 18, 2026. The exercise brought together troops of the Indian Army and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces to enhance interoperability, strengthen operational coordination and improve combat effectiveness through coordinated military training and field-level engagements. During the exercise, participating troops undertook joint planning, tactical drills and integrated field exercises, with a particular focus on sub-conventional operations. The training provided an opportunity for both forces to exchange operational experiences, refine tactical procedures…
The Indian Navy’s three-masted sail training ship INS Sudarshini has departed Salalah, Oman, following a four-day port visit from October 14 to 17, 2026, as it continues its historic transoceanic deployment under Lokayan-2026. The voyage underscores the Indian Navy’s rich maritime heritage and its commitment to developing professional seamanship, resilience and leadership among naval trainees through extended deployments across international waters. During the port call, professional interactions and sporting engagements between personnel of the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman fostered camaraderie and strengthened mutual understanding. The engagements further reinforced the longstanding bonds of friendship and maritime cooperation…
The Recruiting Office (Headquarters), Bengaluru, will conduct the Agniveer Recruitment Rally for male candidates at Onake Obavva Stadium in Chitradurga, Karnataka, from October 31 to November 3, 2026. The rally will be held for candidates who have qualified in the Online Common Entrance Examination (CEE), conducted from June 1 to 12, 2026. Shortlisted candidates from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Ballari, Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru South, Kodagu, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Hassan, Chitradurga and Vijayanagara districts will be called for the recruitment process, as applicable. According to the Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing), the eligibility criteria, including age limits, educational qualifications and…
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has introduced technology-driven enhanced on-board services in five superfast train services, becoming the second zonal railway under Indian Railways to implement the initiative aimed at improving cleanliness, hygiene, passenger comfort and service accountability. The initiative covers the Kamakhya–SMVT Bengaluru Express (12552/12551), Guwahati–Kolkata Garib Rath Express (12518/12517), Dibrugarh–Mumbai LTT Express (15946/15945), New Jalpaiguri–Patna Vande Bharat Express (22233/22234) and New Jalpaiguri–Guwahati Vande Bharat Express (22227/22228). The enhanced services were introduced in the two Vande Bharat Express trains based at New Jalpaiguri on October 14, 2026, in the presence of senior railway officials. The Kamakhya–SMVT Bengaluru Express also adopted…
Eastern Railway has intensified cleanliness drives, waste management initiatives and public awareness campaigns across its divisions under Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 and Special Campaign 6.0, in line with the vision and leadership of General Manager Gitika Pandey. The initiatives aim to improve station hygiene, promote responsible waste disposal, strengthen environmental sustainability and encourage passengers to actively participate in maintaining clean railway premises. Strengthening waste management and environmental compliance: Sealdah Division has finalised and updated its Solid Waste Management (SWM) Action Plan in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The plan incorporates information on public awareness programmes, waste segregation practices,…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government, scheduled to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 19–20, 2026. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation among SCO member states, with particular emphasis on trade, economic engagement, investment, connectivity, innovation and cultural-humanitarian exchanges. During the meeting, member states will review the progress of ongoing cooperation initiatives and deliberate on decisions concerning the organisation’s financial and institutional functioning. The engagement will also provide India with an opportunity to exchange views with other member countries…
Demonstrating its operational readiness and commitment to humanitarian assistance, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a short-notice medical evacuation late at night, airlifting a critically ill 30-year-old civilian patient from Leh to Palam in Delhi for urgent medical treatment. The mission was undertaken by an IAF C-130J transport aircraft amid darkness and challenging weather conditions, demanding a high degree of operational preparedness, precision and seamless coordination. The timely execution of the evacuation ensured the patient could be moved swiftly from the high-altitude region of Ladakh to the national capital for advanced medical care. Following the airlift, the patient was…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that any future terrorist attack originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response from India, declaring that the country’s approach to counterterrorism had shifted from diplomatic condemnation to decisive military action. Addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh cited Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and the surgical strikes as defining examples of India’s resolve to eliminate terrorism at its source. He emphasised that while India remained committed to peace and dialogue, its commitment should never be mistaken for weakness. “Any terror act originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response,”…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for deeper defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN member states, stressing the need to uphold national sovereignty, respect international law and strengthen regional trust to ensure peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. Addressing the inaugural ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) in New Delhi, Singh said India envisioned an Indo-Pacific where all countries, irrespective of their size, could make independent choices, protect their interests and pursue development in peace. He underscored the importance of keeping communication channels open, resolving differences peacefully and…