Sikkim’s strategic location in the eastern Himalayas has made high-altitude preparedness and resilient connectivity critical to both national security and disaster response. With key mountain passes such as Nathu La and difficult terrain extending across large parts of the state, extreme weather, steep gradients and limited access can pose significant challenges to the movement of personnel, equipment and essential supplies. The 2017 Doklam standoff in the adjoining Bhutanese sector underscored how quickly developments in the high Himalayas can acquire wider strategic significance. For Sikkim, the episode reinforced the importance of dependable connectivity, robust infrastructure and the ability to respond rapidly…
Author: Pratyusha Mukherjee
Pratyusha Mukherjee
Ms Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 25 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence, Sports & Current Affairs. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism.
Acting on credible and specific intelligence inputs, the Assam Rifles launched a search operation along the Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district on September 11, 2026. A 22-member team was dispatched from Company Operating Base (COB) Aibol Joupi at around 5:30 pm to conduct an extensive search of the suspected area near Border Pillars 53 and 54. The operation continued throughout the night, with troops carrying out sustained area domination and systematic search drills. After nearly eight hours of operations, the team located a concealed cache of weapons and war-like stores at approximately 6:30 am on September 12 in the vicinity…
Drag-flick specialist Supriya produced a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick from penalty corners as defending champions India stormed into the final of the AHF Junior Women’s Asia Cup 2026 with a commanding 5-1 victory over South Korea here on Saturday. India, who controlled the contest for large periods, broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when Madhu Sidar capped a well-worked attacking move to put the holders ahead. The lead gave India greater confidence and they intensified the pressure in the second quarter. A penalty corner in the 17th minute brought Supriya into action, and the drag-flick specialist made no…
In a significant milestone in India-UK defence cooperation, three Indian Air Force (IAF) Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) have joined RAF Valley in Wales to train and instruct Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots. The deployment marks the first time that Indian Air Force QFIs have been posted to the United Kingdom to undertake flying instruction duties with the RAF. The move is being seen as an important step towards deepening professional military engagement between the two countries, while enhancing interoperability and the exchange of operational expertise between their air forces. The participation of Indian instructors at RAF Valley also underscores the…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the two leaders reviewing the progress in bilateral relations and discussing key issues, including border peace, trade and people-to-people ties. During the meeting, Modi and Xi welcomed the steady progress in India-China relations since their previous meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. The two leaders emphasised the need to adopt a strategic and long-term perspective towards bilateral ties and agreed that differences should not turn into disputes. Modi stressed that the relationship should be guided by three principles…
With more than 113 million Indians under the age of 18 estimated to be using the internet, a child rights organisation has launched a nationwide campaign urging children, parents and educators to pause before clicking, sharing or posting online amid growing concerns over cyber bullying, online grooming, exploitation and privacy violations. Child Rights and You (CRY), an Indian non-governmental organisation, launched its “Ting Tong” campaign on August 12, seeking to promote safer digital behaviour among children through a simple message: stop and think before engaging with online content or strangers. For a generation growing up with smartphones and constant connectivity,…
Lt Gen SS Kartikeya, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Brahmastra Corps, undertook a visit to forward area locations under the aegis of Eastern Command to review the formation’s operational preparedness and assess the readiness of troops deployed in forward areas. During the visit, Lt Gen Kartikeya interacted with officers and troops and took stock of the prevailing operational environment, preparedness levels and the measures being undertaken to maintain a high state of readiness. The interaction provided an opportunity for the Corps Commander to engage directly with personnel serving in challenging forward locations and gain an assessment of their operational commitments and…
In a significant step towards strengthening defence cooperation between India and Australia, a 30-member delegation of the Australian Army, participating in the Australian Defence Strategic Studies Course, visited the Headquarters Eastern Command in Kolkata on Friday. The delegation, led by Colonel Brandon Wood, held discussions with Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Command, during which both sides exchanged perspectives on military co-operation and the enduring strategic partnership between the two countries. As part of the visit, the delegation also toured the Eastern Command Museum, gaining insights into the Indian Army’s rich military heritage, operational history and…
The 55th High Command Course of the Army War College (AWC), Mhow, comprising 100 course participants, faculty members and the Commander, Higher Command Wing, visited NITI Aayog as part of its professional military education programme. The delegation interacted with Ms Nidhi Chibber, Director General, Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, and senior Advisors, gaining insights into India’s governance framework, policymaking processes, key Central Government schemes and major development initiatives. The discussions also covered broader dimensions of national security and strategic affairs, providing the participating officers with a perspective on the linkages between national development, governance and security. The…
India produced a composed and determined performance to defeat Malaysia 3-1 and secure their place in the final. India continued to control the contest and extended their advantage to 2-0 before goalkeeper Lakra delivered another moment of brilliance. Malaysia were awarded a penalty stroke in the 53rd minute, but Lakra reacted quickly, diving sharply to his left to keep the effort out with a superb glove save. India immediately turned defence into attack and earned a penalty corner in the 54th minute. Malaysia challenged the decision through a video referral, but the review went in India’s favour and the penalty…