Tawang , a high-altitude town and district headquarters in northwestern Arunachal Pradesh located at around 3,500 metres (10,000 feet) in the Eastern Himalayas. It lies near the borders of Tibet to the north and Bhutan to the southwest. In a significant step towards environmental conservation and sustainable development, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, organised a large-scale afforestation drive in Tawang on the occasion of World Environment Day. Conducted under the theme “Sajhedari Se Sanrakshan”, the initiative underscored the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards safeguarding the ecologically fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Recognising the environmental sensitivity…
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.
India’s air defence capabilities have received a major boost with the arrival of the fourth squadron of the Russian-origin S-400 ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ air defence system. The delivery is part of the $5.43 billion agreement signed between India and Russia in 2018 for the procurement of five S-400 regimental systems. According to defence sources, the latest squadron arrived in India by sea a few days ago and is expected to be deployed in an operational area shortly. The induction comes as India continues to strengthen its multi-layered air defence architecture amid evolving regional security challenges. “The S-400 Sudarshan long-range air defence…
Reinforcing its commitment to youth empowerment, nation-building and social outreach, Assam Rifles successfully facilitated an educational and cultural exposure tour for 13 students and three teachers from Manipur to participate in the prestigious SPIC MACAY International Convention held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur recently. The initiative, aimed at broadening the horizons of young minds and strengthening national integration, commenced with a ceremonial flag-off at Lok Bhavan, Imphal East, on 23 May. The event was graced by the Governor of Manipur, who commended Assam Rifles for providing the state’s youth with an opportunity to engage with one of…
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Employment and Skill Development: In a landmark initiative jointly undertaken by the West Bengal & Sikkim Directorate NCC and Rakshak Foundation, 220 NCC cadets were successfully provided with meaningful employment opportunities in a reputed corporate organization. Among them, 83 Senior Wing (SW) cadets secured avenues for professional growth and career advancement. The Rakshak Foundation played a pivotal role in the execution of the programme through a transparent and efficient recruitment process, comprehensive candidate briefings, and meticulous documentation support. The successful onboarding of selected cadets is set to commence immediately. This pioneering endeavour marks a significant milestone…
A significant engineering milestone has been reached in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project with the successful breakthrough of the third mountain tunnel (MT-07) at Ambesari village in Dahanu Taluka of Palghar district, Maharashtra. This latest achievement marks the completion of three mountain tunnel breakthroughs in Maharashtra within just five months, highlighting the rapid pace of construction in one of the most complex sections of India’s first high-speed rail corridor. The newly completed MT-07 tunnel measures 417 metres in length and 14.4 metres in width and has been designed to accommodate both up and down tracks of the Bullet Train corridor.…
India has taken a significant step toward strengthening its rowing programme, with the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) inducting 22 rowers into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group as part of preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and future international competitions. The decision was approved during the MOC’s 174th meeting following the completion of annual national selection trials and crew finalisation by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI). The newly inducted athletes will represent six boat categories and form the core of India’s rowing squad for upcoming international assignments, including the Asian Games and the World Rowing…
4,000 yrs of climate history from world’s largest inhabited river island offer adaption insights: Majuli Island, perched between the Brahmaputra River to the south and east, the Subansiri River to the west, and a branch of the Brahmaputra to the north, has been severely affected by recurrent flooding and intense riverbank erosion. Despite its global importance in acquiring UNESCO tentative status for cultural significance, the region lacked any comprehensive long-term palaeoecological reconstruction based on palynological evidence resting on integrated modern and fossil pollen records. Pollen serves, as one of the most reliable indicators of past environmental conditions as they are…
India and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on maritime security, defence industrial collaboration, and emerging technology research. The developments emerged during the second India–Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The high-level dialogue reviewed the significant progress achieved since the inaugural ministerial meeting in October 2025 and advanced the long-term strategic vision outlined by the two Prime Ministers. Both sides welcomed efforts to renew and strengthen the…
In a significant milestone for youth participation in national service, 540 Agniveers of Batch 07/25, including nearly 500 recruits from across the Kashmir Valley, were formally inducted into the Indian Army following a Passing-Out Parade at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) Regimental Centre in Srinagar. The ceremony marked the successful completion of 44 weeks of rigorous military training under the Agneepath recruitment scheme and represented the transition of the recruits from civilian life to military service. Conducted with full military honours, the parade showcased the discipline, professionalism and combat readiness attained by the young soldiers during their training.…
FIFA has outlined a major expansion of its digital football strategy, reinforcing its commitment to the rapidly growing gaming and esports sector ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Under the strategy, FIFA is set to expand into various gaming categories. In addition, the institution will create new pathways for participation – from hyper-casual to competitive play – whilst ensuring that FIFA competitions and Member Associations, as well as gaming and esports partners, remain connected. This approach extends across football esports, in which FIFA continues to develop a structured, competition-driven ecosystem around the FIFAe brand, with low barriers to entry,…