Maj Gen Amita Rani Assumes the Charge of Addl DG, MNS
Maj Gen Amita Rani assumed the appointment of Addl Director General, Military Nursing Service (MNS). The General Officer is an alumnus of the College of Nursing, Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi. Prior to assuming the present appointment, she held the post of Principal Matron of Army Hospital (Research & Referral).
The General Officer was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service in the year 1983. She has completed short-term courses on Quality Control, Infection Control and Prevention Management, Six Sigma Green Belt in Health care, among others and a Post Graduate Certificate course in Hospital and Quality Management from the National Health Care Academy headquartered at Singapore. As an able administrator, she has held key appointments such as DPM CH (EC) Kolkata, Principal Matron at 154 GH, MH Jalandhar, MH Allahabad and Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore.
Aug 03, 2023
BCL Hands over First RF Seeker of Akash to DRDO
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) handed over the first Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker of Akash - Next Generation Weapon System to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The RF Seeker, a critical and technology-intensive subsystem used in Surface-to-Air Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles for target tracking in the terminal phase, was produced at BDL's newly commissioned state-of-the-art Seeker Facility Centre (SFC).
The RF Seeker was designed by DRDO's Research Centre Imarat and manufactured by BDL at its advanced Seeker Facility Centre located in BDL's Kanchanbagh Unit.
High-voltage Malabar Exercise Set to Begin off Sydney
The high-voltage Malabar exercise featuring the navies of all four Quad countries, India, the US, Australia and Japan, is set to take place off Sydney from August 11 to 21. The annual wargame will include both sea and harbour phases with the focus expected to be on expanding overall maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific that has been witnessing growing military muscle flexing by China.
The Indian Navy is likely to send two frontline warships for the mega exercise.
The exercise will feature a number of complex drills involving several frontline warships and other assets of the four navies.
The Malabar Exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.
Aug 02, 2023
Rear Admiral Ajay D. Theophilus Takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area
Rear Admiral Ajay D. Theophilus took over as the Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area from Rear Admiral Vikram Menon at a ceremonial parade held at the INS Hansa at Vasco in South Goa.
Prior to taking over the new charge, Rear Admiral Theophilus served as deputy commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala (in Kerala).
Rear Admiral Theophilus joined the Indian Navy in 1987 and was commissioned into the executive branch on July 1, 1991. He was selected for the pilot's course in June 1992, and upon completion of the course, he joined the fighter stream of naval aviation.
Indian Army Implements Common Uniform for Brigadier and above Ranks
The Indian Army put in force a common uniform for the rank of Brigadier and above like Major General, Lieutenant-General and General, irrespective of an officer's parent cadre and appointment. The step has been implemented to maintain uniformity all across the Indian Army. There will be no change in the uniform worn by Colonels and officers below that rank.
The decision was taken after a discussion with all stakeholders during the Army Commanders Conference.
Jul 31, 2023
Tenth Meeting of Subcommittee on Military Cooperation between India, Malaysia Held in Delhi
The 10th meeting of the subcommittee on military cooperation between India and Malaysia was held in Delhi.
The existing defence cooperation between the two countries was reviewed during the meeting and wide-ranging discussions were held on issues of mutual interest.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Amitabh Prasad, while the Malaysian side was headed by Assistant Chief of Staff, Defence Operations and Training Division Maj Gen Dato' Khairul Anuar bin Abd Aziz.
Both the co-chairs also deliberated on the possible outcomes for the 12th Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting which will be held at the level of Defence Secretary in India in September.
US Announces Taiwan Weapons Package Worth up to $345mn
The United States (US) unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million, a move likely to anger China even as the Biden administration declined to publicly provide details on the arms in the package.
The Congress authorised up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan, which strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, to halt the sale of weapons to the island.
Indian Navy Ends 'Colonial Practice' of Carrying Batons by Personnel
The Indian Navy discontinued the practice of carrying barons by its senior officers with immediate effect. This decision to stop the custom that has been followed since British rule was a part of the Navy's effort to shed colonial-era influences at different levels of the force.
Now, the Navy decided to place a ceremonial baton in the office of the Head of the Organisation of every unit. A ceremonial handing over of the baton may be undertaken within the office, as a part of Change of Command only.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked the defence forces to shed their colonial practices as the country entered Amrit Kall having been independent for over 75 years.
Jul 30, 2023
Joint Military Exercise between Indian and Mongolian Armies Concludes
The 15th edition of the joint military exercise between India and Mongolia concluded at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. An Indian Army contingent, comprising 43 personnel, took part in a joint military exercise 'Nomadic Elephant 2023'.
Indian Army soldiers from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 from participated in the exercise. The primary theme of the exercise focused on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate. The scope of this exercise involved Platoon level Field Training Exercise (FTX).
During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops engaged in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities. The exercise 'Nomadic Elephant' is an annual training event between India and Mongolia, which is conducted alternatively in the two countries.