General Awareness

DEFENCE - March 2020

Mar 2020

Jun 16, 2024

Indian Army Receives First Batch of Indigenous Suicide Drones 'Nagastra-1'

The Indian Army received the first batch of man-portable suicide drones named Nagastra-1. The drones are capable of accurately striking enemy training camps, launch pads and infiltrators, hence minimising risk to soldiers.
The high-tech drones are designed and developed completely in India by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, Nagpur.
These drones will enhance the capability of the Indian Army to execute shallow strikes across the border when necessary. Drones like Nagastra-1 with in-built warheads are known as kamikaze or exploding drones.

Jun 15, 2024

Lt Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman Appointed Army Chief of Bangladesh

Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman was named Bangladesh's next Army chief for a three-year term.
Lieutenant General Waker is an alumnus of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, and the Joint Services Command and Staff College, UK. He holds a master's degree in defence studies from the National University of Bangladesh and a master of arts in defence studies from King's College, University of London.
During his more than three and a half decades of illustrious career, Zaman has an enormous experience in holding key command, staff and instructional appointments, according to the Defence Ministry's Inter Service Public Relations Department (ISPR).

Jun 14, 2024

Russia and Belarus Conduct Tactical Nuclear Weapons Drills amid Tensions with West

Russia and Belarus have commenced the second stage of joint drills focused on tactical nuclear weapons, aimed at bolstering readiness and deterring Western support for Ukraine. These exercises, initiated by Moscow in response to perceived provocations from Western officials, underline the Kremlin's strategic stance amid heightened tensions.
The drills, announced last month (May 2024) by Russia's Defence Ministry, are a direct response to what Russian authorities describe as provocative actions and statements from the United States and its European allies. The first phase concentrated on nuclear mission preparation and deployment logistics, while the current exercises involve training in the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in combat scenarios.

NSG to Set Up Units in Ayodhya, Pathankot and Kerala

National Security Guards (NSG) will soon create its units in Ayodhya, Pathankot and Kerala. Confirming the development, a senior officer said that the process was in the pipeline for some time. The unit in Ayodhya will get operational in the next couple of months and the other two by the end of this year.
These units will help local police and other CAPF units in capacity building and lessen the response time for NSG in case of any adverse situation.
Notably, Ram Temple in Ayodhya which was inaugurated in January this year is among sensitive installations in India and is said to be on the radar of various terror outfits.
The decision to set up NSG hubs in Pathankot and Kerala comes after keeping in view the strategic importance of the border district Pathankot and Kerala transforming into a haven for fundamentalist forces and logistics hub for pan-Islamic terrorist groups.

Ajit Doval Reappointed as National Security Adviser (NSA)

The Narendra Modi-led central government reappointed former IPS officer Ajit Doval as the National Security Adviser (NSA) and former IAS officer P. K. Mishra as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
The appointments of both the officials are co-terminus with the term of PM Modi or until further orders.
Doval, a 1968 batch IPS officer was first appointed India's National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister in May 2014, after the Narendra Modi government came to power. He was re-appointed as the NSA in the 2nd term of the Modi government starting in 2019.
As NSA, Ajit Doval would head the National Security Council (NSC), whose primary role is to advise the PM on issues related to national and international security.
Doval joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1968 and received the Kirti Chakra in 1988 for his distinguished services.
In addition, Doval was the youngest officer to receive the Indian Police Medal.
Notably, the post of NSA was created for the first time in 1998 when nuclear tests were conducted for the second time in the country.

Jun 13, 2024

Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi is New Army Chief

The Centre appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi as the next Army Chief. The development came in just over two weeks after the government in an unusual move extended the tenure of current Army chief General Manoj Pande who was to retire on May 31, by a month.
Lt Gen Dwivedi replaces Gen Pande.
The former Northern Army Commander is the seniormost officer in the Army at present and the norm is to appoint the most senior Army commander or the Army vice chief is made the Army chief when the serving COAS retires. The Army chief retires on completion of three years in the appointment or on attaining the age of 62, whichever is earlier.
Lt Gen Dwivedi was commissioned into the Infantry (Jammu & Kashmir Rifles) of the Army on December 15, 1984.
During his long and distinguished service spanning four decades, he has served in a variety of Command, Staff, Instructional and Foreign appointments. His Command appointments include Command of Regiment (18 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles), Brigade (26 Sector Assam Rifles), as Inspector General, Assam Rifles (East) and 9 Corps.

Jun 12, 2024

Adani Defence & Aerospace, UAE's EDGE Sign Defence Cooperation Agreement

Adani Defence and Aerospace signed a cooperation agreement with EDGE Group, a global technology and defence organisation based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement will create a global platform that utilises the defence and aerospace strengths of both companies by combining product portfolios.
This includes evaluating cooperation across EDGE's and Adani's core product domains, including missiles and weapons covering airborne, surface, infantry, ammunition, and air defence products, platforms and systems covering unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, counter-drone systems, unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), as well as electronic warfare (EW) and cyber technologies.
The agreement will explore the establishment of research and development (R&D) facilities in India and the UAE. Under the partnership, development, production, and maintenance facilities for defence and aerospace solutions will be set up to serve not only the domestic markets of both countries but also Southeast Asian and wider global markets.

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