General Awareness

DEFENCE - July 2023

Jul 2023

Jun 18, 2024

Punjab Police Launch 'Mission Nishchay'

Punjab Police in association with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs) is carrying out a one-week drive called 'Mission Nischay' against drugs in Fazilka district from June 15 to 21, 2024. They are reaching out to residents of as many as 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs.
The idea is to instil a sense of community participation among inhabitants of border villages as we make efforts to curb the menace of drugs. The focus on youth and women to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs. Of the 553-km-long Punjab border with Pakistan, 108 km is in Fazilka district.

India's Nuclear Stockpile Crosses Pakistan for First Time in 25 Years: SIPRI

For the first time in 25 years, the Indian nuclear weapons stockpiled surpassed that of Pakistan, with a leading global tracker SIPRI assessing that India now has 172 warheads, against 170 estimated to be with Pakistan.
India is focusing more on longer-range weapons capable of reaching targets throughout China, while Pakistan remains the primary focus of India's nuclear deterrent.
Among Asian nuclear powers, India, Pakistan, and North Korea are pursuing the capability to deploy multiple warheads on ballistic missiles, the report added. This is something that China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US already possess.

Jun 17, 2024

Indian Army Inducts made-in-India Nagastra-1 Suicide Drones

In a significant boost to India's self-reliance in defense technology, the Indian Army has inducted the Nagastra-1 Loiter Munition, the country's first indigenous suicide drone. Developed by Nagpur-based Solar Industries, the Nagastra-1 is a man-portable weaponised drone system designed to neutralise enemy threats with high precision.
The induction of Nagastra-1 marks a critical step towards India's self-sufficiency in drone technology for military applications.
It is said to mark first step in a Journey towards enhancing India's indigenous capabilities in utilising drones and UAVs as crucial components of warfare machinery.
Loiter Munition or suicide drones, are single-use weapons that fly into their targets and detonate on impact, they are capable of circling above a target and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. They are typically designed to loiter around a target area until a target is located, then attack the target by crashing into it.

India to Host its First Multinational Air Exercise Tarang Shakti in August

The Indian Air Force's first multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti-2024, will be held in August, and is likely to see the participation of ten countries, in addition to a few others acting as observers.
"Enriched with the Red Flag exercise experience, the IAF keenly looks forward to hosting the participating contingents from other countries during Tarang Shakti-2024, which is the first ever Indian multinational air exercise to be held later this year," the IAF said on Sunday in a statement on the just concluded Red Flag exercise hosted by the U.S. Air Force.
The plan is to invite friendly foreign countries with whom the IAF interacts regularly and has a certain degree of interoperability, officials said. Tarang Shakti was earlier planned to be held at the end of 2023, but got deferred.
The exercise is now scheduled to be held in two phases. The first will be held in southern India in the first two weeks of August and the second will be in the western sector from the end of August to mid-September, officials said. Some countries will participate in both phases, while others will join one of the two phases, it has been learnt.
Among the countries sending contingents are Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Germany will deploy fighter jets and also an A-400M transport aircraft, as reported by The Hindu earlier. The A-400M aircraft will be on showcase for the IAF, given that it is a contender for the open tender for medium transport aircraft.

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.

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