1. Union Home Ministry announced 10% reservation for former Agniveers
Tags: Defence National News
The Union Home Ministry has announced a 10% reservation for former Agniveers in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
An Overview of the News
Its objective is to provide opportunities to a specific group and promote their participation in the Armed Forces.
This reservation is similar to the reservation announced for former Agniveers in the Border Security Force (BSF).
Former Agniveers will get relaxation in the upper age limit and will also be exempted from Physical Efficiency Test.
The upper age limit for candidates of the first batch of Agniveers shall be relaxed by up to five years, whereas the other batches shall get age relaxation by up to three years.
The Agnipath scheme has been launched by the central government for recruitment in the Armed Forces.
The Agnipath scheme was approved by the Indian Government in June 2022.
The scheme aims to induct youth between 17-and-a-half years of age and 21 years of age on a four-year short-term contractual basis.
The scheme has been designed to ensure a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.
2. President Draupadi Murmu awarded the President's Color to INS Dronacharya
On March 16, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu presented the "President's Colour" to INS Dronacharya at Kochi.
An Overview of the News
He also visited India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at the Cochin Shipyard.
President Murmu praised the aircraft carrier as a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat and said that India is among the very few countries that have the capability to build an aircraft carrier with indigenous technology.
About President's Color Award
The President's Color is the most prestigious decoration awarded by the President to a unit for outstanding service to the nation.
The highest military honour is an award given to military units for exceptional dedication and bravery in service.
Eligibility requires a minimum of 25 years of service and outstanding contribution to the military community.
It was instituted on May 27, 1951 and is considered one of the most prestigious military awards.
The award recognizes the collective efforts and sacrifices of a unit in defending their country, maintaining peace and order and upholding military values.
About INS Dronacharya
INS Dronacharya is responsible for training the Sagar Prahari Bal and is also the Navy's primary centre for training various nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
INS Dronacharya is a training establishment of the Indian Navy located in Kochi, Kerala.
It was commissioned in 1989 and provides training to naval personnel in various technical fields.
It also conducts research and development activities in the field of marine technology and provides consultancy services to the Indian Navy and other organisations.
INS Dronacharya has played an important role in the training of the submarine arm of the Indian Navy and is named after Dronacharya, the renowned warrior and teacher.
3. Indian Navy's P8I aircraft to participate in anti-submarine warfare exercise 'Sea Dragon 23'
Tags: Defence
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Indian Navy's long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P8I will participate in the third edition of the coordinated multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise 'Sea Dragon 23'.
An overview of the news
The exercise, scheduled for March 15-30, hosted by the US Navy, will emphasize coordinated anti-submarine warfare among participating nations.
The exercise will have representation from P8A of the US Navy as well as P8I of the Indian Navy, P1 of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, CP 140 of the Royal Canadian Air Force and P3C of the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).
The P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy arrived at Guam, US on 14 March.
About Sea Dragon Exercise
It is an annual US-led multinational exercise.
It is designed to exercise and discuss anti-submarine warfare tactics to operate simultaneously in response to conventional and non-conventional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
It will strengthen cooperation and develop mutual understanding between the participating navies and air forces.
The objective of the exercise is to achieve a high degree of synergy and coordination between the friendly navies.
It reflects shared values and a commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
4. Joint India Singapore Exercise 'Bold Kurukshetra' concludes at Jodhpur
Tags: Defence
The Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in the 13th edition of Exercise 'Bold Kurukshetra', a bilateral exercise at Jodhpur Military Station, India from 6 to 13 March.
An overview of the news
For the first time, both the armies participated in a command post exercise, which included battalion and brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming.
Organized by the Indian Army, soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armored Regiment and the Armored Brigade of the Indian Army participated in the exercise.
The exercise developed a common understanding ofmechanized warfare across emerging threats and emerging technologies, developing interoperability through a computer simulation-based wargame using tactical procedures.
Both the armies not only learned about each other's operational drills and procedures, but also exchanged ideas and best practices being followed in the modern battlefield.
About Exercise 'Bold Kurukshetra'
The exercise is conducted within the scope of joint military training and exercise between the Singapore Army and the Indian Army.
First held in 2005, the exercise underlines the strong and long-standing bilateral defense ties between the two countries.
This exercise enhances cooperation between the two armies.
5. DRDO successfully flight tests indigenous power take off shaft on LCA Tejas in Bengaluru
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
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A successful flight-test of power take off (PTO) shaft was conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru on 14 March.
An overview of the news
First successful flight test of PTO shaft on LCA Tejas Limited Series Production (LSP)-3 aircraft.
The PTO shaft has been indigenously designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The PTO is an important device that transmits power from the aircraft engine to the gearbox.
With this successful test, DRDO has achieved a major technological achievement with the realization of complex high-speed rotor technology that only a few countries have achieved.
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme
It was started by the center in 1984.
It replaced the Mig 21 fighter planes.
It was Designed by Aeronautical Development Agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development.
It was Manufactured by State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
It features as the lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
About Light Combat Aircraft Tejas
It is a single-engine multirole light combat aircraft.
It was designed and developed by India’s HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).
It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes.
It is the lightest and smallest multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
It is designed to be air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision guided and weapon-carrying.
Variants of Tejas
LCA Tejas Navy MK2
LCA Tejas Mk-1A
LCA Navy
6. Centre signs Rs 934 crore deal with HSL to Refit INS Sindhukirti Submarine in Visakhapatnam
Tags: Defence National News
In a further boost to achieve 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the Ministry of Defense on March 13, 2023 signed a contract for General Refit of Sindhukirti Submarine at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam at a total cost of Rs 934 crore .
Overview of the News
Sindhukirti is the third Kilo class Diesel Electric Submarine.
The project involves over 20 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and will generate employment of 1,000 man-days per day for the project duration.
INS Sindhukirti Submarine
It is a diesel-electric submarine.
It was commissioned on June 7, 1990 and since then has been serving the nation in various capacities.
It has a displacement of 1860 tonnes when submerged and is 67.5 metres in length.
The submarine has a maximum speed of 20 knots (about 37 km per hour) when submerged and can dive to a depth of 300 metres.
It is armed with six 533 mm torpedo tubes and can carry up to 18 torpedoes or missiles.
About Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL)
The shipyard 'Hindustan Shipyard Limited' is located in Visakhapatnam.
It is the country's first shipbuilding yard.
Establishment - 21 June 1941
Construction - Walchand Hirachand
7. Exercise 'La Perouse' between navies of India, US, Japan, France, UK and Australia begins
Tags: Defence
The third edition of the multilateral exercise 'La Perouse' was held from 13 to 14 March 2023 in the Indian Ocean region.
An overview of the news
It saw the participation of personnel, ships and integral helicopters from the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Navy and United States Navy.
Indian Navy's indigenously built guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri and fleet tanker INS Jyoti participated in the exercise.
Indian Navy's participation in the exercise reflects the high level of synergy, coordination and interoperability between friendly navies and their commitment to a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise involved complex and advanced naval operations, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare, air defense exercises, cross-deck landings and tactical maneuvers.
About Exercise 'La Perouse'
The first edition of this joint exercise was initiated by France in 2019.
The biennial exercise La Perouse is organized by the French Navy.
It aims to enhance maritime domain awareness and optimize maritime coordination among the participating navies in the Indo-Pacific region.
8. Defence forces halt ALH Dhruv fleet operations in wake of Navy accident
Tags: National Defence National News
Due to the crash of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv fleet of the Indian Navy, the defense forces have halted the operation of ALH Dhruv helicopters till the investigation report comes.
An overview of the news
The Army, Navy and Air Force along with the Indian Coast Guard operate the ALH helicopter.
ALH Dhruv helicopters are used by the Indian Defense Forces in a number of roles including transport of men and material.
ALH Dhruv is one of the vital parts of the helicopter missions used by the three forces, which are deployed in different terrains.
About Dhruv
Advanced Light Helicopter or ALH-DHRUV is an indigenously developed aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with a twin-engine.
This helicopter was first flown in 1992, but was put into service in2002 after certification.
The aircraft is certified for military operations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The major variants of Dhruv are classified as Dhruv Mk-I, Mk-II, Mk-III and Mk-IV.
9. Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy
Tags: Defence National News
Indian Navy's indigenously built Guided Missile Frigate, INS Sahyadriparticipated in the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy (FN) ships in the Arabian Sea from 10 - 11 March 2023.
An overview of the news
French Navy (FN) ships FS Dixmude, a Mistral class amphibious assault ship, and FS La Fayette, a La Fayette class frigate participated in the exercise.
The exercise featured a wide spectrum of development at sea which included cross deck landings, boarding exercises and seamanship development.
The smooth conduct of the exercise reaffirmed the high level of interoperability and cooperation between the two navies.
INS Sahyadri is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors capable of detecting and neutralizing air, surface and sub-surface threats.
The ship is a part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, under the operational control of FOCinC (East).
10. Colonel Geeta Rana became the first woman officer to command a field workshop
Tags: Defence Person in news
Colonel Geeta Rana of the Indian Army's Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers has become the first woman officer of the Indian Army to command a field workshop on the forward front in eastern Ladakh.
An Overview of the news:
Ms. Rana is currently a Colonel in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
The Indian Army has also approved women officers to take up the role of commanders.
After this Colonel Geeta has become the first woman officer to achieve this achievement. Colonel Geeta will command the independent field workshop deployed along the China border.
Increasing role of women officers in the army:
The Indian Army has recently released 108 vacancies for women military officers to command independent units in the Corps of Engineers, Ordnance, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers and other branches.
In future other women military officers may also be given such appointments. Women officers who will be able to get approval from the boards can also be given command roles and in future they can be given appointments in higher positions.
The Indian Army is also inducting women military personnel in military exercises with friendly countries.
Along with this, women military officers are also being sent for peacekeeping missions.
Army Chief General Manoj Pandey is in favour of giving all possible opportunities to women officers in the Army.
Very soon women military personnel can be given appointments in the Artillery Regiment in the Army.
