1. 2022 Navy Day to be celebrated at Visakhapatnam
Tags: place in news Defence
The Indian Navy will hold its annual Navy Day celebration 2022 at Visakhapatnam as per the Prime Minister's vision to move significant events and festivities out of the national capital.
The Indian Air Force Day which is observed on 8 October was held for the first time outside Delhi in Chandigarh. The Indian Army has also announced that the Next Army Day parade 2023 will be held outside New Delhi in the Army’s Southern Command area on 15 January 2023.
The Navy Day which is observed on 4 December every year is usually held in New Delhi in presence of the Commander in Chief, President of India.
This year for the first time it will be held outside New Delhi. This year the Indian Navy is all set to demonstrate India’s combat prowess and capability through an ‘Operational Demonstration’ at Visakhapatnam on 04 December 2022.
Navy Day is observed on 4 December to commemorate Operation Trident of the Indian Navy launched on 4 December 1971 to block the Karachi port of Pakistan and cripple its war effort against India. It was a highly successful mission.
Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral R Hari Kumar
2. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurates the first Coastal Security Conference in Chennai
Tags: place in news Defence Summits Person in news
Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane inaugurated the first Coastal Security Conference organised by the Indian Coast Guard under the aegis of Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) at Chennai on 1 December 2022. Director General, Indian Coast Guard V S Pathania was also present at the occasion.
Defence Secretary called upon the member countries to take concerted measures to counter transnational crimes and address identified areas to make the seas safer.
The two day (1-2 December) conference is being attended by India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
Theme of the conference: Collaborative Efforts for Coastal Security.
A range of issues including coastal security threat, collaborative response, international maritime law and role of empowered agencies, technological solutions for coastal security etc were discussed at the conference.
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)
The CSC started as a trilateral maritime cooperation mechanism between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2011. The membership of the Group was enlarged with the addition of Mauritius in March 2022.
The Secretariat of the CSC is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The members have identified five pillars for cooperation, namely-
- Maritime Safety and Security;
- Countering Terrorism and Radicalization;
- Combating Trafficking and Organised Crime;
- Cyber Security, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology and
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
3. 12th edition of Agni Warrior exercise between Indian and Singapore Armed Forces Concludes at Devlali
Tags: place in news Defence
The 12th edition of the bilateral Agni Warrior Exercise between the Indian and the Singapore Army concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali (Maharashtra) on 30 November 2022.
The exercise which commenced on 13 November 2022 involved showcasing joint firepower planning, execution and use of New Generation Equipment by the Artillery arm of both armies.
Exercise also included participation by both sides in a joint computer war-game as part of joint planning process.
4. Exercise Sudarshan Prahar conducted by Army’s Sudarshan Chakra Corps in Rajasthan
Tags: place in news Defence
Indian Army’s Sudarshan Chakra Corps carried out Exercise Sudarshan Prahar in the deserts of Rajasthan. The exercise focussed on the synergised application of combat power through the integration of force multipliers & practicing new battle techniques in an integrated all arms environment showcasing high level of professionalism and offensive spirit.
General Officer Commanding In Chief of the Southern Command: Lieutenant General A K Singh
Command structure of the Indian Army
The Headquarter of the Indian Army is at New Delhi with the President being the Commander in Chief of the Army.
Headquarters of the Indian Army: New Delhi
Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande
The Indian Army has 6 operational commands and one Training command. Each command is headed by a General Officer Commanding in Chief with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Command | Headquarters |
Western Command | Chandimandir (Haryana) |
Eastern Command | Kolkata (West Bengal) |
Southern Command | Pune(Maharashtra) |
Northern Command | Udhampur(Jammu ) |
Central Command | Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) |
South -Western Command | Jaipur (Rajasthan ) |
Army Training Command | Shimla(Himachal Pradesh) |
Army Day is observed on 15 January every year.
5. Prime Minister Modi greets BSF on its 58th raising Day
Tags: Defence Important Days
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the Border Security Personnel and their families on BSF (Border Security Force) 58th raising day. Every year December 1 is observed as BSF day because the force was raised on this day in 1965.
BSF was set up after the 1965 India Pakistan war. It is a border force which is deployed along the International border with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
BSF is also known as the nation’s ’first line of defence'.
It is the world’s largest border force in the world.
It is one of the 7 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) which comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The other CAPF are Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Force (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema BAL (SSB).
The BSF is the only force in the country to have the Camel Contingents and the Camel Mounted Band.
It is the only force in the world which has a female camel riding squad.
It is the only CAPF to have a full-fledged Water Wing, Air Wing and even an Artillery Regiment of its own.
- Motto of BSF : Duty Unto Death,
- Headquarters: New Delhi,
- Director General: Pankaj Kumar Singh (IPS)
- First Director General : K F Rustamji
6. Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III squadron, commissioned in Chennai
Tags: Defence National News
With a view to further strengthen Coast Guard Area East, 840 Sqn (CG), an Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III squadron was commissioned by DG VS Pathania on 30 November at ICG Air Station, Chennai.
Important facts
The commissioning of 840 Sqn (CG) marks a significant progress towards self-reliance in helicopter manufacturing, in line with the government's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
It will provide a fillip to the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard in the security sensitive waters of Tamil Nadu and Andhra region.
A total of 16 ALH Mk-III aircraft have been inducted into the Indian Coast Guard in a phased manner and four of these aircraft are positioned in Chennai.
Since induction, the squadron has flown over 430 hours and conducted numerous operational missions.
About ALH Mk-III helicopters
The ALH Mk-III helicopters, indigenously manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
It features state-of-the-art equipment including advanced RADAR as well as Electro optical sensors, Shakti engines, full glass cockpit, high-intensity search light, advanced communication systems, automatic identification system as well as search-and-rescue homer.
The facility will enable the squadron to conduct maritime reconnaissance, and conduct search and rescue operations over extended ranges, operating day and night from ships.
The aircraft has the ability to switch from an offensive platform with a heavy machine gun for transfer of critically ill patients to a benign platform carrying ICUs.
7. ICG conducts 24th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan and Preparedness Meeting
Tags: Defence National News
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on 30 November conducted the 24th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP) and Preparedness Meeting in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Important facts
Director General, ICG V S Pathania, who is the Chairman of NOS-DCP, chaired the meeting.
During the meeting, national capabilities were reviewed with the objective of ensuring collective preparedness to respond to any oil and chemical spill contingency in Indian waters.
The meeting was attended by around 100 delegates including representatives from various ministries, central and state government departments and agencies, state pollution control boards, ports and companies dealing with oil spills.
Currently, as the third largest importer of crude, India receives a large volume of oil through ships.
Similarly, India stands sixth in the world as a major chemical importer country.
Risks of oil and chemicals spill
Spills of both oil and chemicals pose inherent risks to coastal populations, marine ecosystems, industry and the ancillary tourism industry as well as various establishments in India's maritime zones and associated coastlines.
Hence, preventive measures are required to be taken by the Central Coordinating Agency, Ports, Ship Owners, Oil Handling Facilities, Coastal States and other relevant stakeholders to prevent any possible marine spillage.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence.
It was established in August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India.
It is the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world.
It has played a vital role in securing Indian coasts and enforcing regulations in India's maritime zones.
It is headquartered in New Delhi.
8. 4 US soldiers promoted high up on Nanda Devi during India-US military exercise
Tags: Defence International News
For the first time, four US Army officers from the 11th Airborne Division have been promoted to India's second highest Himalayan peak Nanda Devi during the 18th edition of Indo-US joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' in Uttarakhand.
Important facts
Capt. Cerruti, Lt. Russell, Lt. Brown and Lt. Hack became the first four USArmy Officers to be promoted in the Himalayas during Yudh Abhyas Exercise.
US soldiers from the 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the Assam Regiment are participating in a two-week joint military exercise.
Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and the US with the aim of exchanging best practices, tactics, techniques and procedures between the armies of the two nations.
The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and share expertise in peacekeeping and disaster relief operations between the two armies.
The joint exercise will also focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
Nanda Devi Peak
Nanda Devi is the second-highest mountain in India, after Kangchenjunga, and located entirely within India (Kangchenjunga is on the border of India and Nepal). It is in the state of Uttarakhand (Chamoli district).
It is the 23rd-highest peak in the world.
The Nanda Devi Peak is a part of the Garhwal Himalayas.
9. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appeals for generous contribution to ‘Armed Forces Flag Day Fund’ during CSR Conclave in New Delhi
Tags: place in news Defence
The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has appealed to the nation to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Addressing the 4th edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day CSR Conclave, organised by Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, in New Delhi on 29 November 2022. He asked the corporates to donate fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility.
Armed Forces Flag Day
Every year 7 December has been observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund since 1949. It is managed by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare under the Ministry of Defence. It was set up by the government so that the public can contribute to this fund.
The fund is used by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare for the welfare and rehabilitation of war widows, wards of martyred soldiers and Ex-Servicemen, including disabled ones by providing financial assistance for their identified personal needs such as penury grant, children’s education grant, funeral grant, medical grant and orphan/disabled children grant.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Under CSR certain public or private sector companies have to spend a minimum 2% of the average net profits made during the 3 immediately preceding financial years on certain sectors identified by the government.
CSR funds are spent on measures for the benefit of armed forces veterans, war widows and their dependents, community development programmes related to safe drinking water, education, conservation of natural resources, setting up of orphanages, old age homes etc.
It was implemented on 1 April 2004 under the Companies Act 2003.
10. The Indian Army is training dogs and Kites to deal with drone menace
Tags: Defence
To deal with the menace of drones the Indian Army is training dogs and Kites (Cheel in Hindi) to identify and destroy the drones. Hostile elements from Pakistan are sending drugs, arms and ammunition to India through drones which is creating a security problem for India.
Recently on 24 November, Jammu and Kashmir Police recovered a consignment of weapons and Indian currency that were dropped by a Pakistani drone in the Samba district of Jammu.
The Dog alerts the Army after hearing the noise of the drones and the Kite is used to identify the location of the drones.
A trained Kite named ‘Arjun’ was demonstrated during the ongoing 18th edition of the Indo-US joint training exercise "Yudh Abhyas 22" in Auli, Uttarakhand. The 18th edition of the Yudh Abhyas is being held from 14 October to 31 October 2022.
What is a Drone?
Drones are also called pilotless aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). It is not flown by humans but is remotely controlled by the humans.
It is equipped with infrared cameras, GPS and laser. It is used in Space, in the military, for transporting goods, for spraying insecticides for land mapping etc.
