1. Indian Army signs agreement with 11 banks for 'Agniveer salary package'
Tags: Economy/Finance Defence
The Union Ministry of Defence in a statement released on 15 October 2022 has said that the Indian Army has signed an agreement with 11 scheduled commercial banks for providing banking facilities to Agniveers.
These Banks are ;State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IDFC First Bank and Bandhan Bank. These banks will open the salary account of the newly recruited Agniveers of the Indian Army.
Agnipath Scheme
In a major reform in the defence sector human resource policy the government of India introduced “Agnipath scheme’ for Army, Air Force and Navy.
Under the scheme the government will recruit personnel below officer rank in the three services called Agniveers for a period of 4 years.
The Agniveers will form a distinct rank in the three services, and will also wear a distinct insignia as part of their uniform.
The banks will offer soft loans to existing Agniveers to promote and enhance their entrepreneurial skills.
The first batch of Agniveers under “Agnipath Scheme” will be joining Training Centres by January 2023,
Union Minister for Defence: Rajnath Singh
2. Rajnath Singh calls for an open and rule based maritime border at the 18th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting 2022
Tags: place in news Defence Summits
Addressing the 18th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in New Delhi on October 15, 2022, Defence minister Rajnath Singh reaffirmed India’s resolve for open, free and rule-based maritime borders in the Indo-Pacific region.
Organiser of the 18th HACGAM 2022
The 18th HACGAM is being organised by the Indian Coast Guard in coordination with HACGAM secretariat from October 14-18, 2022 in New Delhi.
The 17th HACGAM was hosted by Vietnam Coast Guard virtually in 2021. The 1st HACGAM was hosted by Japan Coast Guard in 2004 at Tokyo.
Minister’ speech
Speaking on the occasion the minister said that oceanic space should be respected as a global common for the benefit of all humanity in an environmentally sustainable way. The minister stressed that India’s shared vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth of All in Region), Sustainable Development Goals and ‘Rule Based Order at Sea’ complement the focused Indian approach of inclusive growth and lasting collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
Participants of the meeting
A total of 55 representatives from 18 countries and two International Organisations - Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) & United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime- Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC-GMCP) - are participating in the meeting.
Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM)
The HACGAM is a multilateral forum of 23 countries; Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos ,Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkiye, Vietnam and one Region i.e. Hong Kong (China).
Additionally, two international organisations Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) & United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime- Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC-GMCP) are its members.
Indian Coast Guard
It was set up in 1977 and it comes under the Ministry of Defence
Director-General: Virender Singh Pathania
3. ISRO to launch 36 satellites of UK’s global communications network OneWeb
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch 36 satellites of OneWeb, the UK's global communications network, on October 23, 2022.
Important facts
The name of the rocket is LVM3, it was earlier called GSLV Mk III.
It is India’s heaviest satellite, and is being facilitated by Space PSU NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
NSIL has signed two launch service contracts with OneWeb for launching the firm’s LEO (low Earth orbit) broadband communication satellites onboard the GSLV-Mk3.
The space PSU has at least six commercial missions planned in the next few months.
This is the first time that India’s heaviest rocket is being used for a commercial launch.
What is OneWeb?
It is a global communications company that aims to distribute broadband satellite Internet worldwide through a fleet of LEO satellites.
The OneWeb satellites are built at a OneWeb and Airbus joint venture facility in Florida that can produce two satellites a day.
The launch roll-out of the satellites has been facilitated by the French company Arianespace using Russian-made Soyuz rockets.
Moreover, this will be the first time that a rocket other than India's workhorse – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is being used for a commercial launch.
4. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot’ website
Tags: Defence National News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched 'Maa Bharti Ke Sons' website for contribution to Armed Forces Battle Casualty Welfare Fund at a function held at National War Memorial Complex in New Delhi on October 14.
Important facts
This fund is for the three services, which is used to provide immediate financial assistance to the families of the three forces personnel killed or grievously injured in military action.
Rajnath Singh said that security is paramount for any society and there is an important responsibility of all sections of the society towards the welfare of brave soldiers and their families.
He appealed to the countrymen to join this initiative and contribute for the welfare of the brave soldiers.
Popular actor Amitabh Bachchan is the goodwill ambassador of this initiative.
Any individual or any organisation can make a financial contribution to this fund through the website www.MAABHARATIKESAPOOT.MOD.GOV.IN.
5. INS Arihant carries out successful launch of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile
Tags: Defence Science and Technology
India's submarine INS Arihant carried out a successful launch of a ballistic missile on 14 October, 2022.
Important facts
The missile was test fired to a predetermined range and was successful in hitting the target area in the Bay of Bengal with high accuracy.
All operational and technical parameters of the weapon system have been validated.
The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is critical to proving crew competency and validating the SSBN programme, a key element of India's nuclear deterrence.
About INS Arihant
It is India’s first indigenously-designed, developed and manufactured nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
It was designed in the 1990s and its development project was officially accepted in 1998.
Its design is based on the Russian Akula-1 class submarine.
It was launched on 26 July 2009, the anniversary of Vijay Diwas (Kargil War Victory Day) by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
It is a 6,000 ton submarine with a length of 110 meters and a width of 11 meters.
It is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light water nuclear reactor with enriched uranium fuel.
It was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at the Ship Building Centre in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
6. Service Sports Control Board tops the medal tally at the 36th National Games 2022
The Service Sports Control Board (SSCB) has topped the medal tally at the recently concluded 36th National Games 2022 with 128 medals, including 61 golds, 35 silvers and 32 bronze. This is the fourth consecutive time that the SSCB has topped the medal tally in the National Games. It topped the medal tally in 2007, 2011 and 2015 and 2022 games.
Service Sports Control Board (SSCB) is a combined team of the Indian Army, Navy and Air force.
The National Games 2022 were held in six cities; Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar, of Gujarat from September 29 to October 12. It was last held in Kerala in 2015.
The next 37th National Games will be held in Goa in 2023.
Best Athlete of the National Game 2022
Best male athlete:
29 year old swimmer, Sajan Prakash of Kerala. He won five golds, two silvers and one bronze medal.
Best female athlete:
14 year old swimmer, Hashika Ramachandra of Karnataka. She won six golds and one bronze medal in the game.
Best State Trophy
Maharashtra was awarded the Indian Olympic Association’s Best State trophy for winning the most medals (140) in the Games.
However Maharashtra finished second to SSCB in the medal tally as SSCB had won more gold medals(61) as compared to Maharashtra (30) gold medals.
National Games 2022 medal tally
Rank | State/Union Territory | Gold medal | Silver medal | Bronze medal | Total Medal |
1 | SSCB | 61 | 35 | 32 | 128 |
2 | Maharashtra | 39 | 38 | 63 | 140 |
3 | Haryana | 38 | 38 | 40 | 116 |
4 | Karnataka | 27 | 23 | 38 | 88 |
5 | Tamil Nadu | 25 | 22 | 27 | 74 |
6 | Kerala | 23 | 18 | 13 | 54 |
7 | Madhya Pradesh | 20 | 25 | 21 | 66 |
8 | Uttar Pradesh | 20 | 18 | 18 | 56 |
9 | Manipur | 20 | 10 | 20 | 50 |
10 | Punjab | 19 | 32 | 25 | 76 |
7. Eastern Naval Command conducts offshore security exercise ‘Prasthan’
Tags: Defence
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Offshore security exercise 'Prasthan' was conducted at Krishna Godavari Basin Offshore Development Area (ODA) during 11-12 October, 2022.
Important facts
It was conducted under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command Headquarters, Ministry of Defence.
This exercise is conducted every six months.
This Exercise was conducted in the KG basin to validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), address various contingencies and strengthen the command & control organisation towards Maritime Security.
It aims to integrate the efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.
The exercise was coordinated by the Indian Navy and involved all stakeholders in the maritime sector, including Oil and Gas Operators, State Marine Police, Fisheries Department and Indian Coast Guard etc.
It practiced contingencies such as terrorist infiltration, bombing, evacuation of casualties, search and rescue, fire incidents, oil spills and mass evacuation.
8. INS Tarkash reaches South Africa to participate in 7th edition of IBSAMAR
Tags: Defence International News
INS Tarkash reached Port Gqeberha (also known as Port Elizabeth), South Africa to participate in the 7th edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies from 10 - 12 Oct 2022.
Important facts
The previous edition of IBSAMAR (IBSAMAR VI) was conducted at Simons Town, South Africa from 1 to 13 October 2018.
The Indian Navy is represented by a Teg class guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and personnel from the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS).
The Harbor phase of IBSAMAR VII includes major exercises such as damage control and fire fighting exercises, VBSS/Cross boarding lectures and interactions between Special Forces.
This joint maritime exercise will strengthen inter-operability for maritime security, joint operational training, sharing of best practices and addressing common maritime threats.
INS Tarkash
INS Tarkash is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.
It is built by Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia.
It is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions.
The ship incorporates the latest stealth features such as low radar, infra-red, acoustic and magnetic signatures, making it difficult to detect at sea.
The ship is part of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.
9. Army Day Parade 2023 to be held in Bengaluru
Tags: place in news Defence
The Indian Army has announced that the annual Army Day Parade 2023 will be held on 15 January in Bengaluru, Karnataka as per the Prime Minister's vision to move significant events and festivities out of the national capital.
Army Day is observed every year on 15 January and till date it was held in New Delhi.
Recently for the first time the Air Force Day and flypast was held in Chandigarh on 8 October.
Indian Army Day
It was on this day that for the first time an Indian took over the command of the Indian Army from the Britishers.
On 15 January, 1949 Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa (K. M. Cariappa), took over as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from General Francis Robert Roy Bucher.
Current Chief of Army Staff : General Manoj Pande
10. India hosts SCO joint anti-terror exercise
Tags: National Defence National News
India is currently hosting the multilateral counter-terrorism exercise 'Manesar Anti-Terrorism 2022' to be held from October 8 to 13.
Important facts
It is organized under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).
This is the Phase 2 of the exercise, "Phase-1 of the exercise was conducted from 27 July to 1 August by the National Anti-Terrorist Forces of the SCO member countries in their respective territories.
Phase-2 of the Exercise is being conducted at NSG Manesar Garrison, in which eight representatives from National Counter Terrorism Forces of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan, Russian Federation and NSG of Republic of India are participating.
The exercise is aimed at exchanging expertise, best practices and build synergy between the Counter Terrorism Forces of the SCO RATS Member Countries to enhance capabilities for conducting Anti-Terrorist operations and countering other security threats collectively.
Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS)
The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) is one of the permanent organs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
SCO RATS aims to facilitate cooperation and coordination against terrorism, extremism and separatism.
India assumed the chairmanship of the Council of SCO RATS in October 2021.
About SCO
The SCO is an eight-member economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan joined as full-time members in 2017.
The founding members of this group include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
