Current Events :
The 10th edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) is scheduled to be held in Chandigarh from November 13 to 15, with the Iran-Israel conflict and the relevance of the Russia-Ukraine war to the Indian subcontinent among the prominent topics to be deliberated upon by experts.
The event will be inaugurated by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, while the keynote address will be delivered by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will preside over the closing ceremony.
Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to stay aboard the International Space Station, will deliver a talk titled “From Fighter Cockpit to Space Craft: India’s New Frontier in Air and Space Power”. A special session on space warfare has also been scheduled.
Other themes for the MLF include the way forward in Jammu and Kashmir, the turbulent world order and its impact on India, geopolitical instability and the energy crisis, the defence manufacturing ecosystem, the significance of strategic straits, martial history and legendary warriors.
Apart from panel discussions, documentaries on the Indian military, films on real-life war heroes, weapons displays, military paintings and philately, and interactions with gallantry awardees will be other highlights of the three-day event.
The MLF is an annual event organised by the Punjab Government and the Army’s Western Command in collaboration with the Chandigarh Administration to honour and commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of Indian soldiers and provide a common platform for experts to deliberate on contemporary military, security and geopolitical issues.
It also gives citizens and students an opportunity to gain insights into military matters and martial heritage. Northwestern India, especially the plains of Punjab, has borne the brunt of ruthless invasions since time immemorial and bears testimony to countless sacrifices, valour, tales of heroism and resilience.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the launch of Land Warfare Doctrine 2026 on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Edition 2026 of Blue Helmet Odyssey at the Indian Army Commanders’ Conference, in New Delhi on Friday. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dhiraj Seth, MoS for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh are also present. ANI
The Army’s new doctrine that was released today outlines a roadmap for preparing for future conflicts. It includes specialised training for officers in use of AI as a tool in decision-making and adopting ‘drone operations’ as a skill for the entire force of 1.2 million.
The doctrine highlights the use of advanced technology, drones, artificial intelligence and precision targeting, sources said.
The Army is progressing in training initiatives, including a five-year roadmap for multi-domain operations training. “It will be buttressed with a three-level AI skill development programme for officers and a new philosophy to make drone operations a secondary skill across the force,” the sources added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today released the Land Warfare Doctrine 2026 at the concluding day of the Army’s premier decision-making forum, the biannual Army Commanders’ Conference here.
The sources said the doctrine reflected the changing character of warfare, drawing lessons from contemporary conflicts, including Operation Sindoor, where unmanned systems, persistent surveillance, contested communications and information warfare have emerged as critical factors on the battlefield.
A doctrine is the fundamental set of principles and guidelines that armed forces use to guide their actions. The one released today is aligned with ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ and emphasises jointness among the armed forces, integration of capabilities across multiple domains and the continued centrality of land power in achieving decisive military and political outcomes.
A key focus is on Atmanirbharta (self-reliance), with emphasis on recognising the importance of indigenous defence capabilities, national infrastructure and coordination with institutions beyond the military in future wars.
The doctrine says the Army will lay emphasis on empowering the soldiers and use a mix of manned-unmanned systems as enablers for future conflicts. The doctrine also mentions the need for a resilient supply of logistics – arms, ammunition, vehicles, food and water for the troops. The Army envisages operating effectively in technologically contested environments, where the enemy may jam or disrupt communication links.
Commanders on the ground have been given the freedom to be flexible in their operational approaches based on threats, terrain and mission requirements.
The revised doctrine signals the Indian Army’s efforts to transform into a future-ready, technology-enabled and adaptable force, capable of fighting and winning wars across the full spectrum of conflict.
The three-day Army Commanders’ Conference, chaired by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, opened on October 21.
Discussions at the conference covered cross-domain security issues, inter-service synergy, and digital transformation within defence infrastructure.
Indian Army’s new doctrine released on Friday outlines a roadmap for preparing for future conflicts. It includes specialised training for officers in use of AI as a tool in decision-making and adopting ‘drone operations’ as a skill for the entire force of 1.2 million.
The doctrine characterises the use of advanced technology, drones, artificial intelligence and precision-targeting, sources said.
The Army is progressing training initiatives, including a five-year roadmap for multi-domain operations training. “It will be buttressed with a three-level AI skill development programme for officers and a new philosophy to make drone operations a secondary skill across the force,” sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine 2026 at the concluding day of the Army’s premier decision-making forum, the biannual Army Commanders’ Conference here.
Sources said the doctrine reflects the changing character of warfare, drawing lessons from contemporary conflicts, including Operation Sindoor, where unmanned systems, persistent surveillance, contested communications and information warfare have emerged as critical factors on the battlefield.
A doctrine isthe fundamental set of principles and guidelines which the armed forces use to guide their actions. The one released today is aligned with ‘Defence Forces Vision 2047’ and emphasises jointness among the armed forces, integration of capabilities across multiple domains and the continued centrality of land power in achieving decisive military and political outcomes.
A key focus is on self-reliance that lays stress on recognising the importance of indigenous defence capabilities, national infrastructure and coordination with institutions beyond the military in future wars.
The doctrine says the Army will lay emphasis on empowering the soldiers and use a mix of manned-unmanned systems as enablers for future conflicts. The doctrine also mentions the need for a resilient supply of logistics – arms and ammunition, and vehicles, food and water for the troops. The Army visualises the need to operate effectively even in technologically contested environments, meaning the systems need to operate even in areas where enemy can jam or tinker with communication links.
Commanders on ground have been given freedom to be flexible in their operational approaches based on threats, terrain and mission requirements.
The revised doctrine signals the Army’s efforts to transform into a future-ready, technology-enabled and adaptable force, capable of fighting and winning wars across the full spectrum of conflict.
The three-day Army Commanders’ conference chaired by Army chief General Dhiraj Seth opened on October 21.
Discussions at the conference covered cross-domain security issues, inter-service synergy, and digital transformation within defence infrastructure.
India is buying unmanned systems, counter-drone equipment, mobile artillery and mobile radars under emergency procurement route, Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh said on Friday, citing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in West Asia.
Speaking at an event hosted by global advisory and audit firm KPMG, Singh also cited how Europe was now a flourishing market for India-made military hardware.
India, he said, had emerged as the third-largest arms exporter to Europe, largely due to the ReArm Europe initiative launched after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Standard ammunition of various types, including artillery shells and large and small-calibre rounds, was now being shipped to Europe in significant numbers, he added. Exports also include bulletproof jackets and helmets, small arms and aircraft components.
India exports military hardware to more than 80 countries. “Global arms trade is set to boom,” he added.
Theatre commands blueprint awaits nod
On the creation of geographically defined theatre commands for the armed forces, the Defence Secretary said: “The political leadership is clear that the armed forces must move towards integration under theatre commands. That process is underway. A blueprint has been prepared, and it is awaiting approval at the highest level.”
India has signed its first security and defence partnership with the European Union, alongside the conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement, Singh said. New Delhi also has bilateral industrial roadmaps with several European countries.
On foreign partnerships, he said India’s defence engagement was increasingly centred on co-production, co-development and joint ownership of technology with friendly nations.
“Our intention is to co-develop and co-produce and co-own many of our defence technologies with these friendly foreign countries,” he said, adding that the aim was also to integrate Indian suppliers into global supply chains.
Referring to India’s own recent conflict with its western neighbour, he said: “In our case, we were able to terminate the conflict after achieving our objectives.”
Singh said India had built a broad domestic drone ecosystem, with local manufacturers increasingly able to meet military requirements for contested operating environments, subject to further improvement in the equipment.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has revealed that face-offs with Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops remain ongoing at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier, with ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor highlighting the role of the force’s newly raised Shaurya commandos in handling these confrontations.
Speaking at an ITBP base in Alwar, Rajasthan, ahead of the force’s 65th Raising Day, Kapoor said the specialised combat teams had performed exceptionally during recent incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). He noted that the new unit would gradually be deployed across every border battalion as part of the force’s effort to strengthen operational preparedness along the 3,488-km frontier with China.
Kapoor described China as India’s “biggest adversary” and stressed that traditional methods of warfare were no longer sufficient to address emerging challenges on the northern frontier. He said the changing security environment demanded greater technological integration, specialised training and enhanced combat capabilities.
As part of its modernisation drive, the ITBP has established drone platoons in all border-guarding battalions and is training personnel in drone operations and indigenous technological development. Kapoor disclosed that the force had received ₹400 crore in government funding, with around 70 per cent earmarked for strengthening drone warfare capabilities. He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs has granted in-principle approval for a ₹4,000-crore modernisation package, including ₹1,000 crore dedicated to drone and anti-drone systems.
The force has also introduced a new ‘Strike’ training course designed to prepare personnel for combat situations similar to the June 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Kapoor said the entire force is expected to undergo the program by the end of 2027.
During the Galwan confrontation in eastern Ladakh, 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives, while China later acknowledged the deaths of four of its personnel.
Beyond combat readiness, the ITBP is strengthening infrastructure in forward areas. Kapoor said underground shelters are being constructed to reduce vulnerabilities during any future conflict, as above-ground structures could become targets in wartime conditions.
The force is also upgrading living conditions for troops deployed in harsh high-altitude environments. Measures include insulated barracks, solar water-heating systems, generator support for remote posts and cold-start kits that enable vehicles to operate in extreme winter conditions.
According to Kapoor, these efforts form part of a broader strategy to transform the ITBP into a specialised mountain-fighting force capable of responding to rapidly evolving security challenges along the India-China border.
The remarks are significant because they amount to one of the clearest official acknowledgements of continuing face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh. Reports in recent months have pointed to tensions in parts of the state, including areas near Taksing in Upper Subansiri district, where local accounts and media reports alleged repeated confrontations and restrictions on patrolling activity.
Kapoor told personnel, “Recently, a situation arose in Arunachal Pradesh where a face-off occurred at several places, which is still ongoing. There, our Shaurya Commando teams have done a tremendous job.”
The developments have also triggered political reactions. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the government, accusing it of remaining silent on the reported incidents and arguing that concerns regarding Arunachal Pradesh have not been addressed publicly at the highest political level.
Ramesh further alleged that, as in Ladakh, certain patrolling points had reportedly slipped from Indian control. He also raised concerns about China’s continued renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a proposed 60,000-MW dam, claiming that the project could pose risks to ecology and long-term water security in the region.
His criticism comes amid continuing scrutiny of India-China border management following the military standoff that began in eastern Ladakh in 2020.
Although military and diplomatic channels have remained active, tensions persist at several points along the disputed frontier, prompting India to continue investing heavily in surveillance, mobility, drone warfare capabilities and specialised high-altitude combat formations.
The situation along the India-China border gets disturbed when Chinese forces deviate from established patrolling patterns, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday, responding to the ITBP chief’s comments that face-offs between the two sides were continuing at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both countries continued to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to address outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces diverge from established patrolling patterns,” Jaiswal said.
Asked about the specifics of the face-offs cited by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director-General Shatrujeet Kapoor, the spokesperson referred the query to the Ministry of Defence.
The remarks came a day after Kapoor, while addressing ITBP personnel in Alwar, said face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces were still continuing at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh. His comments marked an official confirmation of the ongoing confrontations.
Jaiswal said the two sides had agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas to strengthen border management.
“I would also like to emphasise that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” he said.
India and China have been seeking to manage tensions along the disputed boundary through diplomatic and military-level engagements.
Differences over patrolling and the perception of the LAC have remained a source of friction, with both sides maintaining their respective positions on the boundary.
The latest remarks underline New Delhi’s position that adherence to established patrolling patterns and continued communication between the two sides are necessary to prevent confrontations from escalating.
A day after Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapoor said that confrontations between Indian and Chinese troops continue to take place at multiple locations along the border in Arunachal Pradesh, India has said that the situation along the border areas gets disturbed periodically when Chinese forces deviate from established patrolling patterns.
Responding to a question on Kapoor’s statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said, “As we have noted in the past, the situation in the India-China border areas gets disturbed from time to time when Chinese forces deviate from established patrolling patterns.”
He said both sides continued to use existing diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“The two sides have also agreed to discuss ways to improve their understanding of the LAC in appropriate areas for better border management. I would also like to emphasise that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations,” the spokesperson said.
On October 22, Kapoor addressed ITBP personnel — known as Himveers — in Alwar. During his speech, he praised the force’s commando teams for doing a “tremendous job” and noted that a confrontation was still continuing in Arunachal Pradesh.
Kapoor, who is set to retire on October 31, also pointed to China’s heavy investment in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its military capabilities, saying Beijing had made advances in conventional warfare. However, he suggested that drones could act as an equaliser in the changing battlefield.
Citing the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, Kapoor said the damage inflicted by a smaller country like Ukraine on Russia over the past four years showed how drone warfare was evolving. He also referred to Iran as another example of the changing nature of conflict.
The ITBP chief also emphasised the need for developing drone and counter-drone technology, pointing out that it might not be possible to face China through traditional methods as it had invested a lot in the modernisation of its weapons and infrastructure.
“Through drones, even a small country can challenge a big country. We saw how Ukraine challenged a superpower like Russia, and how Iran used drones to challenge America,” he said.
Kapoor said, “The ITBP was raised as a mountain guerrilla force, and we were given border-guarding duty along China in 2004.”
“We need not leave our original function, and a specialised high-altitude mountain fighting force is being set up, distinct from the Army. We will soon have one full battalion of Shaurya commandos, as high altitude is our strength,” he said.
Kapoor said the ITBP was aggressively altering its defensive footprint, adding that the strike training for the entire force across units would be completed by 2027 end, with essential equipment made available across all forward border outposts to handle Galwan-like situations effectively.
He said the ITBP was constructing reinforced underground infrastructure “in a big way” along the frontlines to withstand modern warfare contingencies.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised the Centre’s handling of border security and trade relations.
In a post on X, Jairam accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his establishment of maintaining a “deafening silence” on active developments along the LAC.
“While the self-styled Vishwaguru’s calibrated concessions to China continue, the DG, ITBP, has lauded, and rightly so, its performance in recent face-offs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh, on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment. Corps commander talks were held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month after the Taksing face-off. Locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost once again, as in Ladakh. China continues to rename our towns in Arunachal Pradesh and is building a 60,000 MW dam that threatens our ecological and water security,” Jairam said.
THE CENTRAL Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the country’s largest paramilitary force, is planning to reintroduce the ranks of Lance Naik and Naik, nearly three decades after the two posts were merged with those of Constable and Head Constable, respectively.
The Lance Naik and Naik ranks, abolished in the CRPF in 1997 through a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order, are still operational in the Army.
In a communication, the force has asked its lower formations to elicit the views of stakeholders by holding special sainik sammelans or meetings on the proposal, with an objective to widen the promotional avenue available to constables.
According to the hierarchy, a jawan who joins the force as a constable gains the first promotion to Lance Naik in five years, followed by the promotion to Naik in 10 years and subsequently Head Constable in 20 years.
Currently, the about 3.25 lakh personnel-strong CRPF is facing acute stagnation in promotions in these ranks, as a constable gets his first promotion in 22-25 years on average.
This stagnation in one rank has led to grievances among the jawans. “The aim of reintroducing the Lance Naik and Naik ranks is to provide two more promotions to the constabulary before they reach the head constable rank, which will not only help address their grievances but also boost their morale,” an official said.
The move is also understood to be aimed at making the CRPF service attractive for the Agniveers from the Army, whose first batch will retire this year and will be eligible to join the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the CRPF, the officials said.
Agniveers are short-term military personnel recruited into the three forces for four years under the Centre’s Agnipath scheme. Currently, the CAPFs have an ad hoc arrangement of granting a non-sanctioned senior constable rank insignia on the uniform of constables, making them equivalent to the Lance Naik rank. There is no arrangement for the Naik rank at present.
The Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapoor, has said face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh are still on, marking the first official confirmation of the reported clashes.
Addressing ITBP personnel, known as Himveers, in Alwar on October 22, Kapoor said the force’s Shaurya Commando teams had performed exceptionally well during the confrontations.
“Recently, a situation arose in Arunachal Pradesh where a face-off occurred at several places, which is still on. There, our Shaurya Commando teams have done a tremendous job,” the ITBP chief said.
The statement comes amid reports of multiple skirmishes in Arunachal Pradesh since July, with locals claiming that confrontations had taken place at several locations. The face-offs reportedly continued even during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS summit in September.
He pointed to China’s heavy investment in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its media capabilities, saying Beijing had made advances in conventional warfare. However, he suggested drones could act as an equaliser in the changing battlefield.
Citing the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, Kapoor said the damage inflicted by a smaller country like Ukraine on Russia over the past four years showed how warfare was evolving. He also referred to Iran as another example of the changing nature of conflict.
In response to the developments, the ITBP is aggressively altering its defensive footprint. The ITBP chief said that strike training for the entire force across units would be completed ahead of late 2027, with essential equipment made available across all forward border outposts to handle Galwan-like situations effectively. ITBP and Indian Army troops remain deployed across key flashpoints in high-altitude border areas to maintain security and defend the frontier.
He added that the ITBP was constructing reinforced underground infrastructure “in a big way” along the frontlines to withstand modern warfare contingencies.
The operational disclosures triggered immediate political reaction, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration’s handling of border security and trade relations. In a post on X, Ramesh accused Modi and his establishment of maintaining a “deafening silence” on active developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Reacting to the ITBP chief’s statement, the opposition Congress took a jibe at the government.
“While the self-styled Vishwaguru’s calibrated concessions to China continue, the DG, ITBP, has lauded—and rightly so—its performance in recent face-offs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh, on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment. Corps commander talks were held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month after the Taksing face-off. Locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost once again, as in Ladakh. China continues to rename our towns in Arunachal Pradesh and is building a 60,000-MW dam that threatens our ecological and water security,” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
