Current Events :
Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, pays homage to the martyrs on Infantry Day at the Veer Smriti War Memorial on Tuesday.
The 80th Infantry Day was commemorated by Western Command at Chandimandir on Tuesday to honour the courage, sacrifice and steadfast service of the largest combat component of the Army.
The day marks the historic airlifting of the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, to Srinagar on October 27, 1947, to check Pakistani infiltrators, a defining action in safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir and the nation’s territorial integrity.
On the occasion, Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti War Memorial to pay homage to Infantrymen who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.
Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday reviewed operational readiness in forward areas of Uttarakhand along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and asked commanders on the ground to maintain “sustained operational vigilance” to address evolving security challenges.
The Army said, “General Seth emphasised the need for greater technology integration, continuous capability enhancement and sustained operational vigilance to effectively address evolving security challenges.”
The LAC, the de facto boundary with China, in Uttarakhand has seen an increase in troop deployments since April 2020, when the Indian and Chinese armies became locked in a military stand-off.
General Seth visited Mana and Joshimath in the Garhwal sector to review operational preparedness and initiatives undertaken by the Army to promote border area development and empower local communities.
The Army Chief was briefed on operational readiness, combat preparedness and ongoing infrastructure development projects in the sector.
Interacting with troops, General Seth commended their professionalism, dedication and resilience in safeguarding the country’s frontiers. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh fall within the ‘central sector’ of the LAC with China.
The two countries’ special representatives — National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi — have been discussing the finalisation of the boundary delimitation. The ‘central sector’ is among the segments under discussion.
During his visit to Mana, the first village on the Indian side near the LAC, General Seth was briefed on efforts to strengthen border communities by promoting tourism, preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage and creating opportunities for socio-economic development.
Sources noted that radio broadcasts in Uttarakhand’s border areas had acquired a new dimension over the past two years. Transmitted on the frequency modulation (FM) band, the programmes cater to local populations in their own dialects, address day-to-day concerns and subtly counter misinformation along the sensitive border. The Army’s Sadbhavana initiative is funding and managing the technology required to operate these FM radio stations under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
The broadcasts cover a range of topics, including fruit cultivation, hyperlocal weather patterns, snowfall forecasts, agriculture, tourism, education and career guidance. The stations also help counter misinformation and connect isolated communities with the Army.
In addition, the programmes provide information on government welfare schemes, healthcare initiatives and recruitment opportunities in the Army for the local youth.The broadcasts cover a range of topics, including fruit cultivation, hyperlocal weather patterns, snowfall forecasts, agriculture, tourism, education and career guidance. The stations also help counter misinformation and connect isolated communities with the Army.
In addition, the programmes provide information on government welfare schemes, healthcare initiatives and recruitment opportunities in the Army for the local youth.
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has held that a divorced daughter of a deceased veteran is entitled to family pension if divorce proceedings were initiated during the lifetime of the pensioner on whom she was dependent, even if the divorce decree was issued several years later.
Havildar Radhey Shyam Kashyap was enrolled in the Army Medical Corps (AMC) in September 1965. Upon his discharge from service in October 1989, he was granted a service pension. He died in July 2009, following which ordinary family pension was granted to his wife until her death in January 2024.
After her death, the applicant, claiming to be the divorced daughter of the deceased soldier, submitted a representation to the defence authorities in April 2025 through the Zila Sainik and Punarvas Board, seeking family pension on the grounds that she had been dependent on her parents before their deaths. Her request was denied.
She claimed that her marriage, solemnised in January 1999, ran into difficulties after the birth of her son and daughter in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and that all attempts at reconciliation had failed. She submitted before the AFT that she had been dependent on her parents at the time of their deaths and was entitled to family pension as a divorced daughter. She had filed a maintenance suit in 2006.
The government, on the other hand, contended that her parents had neither approached nor informed the AMC Records about the marital discord. It further submitted that she had applied for a divorce decree in May 2024 and that the marriage was dissolved in December 2024, after the deaths of her parents.
The AFT Bench, comprising Justice Suresh Kumar Gupta and Maj Gen Sanjay Singh, observed that the first case in the matter had been filed by the applicant’s husband in 2002, when her parents were alive. Since then, three more cases had been filed by both parties against each other in 2006, 2017 and 2024, during which she was granted maintenance allowance.
“The gist of the case is that due to matrimonial dispute, after filing of cases against each other, the applicant while residing with her parents, became dependent on them,” the Bench said.
“In our considered opinion, although the divorce decree in the said case was passed on 17.12.2024, the dependency of the applicant on her parents shall be counted from the date of filing of the first divorce case in the year 2002 as the litigation was in process for all these years which came to an end on 17.12.2024 when her parents were no more. Therefore, the final decree of mutual divorce is the result of continuous matrimonial dispute which originated in the year 2001,” the Bench ruled.
The Bench also referred to a letter issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in July 2017, which stipulates that family pension may be granted to a divorced daughter if divorce proceedings were pending during the lifetime of the pensioner.
Setting aside the July 2025 order denying family pension to the daughter, the Bench directed the authorities to grant her family pension with effect from December 2024, along with arrears, within four months.
Ferozepur Military Station has emerged as a leading example of sustainable military infrastructure, securing top honours at both Pan Army and Western Command levels in the Best Clean, Green & Sustainable Military Station Competition 2026. Gen Manral received the award from General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) in New Delhi. The achievement underscores the Station’s commitment to environmental stewardship, decarbonisation, cleanliness and community engagement, in keeping with the Indian Army’s vision of sustainable military stations. The recognition is a matter of immense pride for the people of Ferozepur, reflecting the meaningful contribution being made by one of their own towards motivating youth, strengthening community engagement and contributing to nation-building. At the Western Command level, the Station secured First Position in two categories: Best Station Inspiring and Motivating Surrounding Areas and Best Transformational Station. The awards were presented by the Army Commander in Chandigarh on 27 October 2026. These achievements reflect the Station’s sustained efforts towards environmental conservation, waste management, resource efficiency and community participation, contributing to the Indian Army’s commitment to sustainability and the national vision
The Western Command will organise the second edition of the Mechanisation Technology Seminar (MTS 2.0) at Chandimandir Military Station on December 14 and 15, bringing together the Army, industry and academia to showcase innovations, bridge operational gaps and accelerate indigenous capability development for mechanised forces.
Being held in collaboration with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), this year’s theme is ‘CHAKRA – Transforming Existing Platforms for Future Combat’, a defence spokesperson said in Chandigarh on Monday.
A curtain-raiser for the event was held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on Monday, presided over by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command.
An initiative of the Western Command, MTS 2.0 aims to enhance the combat effectiveness of mechanised forces by transforming existing military platforms into technologically advanced, capable and future-ready combat systems.
The seminar will focus on combat capability enhancement, harnessing technology, adaptability, kinetics, refurbishment and self-reliance, with an emphasis on translating operational capability gaps and requirements into clearly defined problem definition statements (PDS).
The curtain-raiser outlined the broad vision and key areas of focus for the seminar, highlighting the importance of technology-driven modernisation, civil-military collaboration and self-reliance in strengthening indigenous defence capabilities.
It also provided a platform for interaction among military users, industry representatives, academia and other stakeholders to deliberate on the modernisation of existing platforms, indigenous technological innovation and emerging operational requirements.
MTS 2.0 reflects the Indian Army’s continued commitment to capability enhancement, technological transformation and self-reliance in defence.
By providing a focused platform to translate operational requirements into practical and implementable technological solutions, the seminar seeks to strengthen collaboration among the Armed Forces, the defence industry and academia, while enhancing the operational effectiveness, resilience and combat readiness of mechanised forces in the evolving battlefield environment, the spokesperson said.
At the first edition of the MTS last year, over 200 representatives from the defence industry participated, and 51 cutting-edge defence products were demonstrated.
These included innovative solutions for combat vehicles, sensor-based warfare, digitalised command and control systems, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced armour protection, next-generation communication networks and enhanced firepower solutions aimed at keeping the Indian Army’s mechanised platforms future-ready.
The Indian Navy marked three significant milestones in its indigenous auxiliary vessel construction programme on 26 October 2026 at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, announced PIB.
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The occasion saw the launch of the first Sullage Barge, Yard 142, alongside the keel laying of the third Sullage Barge, Yard 144, and the first Bottom Opening Dumb Barge, Yard 148.
The launching and keel laying ceremonies were attended by Rear Admiral Kapil Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (ACWP&A), who served as the Chief Guest.
These developments form part of separate contracts awarded to Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, an MSME shipyard based in Thane. The contract for four 300-ton Sullage Barges was concluded in November 2024, while the contract for three Bottom Opening Dumb Barges was signed in January 2026.
Yard 142 represents the first Sullage Barge to be launched under the program, while Yard 144 marks progress on the third vessel of the class. The keel laying of Yard 148 also signals the commencement of construction of the first Bottom Opening Dumb Barge under the contract.
The vessels have been indigenously designed and constructed by the shipyard in collaboration with an Indian ship design firm and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The project highlights the growing contribution of domestic industry, including MSME shipyards, to India’s naval shipbuilding ecosystem.
Once delivered, the barges will support the operation of Indian Navy platforms and assist in meeting MARPOL environmental compliance requirements relating to the handling and disposal of waste generated by ships.
The program also reinforces the Government of India’s commitment to indigenous defence manufacturing and self-reliance. These barges are described as proud flag bearers of the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, demonstrating continued progress in strengthening domestic maritime capabilities.
India has invited all 10 member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), including Pakistan, to participate in the inaugural SCO Civilizational Dialogue Forum, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 20 to 22 November.
The event is intended to deepen cultural engagement, encourage people-to-people connections and promote greater mutual understanding among SCO countries.
The invitation has drawn attention because it marks the first formal invitation extended to a senior Pakistani minister by India since the launch of Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The military operation was undertaken in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and led to a further deterioration in already strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.
Diplomatic sources indicated that Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, has been invited to attend the forum. Should he accept the invitation and travel to India, it would be the first visit by a senior Pakistani minister since former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa in May 2023.
The announcement regarding the dialogue forum was made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 20 October. Addressing representatives of member nations, Singh confirmed that invitations had been extended to all SCO countries for the inaugural gathering.
“At the end of this year, India will host the first SCO Civilisation Dialogue Forum. We invite all SCO countries to participate in it,” Singh said.
The proposed forum reflects a broader SCO emphasis on fostering cultural exchanges alongside economic, political and security cooperation. The initiative is expected to provide a platform for discussions on heritage, civilisation, cultural preservation and intercultural engagement among participating nations.
During the same meeting, Singh reiterated India’s long-standing position on terrorism, urging member states to adopt a consistent and uncompromising approach. Stressing the need for collective action, he said, “There should be no double standards in dealing with terrorism, and no place for those who finance, support or provide safe havens to terrorists. The entire ecosystem of terrorism must be firmly and collectively dismantled.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, was present during the meeting where these remarks were delivered, underscoring the continuing interaction between the two countries within multilateral forums despite bilateral tensions.
Pakistan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 term, having assumed the position on 1 September following the summit in Bishkek. The development places Islamabad in a significant role within the organisation even as political and security-related differences with New Delhi persist.
The SCO currently comprises 10 member states: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India became a full member of the Eurasian grouping in 2017. Afghanistan and Mongolia remain observer states, while the organisation also includes 15 dialogue partners, highlighting its growing regional and international influence.
The invitation to Pakistan for the New Delhi forum signals India’s willingness to continue engaging through multilateral platforms under the SCO framework, even as broader bilateral relations remain affected by security concerns and unresolved diplomatic differences.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the Ministry of Defence’s apex decision-making body, on Monday approved major proposals for the procurement of new UAVs, artillery guns, next-generation warships and a new type of helicopter for the Indian Armed Forces.
The meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), or in-principle approval, for capital acquisition proposals worth an estimated Rs 2,12,000 crore.
Of the total approved procurements, nearly 82 per cent will be sourced from Indian industry.
For the Army, the DAC approved the procurement of a self-propelled tracked gun system. The Indian Army currently operates the K9 Vajra artillery gun, which moves on tank-style tracks and can traverse rough terrain.
The DAC also approved separate requirements for a new light multi-role helicopter (LMRH) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Army. The helicopter will be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, combat operations, search and rescue of troops, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Sources said it would be a twin-engined helicopter.
A major focus of the DAC meeting was on drones, which played a significant role in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year. The DAC approved a counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) for defensive operations to tackle enemy drones. For offensive operations, the list includes an unmanned aerial system described in military terminology as a “brick long-range” system. A “brick” framework refers to modular, rugged and highly compact components or payloads.
The DAC also approved a surveillance UAV, an integrated UAV system capable of conducting surveillance and carrying out strikes, and a “kamikaze” drone designed to destroy itself upon impact.
The DAC cleared the Army’s requirements for a very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) and high-mobility vehicles (HMVs).
The Ministry of Defence said, “HMVs will boost operational capabilities, logistic support and mobility in challenging terrain.” The VSHORADS will be used to engage new-generation, small-sized aerial threats, while the C-UAS will improve the survivability of tanks on the modern battlefield. The surveillance and drone systems will enhance the Army’s surveillance and targeting capabilities, it added.
The Navy also received approval for the Active Offboard Decoy System (AODS) and a next-generation destroyer, a warship that will be built using modern techniques and have a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes. The AODS will strengthen the effectiveness of the Navy’s anti-missile defences, particularly against modern anti-ship missiles deployed by adversaries.
The platforms, which will be designed and built indigenously, will feature modern warfare capabilities and enhance the Navy’s combat strength.
For the IAF, the DAC approved air defence systems and a mobile X-band Doppler weather radar system aimed at improving its air defence and war-fighting capabilities. The radar system will provide high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas.
An AoN is the first step in the defence acquisition process. It is followed by the issuance of requests for proposals, trials and contract negotiations before final contracts are signed.
Lieutenant Colonel Rahul Arvind Pawar, who was investigated by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly accepting a bribe, is set to face trial in a disproportionate assets case.
The CBI Special Court in Haryana, Panchkula, has framed charges against him, and his trial is scheduled to commence on December 10.
The court observed that the FIR in the disproportionate assets case was registered against Lieutenant Colonel Pawar on the complaint of a CBI inspector for allegedly “acquiring assets disproportionate to the known sources of income” to the tune of Rs 31.09 lakh during the check period from December 1, 2021, to August 20, 2022. During this period, he was posted as Senior Barracks Store Officer with the Military Engineering Services (MES) at Ambala Cantonment.
The CBI registered the disproportionate assets case on May 24, 2023, following Pawar’s arrest on August 20, 2022, for allegedly accepting a bribe. Cash and incriminating documents were also recovered from his residences in Ambala Cantonment and Pune.
Pawar joined the Army in 2001 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. In December 2021, he was posted as Senior Barracks Store Officer at the office of the Commander Works Engineer (CWE), Ambala, where he was responsible for tender-related work. Subedar Major Pradeep Kumar was posted there as a clerk.
According to the CBI chargesheet in the bribery case, Pradeep Kumar allegedly misused his official position to ensure that Dinesh Kumar and Pritpal Singh, both electrical goods contractors, received most of the orders issued by the MES in Ambala. He allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from Dinesh Kumar, director of M/s Mahagouri Electrical Pvt. Ltd., for himself and his senior officers.
On August 20, 2022, the CBI caught Pradeep Kumar red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 22.48 lakh from Dinesh Kumar and Pritpal Singh. He had allegedly collected Rs 5 lakh for himself, Rs 9.42 lakh for Lieutenant Colonel Pawar and Rs 8.06 lakh for a Colonel who was also posted at CWE, Ambala Cantonment.
After apprehending Pradeep Kumar, CBI officers asked him to call Pawar. He did so and informed Pawar that the bribe amount had been received. He also confirmed that the money would be delivered to Pawar’s residence. Pawar allegedly agreed and provided his residential address.
Following these instructions, Pradeep Kumar delivered Rs 17.48 lakh to Pawar’s residence. The CBI officers subsequently caught Pawar red-handed with the bribe money. According to the agency, the amount also included the share allegedly meant for the Colonel.
When CBI officials asked Pawar to call the Colonel and inform him that the bribe had been accepted on his behalf, Pawar refused. The agency’s team subsequently visited the Colonel’s residence, but he was not there. When contacted, the Colonel said he was in Delhi and subsequently switched off his phone.
During the investigation, the CBI found that the Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Zone, had conducted procurement for CWE, Ambala, at its request through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). On July 14, 2022, two bids were awarded to M/s Mahagouri Electrical Pvt. Ltd., for Rs 1.90 crore and Rs 1.69 crore, respectively.
Payments of Rs 5.20 lakh, Rs 79.96 lakh and Rs 1.30 crore were subsequently made to M/s Mahagouri Electrical for the supply of items, excluding GST. A bribe of Rs 22.48 lakh was paid in connection with these payments, the CBI stated in its chargesheet.
The CBI filed a chargesheet against Pawar, Pradeep Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Pritpal Singh.
However, the ED found that Rs 20 lakh of the bribe had allegedly been paid on behalf of M/s Mahagouri Electrical, while Rs 2.48 lakh had allegedly been paid on behalf of M/s PEE JAY Enterprises in connection with a contract valued at Rs 58.48 lakh.
In addition to Pawar, Pradeep Kumar, Dinesh Kumar and Pritpal Singh, the ED named M/s Mahagouri Electrical, Himanshu Jain, proprietor of M/s PEE JAY Enterprises, and Parveen Jain, the firm’s beneficial owner, as accused in its prosecution complaint.
In his statement to the ED, Dinesh Kumar claimed that it was common practice among Commander Works Engineer offices of the MES for contracts to be awarded after the payment of commissions ranging from 30 to 40 per cent, even when the lowest bidder was selected through the GeM portal.
