Singh calls for greater integration of financial systems of the Army, Navy and Air Force, stresses the need for maximum digitisation, automation and transparency, with real-time updating of Management Information System data

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday called for a “fair, sensitive and responsible” approach to handling pension cases of retired military personnel.

The Minister referred to the pension disbursement software, called the ‘System for Pension Administration – Raksha (SPARSH)’, created by the Ministry of Defence for pensioners. He said there was a need to automate grievance redressal, adding that “this could be through a conversational AI ecosystem involving chat, SMS, WhatsApp, email and phone calls”.

On the need for quality audits, digital data accuracy and prompt resolution of grievances and court cases, the Minister said: “Our approach must be firm, fair, sensitive and responsible, especially when dealing with the legitimate dues and service rights of those who have devoted their lives to defending the nation.”

Rajnath Singh was addressing the Defence Accounts Department’s 279th Annual Day celebration in New Delhi.

He also called for greater integration of the financial systems of the Army, Navy and Air Force and stressed the need for maximum digitisation, automation and transparency, with real-time updating of Management Information System (MIS) data.

“The time has come for a real-time review of balances and not just an ‘annual review of balance’. Real-time data will ensure timely and informed decision-making,” the Minister said.

Rajnath Singh also unveiled three major initiatives aimed at strengthening the integration of financial information systems of the defence forces and improving the accounting and tracking of defence expenditure.

One of the initiatives, called ‘Saksham’, will focus on auditing and payment systems.

He also launched the National Compilation System (NCS) for Defence. The NCS is the single source for the accounting and compilation of all defence expenditure in India. The Ministry of Defence operates under a unique financial delegation framework, requiring budget allocation and expenditure tracking across various controllers of the Defence Accounts Department across the country.

Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Vice Chief of the IAF Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit were present at the event.

Brigadier Ravinder Singh, a 1990-batch officer of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), had challenged three confidential reports (CRs), averring that his non-empanelment for promotion by No. 1 Selection Board (SB) was the direct consequence of arbitrary and unjustified downgrading in two CRs

Observing that there cannot be a different yardstick for assessment in two different confidential reports (CR) governed by same policy, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has directed the Army to modify two CRs of a Brigadier and restore his original seniority which he had lost because he was not promoted to the rank of Major General on the basis of the contentious CRs.

Brigadier Ravinder Singh, a 1990-batch officer of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), had challenged three CRs, averring that his non-empanelment for promotion by No. 1 Selection Board (SB) was the direct consequence of arbitrary and unjustified downgrading in two CRs.

In the third CR, he claimed, the entire assessment of the initiating officer (IO), where he was graded as ‘outstanding’, was arbitrarily and illegally expunged without any reference to the IO concerned and without affording him an opportunity of being heard.

deflated’ by the reviewing officer (RO) and the senior reviewing officer (SRO) but was not set aside. Another CR termed as ‘inflated’ with the highest grading was set aside. It is contrary to the Army’s own policy and was carried out without following the mandatory procedures, making it legally untenable to adopt this selective approach,” Col Indra Sen Singh (retd), the officer’s counsel, said. “The officer was given only one lower grading, which was not consistent with his overall profile,” he added.

The Tribunal’s Bench comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lt Gen CP Mohanty, upheld the assessment of the first CR which was claimed to be invalid, but found fault with the other two.

The Bench said that it was a matter of “considerable concern” that No. 1 SB has relied exclusively and solely on the downgraded gradings awarded by the RO and SRO in the applicant’s CR as the sole basis for its adverse conclusion even though the same was placed on record as a ‘deflated’ CR.

“Such an approach demonstrates a fundamental failure on the part of the SB to consider the totality of the applicant’s service record, including his overall CR profile and overall average profile (OAP),” the Bench said.

“By confining its scrutiny to the assessments of two reporting officers in a single, isolated CR, the SB has effectively lost sight of the holistic evaluation mandated under the policy in vogue while awarding value judgment marks,” the Bench added.

The Bench observed that on the other hand, the third CR, which fits perfectly with the applicant’s stable OAP trend and is fully consistent with his past profile, has been expunged only because it was labelled a ‘near perfect nine’ assessment, without showing any internal inconsistency, technical flaw or departure from the required multi-factor analysis under the internal assessment guidelines.

“This selective treatment goes against the rule of arbitrariness that must guide all government action. The impact of this unequal treatment is not just procedural; it seriously harms the applicant’s entire career record and blocks his future promotion opportunities, causing lasting and irreparable damage to his service prospects,” the Bench said.

“This approach of reducing a career-spanning assessment to a single data point renders the SB’s decision legally unsustainable as it ignores the integrated analytical framework designed to prevent arbitrary or mechanically driven conclusions,” the Bench ruled.

Though headquartered in Mathura, 1 Corps, also known as ‘Strike One’ was raised in April 1965 and became part of the Northern Command in 2021

Though headquartered in Mathura, 1 Corps, also known as ‘Strike One’ was raised in April 1965 and became part of the Northern Command in 2021 and is tasked for operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western theatre. Its earlier mandate was operations along the western borders.

Lt Gen Hariharan has been appointed as the Director-General, Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Intelligence).

Lt Gen Kumar, who had earlier commanded the 54 Division, takes over from Lt Gen V Hariharan. On assuming command, he paid solemn tributes to martyrs and exhorted all ranks to remain focused on operational preparedness and continue working with utmost zeal and enthusiasm in service of the nation, according to a statement issued by the Northern Command.

Lt Gen Seth takes over 16 Corps, also known as the White Knight Corps from Lt Gen PK Mishra, who moves to a staff appointment. Prior to assuming the present appointment, Lt Gen Seth, an Infantry officer, was serving as the Commandant of the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) in Bhutan.

On assuming command, the new Corps Commander exhorted all ranks to uphold the highest standards of operational readiness, professional excellence and team spirit while continuing to foster peace, security and stability in the region, according to a statement issued by the Army.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Kharakvasla and the National Defence College, New Delhi, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Third Battalion of the Madras Regiment in 1991. Earlier, he commanded Counter-Insurgency Force Kilo, the Rashtriya Rifles’ (RR) formation responsible for anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir.

The White Knight Corps, is responsible for the area south of the Pir Panjal covering Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch sectors as well as overseeing counter-terrorist operations by RR’s Delta Force and Romeo Force in these areas.

The Corps was raised on June 1, 1972, and its first General Officer Commanding was Lieutenant General JFR Jacob, who was Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation Campaign and then the GOC-in-C Eastern Command from August 1974 to July 1978. Later, he served as the Governor of Punjab from November 1999 to May 2003.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Shamsher Singh Virk assumed the appointment of Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance) at Army Headquarters today. On August 31, he had handed over the reins of the Chetak Corps in Bathinda to Vikrant Suresh Deshpande. Both are Infantry officers.

n a move that will allow the Navy to operate at sea for longer periods, a ship named Surya, an enabler for such long deployments, was launched at sea at Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

The ship is capable of carrying fuel, rations and ammunition for restocking other warships. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest at the event.

As per maritime traditions, Surya was launched by a woman, Laila Swaminathan, president, Navy Wives Wellness Association (NWWA).

A ‘launch’ means the ship could be inducted into the naval fleet over the next 8-10 months, as this much time is needed for final fitment and trials.

The 43,500-tonne vessel is the first of five such ships being made by public sector Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) under a Rs 19,000-crore contract.

“It will replenish warships at sea, extending the Navy’s endurance and reach across the Indian Ocean Region,” the Ministry of Defence said.

Upon induction, the ship will be like a moving ‘storehouse’ capable of delivering fuel, water, ammunition and stores mid-sea to other warships. This enables prolonged deployments, enhancing the Navy’s strategic reach and mobility.

Each of the five Fleet Support Ships, like Surya, will feature enhanced cargo and fluid capacity, onboard first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for Multi-Role Helicopter operations and self-defence systems.

In their secondary role, these Fleet Support Ships would be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) for expeditious delivery of relief material and evacuation of personnel.

Highlighting the five-ship programme, Rajnath Singh said the vessels would strengthen the Navy’s reach, endurance and operational effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region.

The Navy operating for extended periods in distant maritime areas requires not only warships but also logistics, maintenance, sustained support and operational endurance. Fleet Support Ships provide this essential capability through at-sea replenishment and sustained support to naval operations, the Minister added.

He also laid the ‘keel’ of the fifth and last of the Fleet Support Ships and inaugurated a 300-tonne crane at Visakhapatnam. He also opened an upgraded slipway to enable HSL to build and launch ships of up to 45,000 tonnes.

The 300-tonne Goliath Crane has been designed and manufactured by L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under Make in India. The Ministry of Defence said the new infrastructure would strengthen HSL’s ability to undertake larger and more complex shipbuilding programmes and support modern block construction.

The events at Visakhapatnam were attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Secretary Defence Production Sanjeev Kumar, Eastern Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla and Additional Director General Coast Guard Donny Michael.

Presently serving as Vice Chief, he will succeed Air Chief Marshal AP Singh; fighter pilot has flown Mirage-2000, MiG variants, Jaguar, Hawk and Tejas, with over 3,500 hours of flying

The Centre has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit as the next Chief of the Indian Air Force. He will take over on October 31, when the present IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, superannuates.

Air Marshal Dixit is presently serving as Vice Chief of the IAF.

Born on December 9, 1966, Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1986. Prior to assuming charge as Vice Chief of the IAF, Air Marshal Dixit served as the tri-services Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.

He has commanded the IAF’s Central Command.

Air Marshal Dixit has more than 3,500 hours of extensive flying experience on various aircraft, including the Mirage-2000, various variants of MiG, Jaguar, Hawk and Tejas. He is an Experimental Test Pilot and a Qualified Flying Instructor.

During his service career spanning approximately four decades, he has been actively involved in numerous operations and exercises, including Op-Safed Sagar, Op-Rakshak and Op-Sindoor.

The Air Marshal has held a number of field and staff appointments. He commanded his squadron at Gwalior in the Western Sector and a premier fighter training base in the Southern Sector. The operational capability of the Indian Air Force has improved with the contribution of the Air Officer in various capacities, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Air Marshal is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Staff Service College (Bangladesh) and National Defence College.

He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2026 in recognition of his exemplary and distinguished service.

India’s missile export business is now along two tracks. One is a maritime strike option of BrahMos, which has been opted by Southeast Asian countries. The other is the Akash air-defence system, sold to three buyers, one in the Caucasus and two in Central Asia.BrahMos missile is a product of a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, formed in 1998. It has found eager customers in a cluster of countries around the South China Sea: Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. All three have opted for the anti-ship variant of the missile launched from coast. The BrahMos has a variant that is fired from a ship onto a land target, which has not been exported so far. The Philippines and Vietnam are locked in a running maritime territorial dispute with China in the hydro-carbon rich South China Sea. Indonesia also has small coast on the same sea, but is not part of the dispute.

The export of “fire-and-forget” BrahMos to ASEAN nations — especially those with overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea — highlights a major shift.

The Philippines was the first to start the procurement from India and signed a $375 million contract signed in 2022 and deliveries commenced in 2024. Last month, it even carried out joint exercise with the US forces on ‘tracking warships’ for BrahMos anti-ship missile strike.

Indonesia and India signed an MoU in July this year, seeking coast-based batteries of the BrahMos missile with abilities to hit target 290 km at sea. A battery includes launchers, radars and the missiles. It was the third missile contract New Delhi has in the region what China perceives as its own ‘backyard’. Earlier Vietnam had inked a deal for $620 million. It includes the supply of mobile coastal defence missile batteries, comprehensive operator training for Vietnamese personnel, and long-term logistics and maintenance support.

Indonesia sits astride four major straits – the Mallaca, Lumbok, Sunda and Ombai–Wetar – which connect the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. All the four are major shipping arteries — all important for China.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, last week said: “BrahMos is a kind of benchmark for our export story. We’ve got contracts or agreements to sell from The Philippines, and Indonesia and Vietnam”.

Success of Akash

Akash is the country’s most significant indigenous defence export. It is a layered air-defence system, not a single missile. It includes launchers, radars, command-and-control and support infrastructure.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said “Armenia was the first customer, which has taken multiple batteries. Thereafter, we’ve also exported it to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.” While the missile has additional orders from Indian armed forces but Defence Ministry is confident of getting orders from other countries.

India and Armenia, a country that shares a border with Turkiye, have discussed expanding their defence partnership in August this year. India is already a supplier of rockets, weapons and air defence systems to Armenia.

Akash is not merely an export of individual missiles, but represents a larger indigenous air-defence system involving launchers, radars, command-and-control elements and associated support infrastructure.

The original Akash system reaches roughly 25-30 km, while the Akash-NG is designed for up to 50 km. BDL builds the missiles and BEL supplies electronics, which shows a broad domestic industrial base behind the system.

India’s export strategy

BrahMos carries more geopolitical weight and higher contract values. Akash arguably shows more about the health of India’s industrial base. India is selling to partners who face maritime or aerial threats, bundle training and support, and offer technology transfer to deepen ties. India exported military equipment to 80 countries and it was worth Rs 38,424 crore.

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, who is the IAF Chief, on Wednesday said the Air Force is moving in the “right direction”, but the pace can be little faster than it is today, and asserted that it needs to bolster its capabilities in the age of rapidly evolving technology.

Addressing a gathering of air warriors and IAF veterans on the eve of its 94^th anniversary at the Air Force Auditorium at Subroto Park here, he also said there are areas in which we need “greater capacity, faster induction and more combat mass”.

The chief of the air staff who retires this month, will hand over the mantle to Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who has been named his successor.

In his address, Air Chief Marshal Singh said in the last few years, the focus in the IAF has shifted from “platform-centric to capability-centric” approach, and also on the integration of various components.

“And, it proved its worth during Operation Sindoor,” he said.

The IAF chief underlined that the progress taking place in the force, with regards to its capabilities enhancement and other areas, but flagged delays in some projects.

“I am happy that we are progressing in the right direction, but whether we are progressing at the correct pace, is something for everybody to judge. Yes, we can be a little faster than we are today,” the IAF chief said.

He also mentioned about the delay in LCA Mk-1A project.

In his address, he further said that operations have tested the IAF, military exercise have stretched it, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts have taken it beyond the border, and air diplomacy has expanded the

ndian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Thursday said true strength of the air force was measured by its operational preparedness. “How quickly and confidently the IAF can act whenever the call comes is the benchmark,” he stated.

He further referred to Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May last year, saying: “The world witnessed the speed with which the IAF moved into combat operations. We all saw first-hand the destruction as well as the effective air defence operations of the IAF during Operation Sindoor.”

He said this while addressing the 94th Air Force Day parade at the Hindon air base, which is located around 20 km east of the national capital.

Referring to modern day conflicts, the IAF Chief said air power remained the ‘primary means’ for protecting national interests. The world, he said, was going through rapid changes, uncertainty and intricate geopolitical challenges while new conflicts were emerging across different parts of the world. “These events have clearly demonstrated that airpower is the primary means of protecting national interests,” he added.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), being the custodian of air power, understands its roles and responsibilities and is always alert, committed and ready to meet any contingency, Air Chief Marshal Singh said.

“Rapid adoption of emerging technologies has become the Air Force’s top priority,” he said in what was his farewell address on Air Force Day. The IAF Chief superannuates on October 31, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been named as his successor.

The true strength of the force, the IAF Chief said, is measured by its operational preparedness. The benchmark, he said, is “how quickly and confidently the IAF can act whenever the call comes”.

To buttress his argument, he referred to Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in May, saying, “The world witnessed the speed with which IAF moved into combat operations. We all saw first-hand the destruction as well as the effective air defence operations of IAF during Operation Sindoor.”

For continued growth, IAF believes in embracing new technologies — from hypersonic vehicles to drones and from stealth aircraft to satellites. “We are entering an era shaped by Artificial Intelligence, autonomy and digital innovation,” he added.

AI is being used by IAF to help commanders make informed decisions from enormous amounts of data. Autonomous systems are being developed with man in the loop, in line with its goal to create an AI-augmented force.

“To ensure IAF remains at the forefront of this transformation, we maintain deep engagement with industry, start-ups and academic institutions,” the IAF Chief said.

Space is a natural extension of the air domain. This perspective is exemplified by its growing collaboration with ISRO and the domestic space industry, including its role in the Gaganyaan mission.

On ensuring operational capability, he said the IAF is constantly preparing for it. “Whether the task is defending our skies, delivering aid after a disaster, or carrying out punitive strikes, we are constantly preparing for the mission,” he added.

IAF has continued to build on that foundation through significant initiatives such as Exercise Vayushakti, Dronathon, and the ongoing multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti.

“These efforts are focused on actively validating our combat readiness while swiftly integrating niche technologies into our operational frameworks,” he added.

On joint operations with the other services — the Navy and Army — the IAF Chief said modern conflicts demand deep synergy. “Joint planning and integrated combat application with the Army and Navy is not new to us; it is a daily activity.”

Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured, two of them seriously, in an accidental blast during the disposal of unserviceable and leftover explosives in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, police said.

The incident took place on Thursday evening near Elarmadgu security camp within the jurisdiction of the Bheji police station, they said.

An Ammunition Technical Team of the 50th battalion of the CRPF had arrived from Jagdalpur at the Elarmadgu camp under the Konta range to inspect various camps in the area and safely dispose of unserviceable and leftover explosives, said an official.

The team was carrying out the disposal process following prescribed safety protocols near Bodrajpadar Nala, around 200 metres from the security camp, when a fragment of an explosive accidentally flew, landed nearby, and exploded, he said.

Four personnel deployed for security and the disposal operation were injured in the blast, the official said.

The injured were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector M K Tiwari and Inspector Amarnath Mishra, both members of the ATT team, and ASI Anees Khan and Head Constable Kuldeep Raj of the 50th battalion of the CRPF, he said.

Both ASIs have sustained serious injuries, he said.

Immediately after the blast, the injured personnel were provided first aid and shifted to the government hospital in Konta, the official said.

Arrangements were being made to shift those seriously injured to another medical facility for advanced care, he said.

President Issac Herzog announces it while presenting the Presidential Medal for Civilian Heroism to 6 Israeli passengers who helped thwart the alleged attempt to crash Flydubai Flight FZ1073 last week

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his role in preventing an alleged hijacking attempt aboard a Flydubai flight, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced.

According to the Government Press Office of Israel, President Issac Herzog on Thursday announced it while presenting the Presidential Medal for Civilian Heroism to six Israeli passengers who helped thwart the alleged attempt to crash Flydubai Flight FZ1073 last week.

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Addressing the award recipients, Herzog said, “…the Israeli heroes whom we honour today, we send our heartfelt wishes for the full and speedy recovery of Captain Smith Machchhar of India. Captain Machchhar’s sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism helped avert this catastrophe. Once he regains strength, it will be my honour and privilege to award him, on behalf of the people of Israel, the State of Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.”

Herzog presented the award to six Israeli civilians — Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov– for their roles in preventing the alleged hijacking attempt, according to The Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel.

Captain Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi after sustaining severe injuries in the mid-air incident involving his co-pilot on September 30.