Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan visited the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu on July 19, 2025. He addressed the student officers of 81st Staff Course, Permanent staff of the College and station officers of Wellington.
The CDS delivered a talk on Operation Sindoor and emphasised on important aspects of Tri-Services synergy demonstrated during the successful operations by the Indian Armed Forces.
Later, while interacting with the faculty of the college, General Anil Chauhan laid stress on Integration & Jointness imperatives, Capability Development, Aatmanirbharta and an in-depth understanding of the transformative changes being pursued in the military.
The CDS was also briefed by the DSSC Commandant Lt Gen Virendra Vats on the ongoing training activities at the College, where emphasis is being laid on fostering jointness & inter-services awareness, specifically with the institutionalisation of the Deep Purple Division.
The 45-week 81st Staff Course is presently underway at the College. The present course comprises 500 student officers, including 45 from 35 friendly countries.
Op Sindoor proved power of tri-services’ synergy: CDS
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Saturday delivered a talk on Operation Sindoor at a prestigious military institution and laid emphasis on the tri-services synergy demonstrated during the action by the Indian armed forces.
He visited the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and also addressed the student officers of 81st Staff Course, its permanent staff and station officers of Wellington.
“The CDS delivered a talk on Operation Sindoor and emphasised on important aspects of tri-services synergy demonstrated during the successful operations by the Indian armed forces,” the Defence Ministry
Later, while interacting with the faculty of the college, Gen Chauhan laid stress on integration and jointness imperatives, capability development, ‘Aatmanirbharta’ and an in-depth understanding of the transformative changes being pursued in the military.
The CDS was also briefed by the DSSC Commandant, Lt Gen Virendra Vats, on the ongoing training activities at the college, where emphasis is being laid on fostering jointness and inter-services awareness, “specifically with the institutionalisation of the Deep Purple Division”, it said.
Army, BRO take part in emergency response drill at IOCL depot in Kargil
In a move to strengthen emergency preparedness and inter-agency coordination, an Emergency Response Drill was successfully conducted at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Depot in Kargil today. The exercise was aimed at testing the efficiency, readiness, and response capabilities of various stakeholders in the event of a crisis or industrial accident.
An official statement said the drill witnessed the active participation of key departments and agencies including the Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Fire and Emergency Services, Kargil, District Police and the District Hospital. Their combined presence and swift engagement reflected the region’s commitment to disaster management and community safety.
The mock drill scenario simulated a “high-risk emergency involving a potential fuel leakage and fire outbreak at the depot.” Upon receiving the alert, “all emergency units responded in a time-bound and systematic manner.”
“Fire and Emergency Services demonstrated prompt firefighting action, while the District Hospital team carried out mock rescue and medical response operations. The Army and BRO assisted in crowd control, area security and evacuation operations, while the district police managed traffic diversion and ensured law and order throughout the operation,” the statement said.
The event was overseen by senior officials from IOCL and district administration, who appreciated the seamless coordination among all agencies. The drill not only helped in evaluating the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) but also identified areas for improvement to ensure rapid and effective crisis mitigation in real-life scenarios.
Speaking on the occasion, an IOCL spokesperson stated, “Safety is our topmost priority. This drill is part of our regular safety protocol to ensure preparedness against any potential threats. We thank all participating agencies for their cooperation and swift response.”
Such joint drills play a critical role in building a robust emergency response framework for high-altitude and strategically significant locations like Kargil, the statement noted.
Matching China in LAC infra, Nyoma airstrip set for Oct ops
Matching China in infrastructure development, India is set to provide connectivity to all Army outposts in the Himalayas within five years. Separately, the strategic air base at Nyoma in eastern Ladakh is expected to be completed by October this year.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) upgraded the mud-paved runway at Nyoma, located just 30 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, into a proper paved runway last year. “The target is to complete the rest of the work by October,” said BRO Director General Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan.
The Nyoma base is being developed to support aircraft launch and recovery, as well as minor maintenance work. This includes setting up radar stations and building habitats for IAF personnel. Located on the banks of the Indus, Nyoma lies 180 km south-east of Leh at an altitude of 13,700 feet, where winter temperatures can drop to minus 20°C, necessitating infrastructure suited to extreme cold.
Once completed, Nyoma will be the fourth IAF base in Ladakh. Leh already serves as an operational base, while Kargil and Thoise (base of Siachen) have full-fledged airstrips. Additionally, Daulat Beg Oldie has a mud-paved runway used for special operations. Though there are two other such runways at Fukche and Chushul, located just 2-3 km from the LAC, these are considered unusable in case of conflict.
On road infrastructure, Lt Gen Srinivasan said, “In another five years, there would be no portion of the border where we will not be able to deploy.” The BRO, a wing of the Ministry of Defence, is working to connect forward Army posts in the northern sector that are currently accessible only on foot. “Now we are connecting those posts with roads,” the DG said.
He acknowledged the challenges faced in Arunachal Pradesh, where the BRO is building two key highways that will link all the state’s valleys seamlessly.
Among other major projects is the Shinkun La tunnel, poised to be the world’s highest, which will provide year-round connectivity between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh and serve as a third access route to Ladakh.
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Fauja Singh fooled not just old age but even the Almighty, because at the age of 114 years, he was fit enough to run, and live without any ailment
Fitness, good health, longevity, and simplicity — Fauja Singh symbolised all this and more. ANI
It was on December 1 last year that I saw the frail, tall centenarian for the last time — he actually was beautifully young at heart.
Fauja Singh fooled not just old age but even the Almighty, because at the age of 114 years, he was fit enough to run, and live without any ailment.
The superman literally enjoyed the glory, the glamour, the attention and the food — yes, the food. He was a frugal eater and owed his fitness to eating the bare minimum. But ask Gurpreet, the organiser of ‘One Race’ marathons, where he and I would often meet. If Bapuji (as we called him) used to ask for anything, it just had to be arranged. Of course, there was a discipline about the quantity (minimum with increasing age), quality (no junk) and timing (no late evenings) of food.
Ironically, as a kid, he was rather weak, and started walking only at the age of five. He was treated to improve the strength of his legs. In his own words, perhaps that strength was saved by the Almighty for the later years of life. He started running marathons at the age of 89.
When Doaba region of Punjab saw mass migration, his family also shifted to the United Kingdom. He was never interested in going abroad but then destiny has its own powerful ways to put you in a place that defines your purpose in life. When he lost his wife, son and daughter in quick succession, he felt alone and was taken by his family to the UK.
It was difficult for him to adjust there and he seemed unhappy, till a friend suggested taking part in a charity run. It was a 20-km run but he felt that he ran 20 miles. He thought that just 6 more miles and it will be marathon distance, 26 miles (42 km). He soon realised the mistake that for a marathon, he would need to run double the distance. The spirited Khalsa didn’t give up.
It was decided to hire a coach and try even harder. On the first day of his coaching lessons, he turned up in a three-piece suit. He got attuned to the running attire, but refused to give up on his pagri. The marathon organisers had to relent, and thus was born the Turbaned Tornado. Fauja Singh, at 89, finished the London Marathon in 2000, his first.
On other days, such was his love for colours that the suit, tie and pagri used to be a perfect match.
As a fit centenarian, he used to feel sad at the fitness level of Indian oldies, especially females. “Aithey di buddiyaan vekho, unfit, jama ni apna khyal rakhdiyaan. Aa soniyaan memaan nu dekho, kinni fit hondiyaan ne (Indian elderly ladies don’t care about fitness and figure. Look at the English ladies, how fit and beautiful they are),” he would say.
Once, an octogenarian runner was invited for an event, but he didn’t stand with her for a picture. “Main ni khada hona buddi kol (I will not stand next to this old lady),” he muttered. But he was always ready for selfies with fit young ladies.
He inspired millions around the world but could not save himself in a hit-and-run mishap — an abrupt end to a beautiful journey. Whatever begins does come to an end but his life encourages us to live it fully. The Fauja way.
— The writer, known as the ‘Blade Runner’, is a Kargil veteran
Searches underway at 10 locations in Kashmir in terror case
Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) are conducting searches across four districts of the Kashmir Valley
Searches are being carried out by Jammu and Kashmir Police’s counter-intelligence wing at multiple locations in the Valley in connection with a terror case, officials said.
The searches by Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) are underway at 10 locations across four districts of the Kashmir Valley, the officials said.
Searches are being conducted to locate terrorist sleeper cells and recruitment modules.
The CIK searches are being conducted in six locations in Ganderbal, two in Budgam, and one each in Pulwama and Srinagar, they said.
Tata Group sets up Rs 500-cr welfare trust for AI crash victims
The Tata Group on Friday announced setting up a Rs 500-crore welfare trust for the victims of the Air India plane crash that killed 260 persons in Ahmedabad last month.
Tata Sons and Tata Trusts have committed Rs 250 crore each to the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, which has been registered as a public charitable trust in Mumbai.
“The trust will provide both immediate and continuing support to the dependents/next-of-kin of the deceased, to those who were injured, and to all others who are directly or collaterally affected by the accident,” Tata Sons said in a statement on Friday.
Besides, the trust will provide aid and assistance for alleviation of any trauma or distress suffered by the first responders, medical and disaster relief professionals, social workers and governmental staff who provided invaluable institutional support and service in the aftermath of the accident.
A five-member board of trustees will manage and administer the trust.
Mobile towers to come up in MP tiger reserve to combat Naxals
he wildlife panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the installation of 4G mobile towers in the core zone of the Kanha Tiger Reserve to boost the communication services of the Madhya Pradesh Police which are combating Naxals. The Centre has set a deadline to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
A core zone of a tiger reserve is the innermost area that is legally protected and human intervention is strictly prohibited. Considering that the proposed mobile tower installation at Supkhar village falls within the core area of the reserve, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had not approved the proposal earlier due to its ecologically sensitive location.
Infra to be removed once operations over
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accepted Madhya Pradesh’s proposal to install 4G mobile towers in the core zone of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, subject to the condition that the mobile tower infrastructure must be removed once the Left Wing Extremism threat is neutralised.
“However, since the proposal has been identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as a critical requirement for enhancing communication infrastructure in remote forested areas to support operations against Left Wing Extremism (LWE), the project holds the national security significance,” an official said.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) was informed that the proposal by the Madhya Pradesh Police was for the use of 0.0324 ha of forest land from the core zone of the reserve for anti-Naxal operation. The proposal has been recommended by the Madhya Pradesh Government and its forest department.
The ministry has accepted the proposal subject to the condition that the mobile tower infrastructure must be decommissioned and removed once the Left Wing Extremism threat is neutralised and the area is declared free from insurgent activity.
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