Monthly Archives: October 2022

An officer of the Armoured Corps, Gen Seth was commissioned into the Army in December 1986

Gen Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who superannuated after more than four decades of service.

Gen Dwivedi said, “Future wars will be more joint, integrated and theatre-oriented. Therefore, the direction for the armed forces is clear: to see together, decide together and act together.”

An officer of the Armoured Corps, Gen Seth was commissioned into the Army in December 1986. It is the first time in more than three decades that an Armoured Corps officer has become the Army Chief. The last officer from the Armoured Corps to hold the post was Gen Shankar Roychowdhury, who retired in September 1997.

Gen Seth has extensive experience across the operational, strategic, capability development and institutional domains, contributing significantly to the Army’s combat effectiveness and long-term transformation.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla.

The Chief with his Team

The General Officer has commanded formations at every level in diverse operational environments. His command assignments include an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector, an Armoured Brigade in the western theatre and a counter-insurgency force in Jammu and Kashmir. As a Lieutenant General, he commanded both the South Western Command and the Southern Command, which are responsible for operations along India’s western front.

Commanding two operational Army Commands is a rare distinction. In these roles, he provided strategic oversight across critical theatres for more than two-and-a-half years. He has also held several key staff and strategic appointments that have significantly influenced operational planning, force management and capability development.

Widely recognised for his contributions to force modernisation, Gen Seth has served in strategic planning and capability development roles at Army Headquarters, helping shape the Army’s modernisation trajectory, capability roadmap and long-term force-structuring initiatives. His contributions have been instrumental in aligning operational requirements with emerging technologies and future battlefield needs.

An accomplished military professional, Gen Seth has consistently excelled in professional military education, securing top positions in several courses of instruction. He is a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence College and has also attended the prestigious Command and Staff Course in Paris, reflecting his broad strategic outlook and deep understanding of contemporary military affairs.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy on 31 May 2026. He succeeds Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM who superannuated after 41 years of distinguished service.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1987. A Communication and Electronic Warfare specialist, he has held a wide range of operational, staff and training appointments during a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. Admiral Swaminathan’s sea commands include the guided missile vessels INS Vidyut and INS Vinash, guided missile corvette INS Kulish, guided missile destroyer INS Mysore and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

On promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral, he served as the Chief Staff Officer (Training) at Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, Kochi. He was subsequently appointed as Flag Officer Sea Training and later commanded the Western Fleet, the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy. Subsequently, he was appointed as Flag Officer Offshore Defence Advisory Group and Advisor, Offshore Security and Defence to the Government of India.

On promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral, he tenanted the appointments of Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; and Controller Personnel Services, Chief of Personnel and Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. Prior assuming charge as the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Swaminathan was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the prestigious Western Naval Command.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, United Kingdom; College of Naval Warfare, Karanja; and the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. His academic qualifications include a BSc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; MSc in Telecommunications from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi; MA in Defence Studies from King’s College, London; MPhil in Strategic Studies from Mumbai University; and a PhD in International Studies from Mumbai University.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.

MoS Bittu highlights heritage, modern features at revamped station

After years of delays, the 110-year-old British-era Jalandhar Cantonment Railway Station has finally undergone a major transformation.

Unveiling its upgraded look through a video shared on social media on Tuesday, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu showcased the redeveloped station, highlighting improved passenger amenities and modernised infrastructure.

The video, titled “Jalandhar Cantt da Shaandar Railway Station”, attracted widespread attention online, with commuters and residents welcoming the makeover of one of Punjab’s key railway junctions.

According to officials, the station is currently handling the movement of over 62 trains, including Vande Bharat. The redevelopment has been carried out at an estimated cost of Rs 99 crore.

The officials said the upgrade has reshaped the Jalandhar Cantonment Railway Station, introducing wider platforms, arched-shaped roofing and improved passenger movement areas.

Platform number 1 has been expanded nearly four times to ease congestion and improve movement during peak hours. All three platforms have been completed under the redevelopment plan, with staircases improving access across levels.

Passenger mobility has also been enhanced with the addition of lifts and escalators, aimed at improving accessibility for elderly passengers and those with reduced mobility. Waiting facilities have been upgraded with expanded seating areas and air-conditioned waiting rooms.

As part of the redevelopment plan, several passenger-focused amenities have also been introduced, including modern ticket counters, food plazas, retail kiosks, and luggage scanning systems to improve security and convenience. Separate dormitory facilities for male and female passengers have also been added to support long distance travellers, requiring rest facilities, the officials said.

The station’s exterior and interior have also been significantly upgraded, featuring a redesigned main entrance with dome style architectural elements improving lighting and ventilation. Heritage themed installations at the entrance showcase Punjabi cultural motifs and traditional artwork, giving the station a distinct regional identity alongside its modernised infrastructure.

The Indian Army has rescued a 79-year-old woman from the rubble in earthquake-hit Venezuela and begun advanced medical treatment under Operation Amistad, India’s humanitarian relief mission in the country.

The Army said its medical team stabilised her fracture, initiated advanced wound care and started daily follow-up treatment, providing specialised medical support and “renewed hope for recovery.”

Earlier, Venezuelan citizens expressed gratitude to India for its relief efforts. The Ministry of External Affairs shared videos on X showing families thanking Indian medical teams for treatment at the Army Field Hospital, with one patient praising the quality of care provided by the specialists.

The humanitarian mission comes as Venezuela grapples with the aftermath of twin earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.

According to CNN, citing the National Assembly, the death toll has risen to 1,719, while 22,619 people have been affected, including 5,034 injured. Of the 855 buildings reported damaged, 189 have collapsed completely.

NASA researchers estimate that nearly 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed, while 609 aftershocks have been recorded since the earthquakes. The US Geological Survey has estimated a 44 per cent chance that the final death toll could exceed 10,000.

Nirvair, a resident of Dhanaura village, had fallen into the borewell while playing in the fields on Tuesday morning

The dead body of four-year-old Nirvair Singh, who fell into a borewell in Ambala on Tuesday morning, was retrieved in the early hours of Wednesday after an around-the-clock rescue operation.

The rescue operation was completed at around 3:25 am. The boy was taken to the Civil Hospital, Ambala, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Medical Officer Dr Rishipal said that the boy was examined as soon as he was pulled out of the borewell and rushed to the hospital.

“Despite all efforts, he was declared brought dead. The body has been shifted to the mortuary for post-mortem examination. Since there was water in the borewell, the exact cause of death will be clear after the post-mortem,” he said.

Nirvair, a resident of Dhanaura village, had fallen into the borewell while playing in the fields on Tuesday morning. A rescue operation was launched to rescue him.

Personnel from the police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Army, along with heavy machinery, were deployed to rescue the child.

According to the family, Nirvair and his father, Manjeet Singh, had gone to their fields at around 6:30 am to give food to the boy’s grandfather. While playing, he accidentally fell into a borewell on a neighbouring field. On hearing his screams, his father and grandfather raised the alarm. Local residents and an emergency response team rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts, but they could not pull him out.

Asserting the nation’s economic self-reliance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an ambitious policy shift aimed at ending American financial assistance, declaring that the country’s robust economy no longer requires foreign subsidies.

Making the remarks on Tuesday, the Prime Minister outlined his administration’s comprehensive strategy across critical security and geopolitical fronts, including state sovereignty, regional military presence, and diplomatic manoeuvres.

Addressing the financial relationship with Washington, Netanyahu stated, “I want to stop American aid. It’s like welfare; I don’t want it.”

He emphasised that Israel’s contemporary fiscal strength renders outside funding negligible, adding, “Our economy is no longer a small economy… we can finance ourselves with this fraction of a per cent of our GDP that we receive from the United States. I want this process to start this year.”

Turning to core territorial and sovereignty matters, the Prime Minister re-emphasised his administration’s unyielding opposition to Palestinian statehood.

He reaffirmed, “Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. No Palestinian state will be established here.”

Netanyahu detailed an aggressive stance on national defence, underscoring that the military will maintain a proactive posture against external adversaries.

He asserted, “We will pursue an active security policy–we won’t sit back and wait behind fences.”

When questioned about the potential re-establishment of Israeli communities within the Gaza Strip, the Prime Minister maintained a calculated diplomatic silence.

He noted, “As for rebuilding settlements in Gaza, you have to be ready to act first and talk afterwards. Sometimes it’s better to separate the two. That’s why I’m not going to add anything further on that subject.”

Elaborating on his approach to governance and international relations, Netanyahu suggested that strategic ambiguity remains paramount.

He stated, “You have to understand that the art of statecraft isn’t limited to domestic politics. I don’t have to declare everything to the whole world at every moment.”

Highlighting Israel’s persistent operations against regional threats, the Prime Minister issued a direct warning regarding cross-border pre-emptive strikes against Tehran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.

He remarked, “We entered Iran twice to save ourselves from destruction. There will be a third time if necessary.”

Netanyahu also confirmed that Israeli defence forces will maintain their operational positions within Lebanese territory to counter hostile factions.

He explained, “We didn’t leave Lebanon. We have effectively established this security belt–about 10 kilometres inside Lebanon–with the agreement of the Lebanese government. And, of course, Hezbollah is outraged. The same is true of Iran.”

During a physical assessment of troop deployments in the northern sector, the Prime Minister reiterated that the military presence would persist until cross-border threats were neutralised.

He told the gathered forces, “Our position is clear: we will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has disappeared. And as long as Hezbollah, armed, is here and threatening us, we will stay here.”

The declaration follows the recent signing of a Washington-brokered framework pact between Beirut and Tel Aviv, intended to establish long-term stability and ensure the demilitarisation of the Iran-backed Shiite militia.

Under the stipulations of the diplomatic accord, any eventual troop drawdown by Israeli forces remains strictly contingent upon the Lebanese government successfully establishing specialised operational sectors where the state military takes over security control.