1. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said that the process of theaterisation, which involves integrating the Army, Air Force and Navy, is inevitable though it may take time to implement. He noted that dealing with multiple agencies makes theaterisation the necessary solution and stressed that discussions are ongoing about its execution. His remarks came after launching the book Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan, where he affirmed that while theaterisation will happen, the timeline for its materialisation remains uncertain_BS.
2. In response to Pakistan’s use of drone swarms after Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army plans to strengthen its air surveillance along northern and western borders with advanced radar systems. These include up to 45 Low Level Light Weight Radars (Enhanced), 48 Air Defence Fire Control Radar-Drone Detectors, and 10 improved 3D AESA radars with electro-optical and passive RF tracking. Integrated into the Akashteer air defence network, these systems will improve detection of low radar cross-section drones, enable day-night tracking, and feed data to weapon systems for faster, more accurate interception of hostile UAVs and aerial threats_IE.
3. India plans to expand its Navy to over 200 warships and submarines by 2035 to secure maritime interests and counter threats from China and Pakistan. Currently operating 140 warships, the Navy has 55 under construction in Indian shipyards worth ₹99,500 crore, with approval for 74 more indigenous vessels. Future projects include new submarines, stealth frigates, destroyers, corvettes, mine countermeasure vessels, and a second aircraft carrier. However, India’s underwater capabilities remain a concern as Pakistan and China strengthen their fleets. Negotiations are ongoing for advanced diesel-electric submarines with AIP and land-attack capabilities to address the gap_TOI.
4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has emphasised strict maintenance of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) after the Indian Army reported damage to its tail drive shaft (TDS), a vital component of its transmission system. The defect led to a fleet-wide safety check ordered by the Directorate General of Electronics & Mechanical Engineers. HAL stated that “One-Time Checks” are routine but critical for airworthiness, stressing adherence to maintenance schedules. The issue comes months after ALH fleets of the Navy and Coast Guard were grounded following a fatal crash in Porbandar, with ongoing investigations into root causes such as structural flaws and operational stress in demanding environments_HT, MP.
5. DRDO’s Defence Technology and Test Centre (DTTC) in Lucknow held a conclave with over 100 participants from MSMEs, start-ups and industry bodies to promote collaboration in defence R&D and production for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor. The event focused on skill development, funding, consultancy and technology transfer, with DRDO assuring full support to MSMEs in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat goals. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the opportunity for MSMEs to drive indigenous defence innovation, while senior DRDO officials stressed their role in achieving self-reliance by 2047_Pnr, Hindu.

National Security

6. Border villages in Jammu’s Pallanwala and R S Pura sectors, long plagued by cross-border shelling, are now devastated by flash floods from swollen Chenab River, which submerged homes, destroyed farmland, and displaced 3,000-4,000 people. Residents pleaded for relocation and relief, saying the devastation is the worst in memory, with families evacuated by the Indian Army after entire areas were inundated. Villagers, who have endured repeated shelling over decades, now face shattered livelihoods and uncertainty as floods compound their suffering_Pnr.
7. A Pakistani national was caught by the BSF on Sunday night around 10 pm while trying to enter Indian territory in the RS Pura sector along the international border. He was taken into custody and is being interrogated to determine his intentions and purpose. It is suspected he attempted infiltration as a guide. The incident comes amid rising tensions on the India-Pakistan border, with recent cases of infiltration and terrorist attacks being reported_AU (Hindi).
8. Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu on Sunday paid homage to Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1962 India-China war, at the historic Helmet Post war memorial near Walong in Anjaw district of the state. In a series of posts on X, Khandu said he was humbled to offer his heartfelt tribute to the fearless soldiers_Pnr.
9. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 196 teams across 164 locations in India hit by rain and cloudburst-related disasters, with the highest concentration in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This is one of the largest deployments, exceeding the usual 100–120 teams during peak monsoon. Rescue efforts are ongoing in flood-hit areas, with over 7,346 people rescued in Punjab alone, while searches continue for missing personnel in Uttarakhand and J&K’s Kishtwar. Alongside rain-related incidents, NDRF teams are also tackling emergencies like the recent Dhanbad mine collapse that claimed at least seven lives_HT.
10. Punjab is facing its worst floods in decades, with nearly four lakh people affected, 48 lives lost, around 2,000 villages hit, and damages estimated at over ₹13,000 crore. Experts attribute the crisis not only to heavy rains and swollen rivers but also to human factors such as encroachments, blocked drains, illegal mining, and unregulated construction. With rainfall 53% above normal this monsoon, the situation has been worsened by climate change, which is intensifying rainfall patterns. Standing crops on 1.72 lakh hectares have been destroyed, livestock lost, and experts warn that poor management of reservoirs and dams has amplified the disaster’s impact_Hindu.
11. Security forces have finalised plans to launch a decisive offensive against Naxals after the monsoon, with CRPF and CoBRA units mobilised for deployment in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Around 30 new forward operating bases will be set up to push deeper into Maoist strongholds, complementing the 65 new camps opened in the past 18 months. Senior officials, including the Union home secretary, IB chief, CRPF DG, and Chhattisgarh DGP, reviewed the strategy, with Union home minister Amit Shah setting March 2026 as the deadline to end Naxalism_AA.
12. Security forces in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh, recovered and destroyed a cache of Maoist arms-making materials, including items for firearms and explosives, after busting a hideout in the forests near Gunjeprati village under Usoor police station. The operation was carried out by a joint team of CRPF’s 229th and 196th battalions along with the 205th CoBRA unit, who unearthed the dump during a search mission_MP.
13. India and Bangladesh will hold talks in Delhi under the Joint River Commission to address water sharing of 14 cross-border rivers, with Dhaka sending a 10-member team. Bangladesh views the meeting as preparation for renegotiating the 1996 Ganga Waters Agreement, due for renewal in 2026, and is expected to seek a longer renewal period and changes in water use by India. Dhaka is also likely to request mechanisms for managing river waters and India’s support in establishing a joint flood forecasting system_Hindu.
14. Several stalled automobile projects in India involving Chinese companies are resuming after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised development partnership during their SCO Summit meeting in Tianjin. Firms like Leamotor and BYD are re-entering with electric vehicle (EV) models, supported by eased visa restrictions and investment approvals. Partnerships include BYD with Ashok Leyland for EV components and JSW Motors with Chinese firms for passenger and commercial vehicles, while Stellantis explores joint ventures. Chinese technology is seen as scalable and affordable, particularly in EVs, which will benefit from the reset in bilateral ties_FE.
15. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia, India, and China are conscious of their shared interests across multiple sectors and are moving towards stronger mutual partnerships. Referring to the recent SCO summit in Tianjin, where Prime Minister Modi, President Putin, and President Xi met, Lavrov highlighted their focus on economic growth, social problem-solving, and improving living standards. The trilateral bonhomie drew attention globally, with US President Donald Trump criticising India and Russia for aligning closely with China_Hindu.
16. India and Iran will hold foreign office consultations in Tehran this week to strengthen ties, focusing on Chabahar Port operations and the International North-South Transport Corridor. This marks the first structured dialogue since the June military conflict between Iran and US-Israel. The talks will be followed by a trilateral meeting with Armenia, aimed at boosting regional connectivity. Ahead of the talks, NSA Ajit Doval and Iran’s SNSC secretary Ali Larijani discussed expanding economic, security, and defence cooperation, alongside advancing the Chabahar project, with potential updates on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process also expected_ET.

Imdt Neighbourhood

20. The fifth edition of Sagarmatha Friendship, a joint military exercise between the Nepal Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army, began in Kathmandu. The 10-day drill will focus on disaster management, UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and related areas. Held alternately in Nepal and China since 2017, the exercise aims to enhance the Nepal Army’s capacity through bilateral and multilateral engagements and professional exchanges_Pnr, ET.
21. Five people, including a woman and four children, drowned when a rescue boat carrying flood victims capsized in Punjab’s Jalalpur Pirwala due to strong currents, while others were rescued. Pakistan has recorded over 900 deaths and 1,044 injuries from rain and flood-related incidents since late June, with Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, PoJK, and Pakistan Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan worst hit. Over 7,800 houses were damaged and more than 6,000 livestock lost_Pnr.

Extended Neighbourhood

22. Russia launched its largest air assault on Ukraine since the war began, firing 810 drones and missiles that killed four people, wounded dozens, and damaged government buildings in Kyiv. Ukraine said it shot down most of the drones and missiles, but key sites were hit, including a government headquarters. President Zelensky urged stronger sanctions on Russia and more air defence support, while leaders of France and the UK condemned Moscow’s “cowardly strikes.” Russia claimed it targeted military and industrial facilities, though Kyiv accused it of deliberately escalating the war and showing no interest in peace talks_HT, Mint, FE, BS, IE, MP, Statesman, TOI.
23. A Houthi drone launched from Yemen struck Israel’s southern Ramon Airport near Eilat, forcing the closure of airspace and suspension of flights, according to the Israeli military. While some drones were intercepted, at least one hit the area, echoing a May incident when a Houthi missile near Israel’s main airport injured four and disrupted flights for months. In retaliation, Israel later targeted and destroyed the main airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa_BS, MP.
24. Australia has unveiled its MQ-28A “Ghost Bat” drone, an unmanned combat aircraft developed with Boeing to serve as a robotic wingman for fighter jets, marking its biggest defence push in decades. With $650 million invested, about 70% of components will be made domestically, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and potentially export the system. The Ghost Bat, cheaper than the F-35 and capable of a 2,300-mile range, represents a revival of Australia’s defence industry amid what officials call the largest conventional arms race since World War II, as China and US allies ramp up military modernisation_IE.
25. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned after his Liberal Democratic Party suffered a historic defeat in July’s parliamentary elections. At 68, Ishiba said he delayed stepping down until completing tariff negotiations with the US, which concluded with reduced duties on Japanese auto exports. He described his resignation as a painful but necessary step to prevent further division within the party. A leadership vote to select his successor will be held in October, and Ishiba will remain in office until a new leader is chosen, ending his one-year tenure as prime minister_TOI.
26. Over 300 South Korean workers detained in a US immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia will be released and repatriated after negotiations between Seoul and Washington. South Korea will send a chartered plane to bring them back, while Foreign Minister Cho Hyun heads to the US for further talks. The case sparked concern in Seoul, especially given South Korea’s recent $450 billion investment commitments in the US and its status as a key American ally. The issue also followed the first meeting between President Donald Trump and President Lee Jae Myung_TOI.
27. Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea have disrupted internet access across parts of Asia and West Asia, with India and Pakistan among those affected, according to NetBlocks. The incident caused delays on services like Microsoft’s Azure cloud, though the cause remains unclear. Concerns have arisen that Yemen’s Houthi rebels may have targeted the lines, though they deny past involvement. The outages hit key cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and also affected Kuwait and the UAE, where users reported slower speeds. Authorities warn repairs could take weeks as ships must locate and fix the damaged cables_TOI.