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Reacting to this, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accuses PM Modi and his establishment of maintaining a “deafening silence” on active developments along the Line of Actual Control

The Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Shatrujeet Kapoor, has said face-offs between Indian and Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh are still on, marking the first official confirmation of the reported clashes.

Addressing ITBP personnel, known as Himveers, in Alwar on October 22, Kapoor said the force’s Shaurya Commando teams had performed exceptionally well during the confrontations.

“Recently, a situation arose in Arunachal Pradesh where a face-off occurred at several places, which is still on. There, our Shaurya Commando teams have done a tremendous job,” the ITBP chief said.

The statement comes amid reports of multiple skirmishes in Arunachal Pradesh since July, with locals claiming that confrontations had taken place at several locations. The face-offs reportedly continued even during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India for the BRICS summit in September.

He pointed to China’s heavy investment in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its media capabilities, saying Beijing had made advances in conventional warfare. However, he suggested drones could act as an equaliser in the changing battlefield.

Citing the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, Kapoor said the damage inflicted by a smaller country like Ukraine on Russia over the past four years showed how warfare was evolving. He also referred to Iran as another example of the changing nature of conflict.

In response to the developments, the ITBP is aggressively altering its defensive footprint. The ITBP chief said that strike training for the entire force across units would be completed ahead of late 2027, with essential equipment made available across all forward border outposts to handle Galwan-like situations effectively. ITBP and Indian Army troops remain deployed across key flashpoints in high-altitude border areas to maintain security and defend the frontier.

He added that the ITBP was constructing reinforced underground infrastructure “in a big way” along the frontlines to withstand modern warfare contingencies.

The operational disclosures triggered immediate political reaction, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration’s handling of border security and trade relations. In a post on X, Ramesh accused Modi and his establishment of maintaining a “deafening silence” on active developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Reacting to the ITBP chief’s statement, the opposition Congress took a jibe at the government.

“While the self-styled Vishwaguru’s calibrated concessions to China continue, the DG, ITBP, has lauded—and rightly so—its performance in recent face-offs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh, on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment. Corps commander talks were held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month after the Taksing face-off. Locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost once again, as in Ladakh. China continues to rename our towns in Arunachal Pradesh and is building a 60,000-MW dam that threatens our ecological and water security,” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

Lt Colonel (retd) Balwinder Singh (78) has been solely fighting for the justice for his 19-year-old grandson Japjee Singh.

The former Army officer alleged poor and unprofessional investigation by the Moga police

Taking suo motu cognisance of a Tribune news report titled, “Retired Lt Col runs from pillar to post for justice to kin”, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) on Wednesday issued a notice to Moga SSP and directed him to submit an action taken report.

A copy of the order with The Tribune states that the Commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash, Member Justice Gurbir Singh and Member Jitender Singh Shunty, has called for a report from the Moga police chief, to be submitted a week before the next date of hearing on June 19.

“The Commission has perused the news-item published in leading daily newspaper under the caption, ‘Retired Lt Col runs from pillar to post for justice to kin’ indicating that a retired Colonel has been fighting for the justice for his grandson, Japjee Singh, who was killed in a hit-and-run case in Moga last year. Prima facie, it is the violation of human rights at the hands of police personnel. A copy of the order, along with a copy of the news-item be sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Moga, through e-mail and by post for compliance and to the Special DGP, Human Rights, Punjab, Chandigarh, for information,” the PSHRC order stated.

Lt Colonel (retd) Balwinder Singh (78) has been solely fighting for the justice for his 19-year-old grandson Japjee Singh.

The former Army officer, a resident of Basant Avenue in Ludhiana, said his grandson was hit head-on by a rashly driven tractor-trailer on the night intervening July 24 and 25 near Dagru village on the Moga-Ferozepur road.

The deceased was pursuing an internship at Hyatt Hotel in Ludhiana and used to return home every night. Singh said he had no reason to go towards Moga, which was 70 km from hotel, on that night. Burnt paddy straw was also found near the body, raising suspicion that the driver might have tried to eliminate evidence, he claimed.

Japjee suffered fatal injuries as the tyre of the tractor-trailer ran over him. The driver fled the spot along with the vehicle. Japjee was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Singh alleged poor and unprofessional investigation by the Moga police. He said despite the accident occurring at 1.30 am on July 25, police from the Moga Sadar police station reached the spot almost eight hours later, giving the accused ample time to escape and hide the vehicle.

He further alleged that the police failed to procure CCTV footage from toll booths, hotels or dhabas along the highway.

Expressing satisfaction over the development, Col Singh said he hopes that with the intervention of PSHRC, the Moga police will expedite the investigation and trace the culprit responsible for his grandson’s death.

“I have also spoken to Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Moga Amandeep Kaur, who has called me for a meeting on Thursday. The MLA has assured that justice will be delivered in the case,” he added.

Shyam Nagar SHO Hari Singh Doodhwal says Leela Singh, who had reportedly been suffering from mental health issues, went to his room around 10.30 am and allegedly shot himself in the head

A 78-year-old retired army colonel allegedly shot himself dead with his licensed pistol at his residence here on Thursday, police said.

Leela Singh was a resident of Rail Nagar in the Shyam Nagar police station area.

Shyam Nagar SHO Hari Singh Doodhwal said Singh, who had reportedly been suffering from mental health issues, went to his room around 10.30 am and allegedly shot himself in the head.

His wife, daughter-in-law and grandchildren were present in the house at the time of the incident, police said.

After receiving information from the police control room, a police team reached the spot and called forensic experts to examine the scene.

The licensed pistol was seized, and the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.

The exact reason behind the suspected suicide is yet to be ascertained, and further investigation is under way, the SHO said.

As many as 45 cadets from the school have qualifyed in the National Defence Academy (NDA) written examination. Of these, 32 are from the current Class XII batch, while 13 belong to the previous batch. Principal Captain (IN) Gurbir Singh congratulated the successful cadets, praising their hard work, discipline and perseverance. He also acknowledged the dedication of their teachers and mentors. Vice-Principal Lt Col Sheilza Dogra and Administrative Officer Lt Col Sandeep Rathi also congratulated the achievers. The Principal expressed confidence in the cadets’ performance in the forthcoming Services Selection Board (SSB) interviews and wished them success in their pursuit of a career serving the nation as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

India and Russia’s jointly produced BrahMos missile is undergoing an upgrade, with the first prototype of the next version, named BrahMos-NG, expected within two years.

BrahMos-NG will be an air-launched variant, smaller and lighter than the existing version of the missile, allowing it to be mated with Tejas fighter jets, which are smaller than the Sukhoi-30MKI.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and public sector aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have modified some 40 Sukhoi-30MKI jets to carry the BrahMos, which was used during Operation Sindoor in May last year.

BrahMos Aerospace Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Jaiteerth Joshi was quoted by news agency ANI on Thursday as saying, “The BrahMos-NG system was under development”.

This would feature higher indigenous content, new technologies and advanced materials, requiring extensive research and development work, Joshi said, adding, “We expect to develop the first prototype by 2027 or 2028.”

Sources said BrahMos-NG would be lighter, enabling other jets such as the LCA Tejas, which has much less payload capacity than the Sukhoi, to carry the missile. It is being made into a sleeker version, with composite materials being used to make the missile lighter.

BrahMos-NG could weigh approximately 1.2 to 1.5 tonnes and measure less than six metres in length. It is designed to operate at Mach 3.5, with Mach being a measure of speed relative to the speed of sound. Ground integration and design validation are in advanced stages, and the first flight runs are scheduled to take place, with series production targeted to begin by 2027-28 at the new facility in Lucknow.

Separately, BrahMos Aerospace is working on a future plan to develop a missile with a range of 1,500 km. “It remains part of its future roadmap and is currently at the conceptual stage,” Joshi said.

While BrahMos-NG tackles the challenge of putting supersonic power onto lighter aircraft, the long-range missile programme transforms BrahMos into a strategic deep-strike asset.

The development of a longer-range BrahMos is gradual. The IAF has tested an extended-range air-launched variant beyond 450-500 km. It achieves this range through upgraded ramjet propulsion management and optimised fuel efficiency. The Army wants a range of more than 800 km, allowing it to execute stand-off precision strikes deep into adversary territory from safely inside domestic borders.

In 2016, India formally joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and the restrictions on range, capped at 290 km, became redundant.

BrahMos has also found eager customers in a group 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 the coast.

BrahMos has a variant that is fired from a ship at a land target, which has not been exported so far. The Philippines and Vietnam are locked in an ongoing maritime territorial dispute with China in the hydrocarbon-rich South China Sea. Indonesia also has a small coastline along the same sea but is not part of the dispute.

India slammed Pakistan at the United Nations over its treatment of religious minorities, accusing Islamabad of failing to protect vulnerable communities while attempting to lecture New Delhi on religious freedom, burial rights and the treatment of minorities.

Delivering India’s statement during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief on funeral rights in exceptional circumstances, First Secretary of India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Bhavika Mangalanandan, questioned the report’s approach to religious discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic and its advocacy for the funeral rights of terrorists.

Mangalanandan said the report appeared to attribute discriminatory practices and shortcomings during the pandemic primarily to countries in the Global South while overlooking similar tragedies in developed nations.

“As per the report, all discrimination and wrong practices during COVID-19 supposedly took place only in the Global South. What benefit does a report derive by not mentioning similar tragic situations in the developed world?” she asked.

She cautioned against politicising human suffering and said reports on religious freedom should address violations impartially rather than selectively highlighting incidents for political purposes.

“Deriving political mileage out of people’s pain and loss should not be a topic that SRs should base their relevance on,” Mangalanandan said.

Questioning the report’s position on the funeral rights of terrorists, the Indian diplomat argued that the rights of perpetrators should not overshadow the rights of victims whose lives are lost in terrorist attacks.

“A terrorist not only kills innocent people, but damages the psyche of a nation. It’s a prize that the fervent advocacy for the rights of terrorists, who violate the most sacred right of humans, the right to life, does not similarly extend to the victims of terrorism,” she said.

Aiming at Pakistan’s record during the 1999 Kargil conflict, Mangalanandan said Islamabad’s position on religious freedom and burial rights was ironic given its treatment of its own soldiers killed in combat.

“It is deeply ironic that a state that did not even accept the bodies of its own soldiers who were killed in combat in 1999 in Kargil, unabashedly speaks with fervour on faith, religious freedom and burials,” she said.

“Let me remind them, it was the Indian Army that buried a number of Pakistani soldiers with military honours and in accordance with Islamic rites,” she added.

Mangalanandan also urged Pakistan to focus on developments in areas of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation rather than commenting on the Indian Union Territory.

“Pakistan’s deep obsession with what is happening in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir should be actually directed at the developments that are underway in the parts of Jammu and Kashmir under its illegal occupation, such as Rawalakot,” she said.

Highlighting concerns over the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, the Indian diplomat said their numbers were shrinking, and their rights continued to be violated.

“In Pakistan, the number of minorities is shrinking, and their rights are regularly abused. A state that cannot ensure the safety of its own minorities has no standing to lecture India,” Mangalanandan said.

Her remarks come amid renewed concerns over religious discrimination and alleged forced conversions in Pakistan.

According to The Express Tribune, participants at an interfaith dialogue in Hyderabad recently raised concerns over the abduction of Hindu girls, forced religious conversions and marriages, and the ineffective implementation of laws intended to protect religious minorities in Sindh.

The event, organised by the Christian Study Circle, brought together political representatives, religious figures, lawyers and social activists, who called for coordinated efforts to address religious extremism and discrimination.

Former Member of the National Assembly Neelam Kumari alleged that Hindu girls continued to face abductions and forced conversions. She also highlighted the limited impact of existing legal safeguards because of poor implementation.

Separately, experts cited by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that coercion and inadequate legal protections were enabling forced conversions through marriage, particularly affecting Hindu and Christian communities.

The experts stressed that conversion must be voluntary and that child marriage undermines consent under international law. They also highlighted the vulnerability of adolescent girls in Sindh, where poverty and marginalisation can expose victims to abuse, psychological trauma and social stigma.

Mohali Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes set new record in NDA written exam results

Defence ministry signs Rs 770-cr deal with BEL for advanced low-level radars to counter drone threat

IAF chief AP Singh flies final sortie with pilot who trained him 42 years ago

Indian Army to get new land warfare doctrine

India, Singapore begin naval exercise focusing on anti-submarine warfare

To boost firepower, Army begins process to buy 3 types of drones

Navy conducting trials of Rafale marine version at Goa facility

Army to shield key installations with anti-drone steel mesh screens

The two Armed Forces Preparatory Institutes (AFPIs) in Mohali have created new records, with the highest-ever number of cadets from these institutes clearing the written entrance examination for the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla.

As many as 17 women cadets of the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MBAFPI) have cracked the NDA exam — the highest-ever tally of female cadets from any government institute in the country, including Sainik Schools and Rashtriya Military Schools.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) achieved a success rate of 87.7 per cent, with 57 out of 65 cadets qualifying in the exam for NDA’s 158th Course, scheduled to commence in June 2027.

Only 6 per cent seats in NDA are earmarked for female candidates, with the remaining 94 per cent meant for male candidates. Those who cleared the written exam will now have to appear for an interview by Services Selection Board (SSB) and a medical examination before final selection.

The successful MBAFPI cadets are Tanvi, Urvi, Simranpreet Kaur, Komalpreet Kaur, Pahuljeet Kaur, Jasmeet Kaur, Muskanpreet Kaur, Garima, Anisha, Pranya Kargwal, Jashandeep Kaur, Samridhi, Arshkiran Kaur, Sehajpreet Kaur, Japneet Kaur, Khushi and Jasleen Kaur.

Calling it a historic feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora said the result has put Punjab on the national map as a leader in empowering girls for the Armed Forces and validates the decision to start the NDA preparatory wing for girls at MBAFPI.

Congratulating the cadets, their families and the faculty, Arora said this is not just the achievement of these young women but a historic moment for Punjab. “To break through a system where 94 per cent of seats are for boys requires extraordinary grit and brilliance, which these cadets have displayed in abundance,” he said.

Wishing the boys of MRSAFPI the very best for their forthcoming SSB interviews and the rigorous training ahead, Arora said their dedication and hard work have brought laurels to the state.

Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls was set up by the Punjab Government in 2015 as an exclusive, all-girls institute to prepare girls from Punjab to become commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.

Named after Mai Bhago, the famous Sikh saint-warrior, it is the first initiative of its kind in the country. It started with a three-year graduation programme that prepared girls to join the Armed Forces after obtaining their bachelor’s degrees.

Following the central government’s decision in 2022 to allow women into the NDA, the Punjab Government in April 2023 set up an additional NDA wing that admitted girls who had completed Class 10 for a two-year 10+2 programme.

MRSAFPI became operational in 2011 to train boys from Punjab to join the Armed Forces as officers, in an endeavour to stem the declining trend of youth from the state opting for a career in the forces. It also runs a two-year 10+2 programme.

Both AFPIs are fully residential and have modern facilities, including multi-gyms, swimming pools, shooting ranges, sports fields and a walking plaza. The training includes academics, physical fitness, personality development, communication skills, grooming, extracurricular activities, NCC and preparation for the SSB interview.

The induction of the LLLR-I system marks a crucial upgrade for the Indian Army’s air defence network

n a significant push to bolster the country’s air defence capabilities along critical border sectors and to counter emerging aerial threats, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday signed a contract worth Rs 770 crore with state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the procurement of Improved Low-Level Light Weight Radars (LLLR-I).

The induction of the LLLR-I system marks a crucial upgrade for the Indian Army’s air defence network. Engineered specifically for tactical low-level surveillance, the modern radar system possesses advanced capabilities to detect and track a wide spectrum of aerial objects, ranging from high-speed fighter-size targets to low-radar-cross-section mini and micro drones.

A key highlight of the upgraded system is its automated target prioritisation capability. In an increasingly complex electronic battlefield, this feature allows operators to swiftly categorise, track and prioritise incoming threats, enabling ground units to engage and neutralise UAVs with high precision. The system is expected to significantly mitigate the growing threat posed by unauthorised drone incursions and low-altitude reconnaissance along tactical battle areas.

The radars can track everything from conventional fighter jets to low-visibility mini and micro drones. It can automatically prioritise incoming aerial threats for response. It provides a system to thwart rogue UAVs in forward areas.

Being lightweight, these are transportable for quick deployment across challenging border terrains.

The Ministry of Defence said the project will provide a substantial boost to the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem by engaging several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and domestic tier-suppliers. The contract reflects India’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on foreign hardware while building a resilient, self-reliant, and globally competitive domestic defence industrial base.

The contract was formalised in New Delhi in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from the MoD and BEL.

Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Tuesday completed his final flying sortie with a pilot, who had trained him to fly planes more than 42 years ago.

IAF  Chief and his first trainer Wing Commander VS Kochar (retd) flew in a Hindustan Jet Trainer Kiran Mark-1 trainer aircraft bring a chapter of his flying career to a close. Earlier on October 12, the IAF Chief had done his final ‘fighter jet sortie’ in a Tejas jet at Jodhpur.

The Kiran Mark 1, is not classified as ‘fighter jet’.

The IAF said “the 55 minute sortie was particularly special as the IAF Chief flew with his first flying instructor, Wing Commander V S Kochar (Retd)”.

The occasion marked a poignant reunion between instructor and student, reconnecting the IAF Chief with the beginnings of his flying journey in the Indian Air Force.

The IAF Chief had undertaken his first-ever flying sortie on January 28, 1984. In the world of military aviation, instructors remain mentors throughout the life of the trainees.

More than four decades later, today’s sortie in the Kiran brought his flying journey in the IAF full circle, symbolising the enduring bond between a pilot, his instructor and the skies that shape professional life.

The IAF said the occasion was a tribute to the rich tradition of flying training in the Indian Air Force and to the invaluable role played by flying instructors in nurturing generations of air warriors.

The return to the Kiran, an iconic trainer aircraft associated with the training of IAF pilots, added special significance to the sortie.

The IAF said the presence of Wg Cdr Kochar (Retd), who had guided the IAF Chief during his earliest flying days, made the occasion meaningful, bringing together memories of the IAF Chief’s first flight and the culmination of his flying journey in IAF aircraft.