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The Indian Army’s Ram Division, part of the Kharga Corps under Western Command, conducted Exercise Ram Prahar, a major integrated all-arms and services manoeuvre, reaffirming Army’s evolution into a modern, adaptive, agile and technology-enabled fighting force.

The exercise underscored the Army’s focus on operational agility, multi-domain capability and real-time decision-making across land, air and cyber domains – reflecting a posture of preparedness, deterrence and strategic assurance in the current fragile regional security environment.

In a run-up to the exercise, the Division undertook a series of battle drills and validations of tactics, techniques and procedures. The exercise witnessed coordinated operations by armoured, infantry, engineer and aviation elements in a dynamic battlefield environment.

Employment of next-generation equipment, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) integration, AI-enabled decision support tools and network-based command and control systems demonstrated the Army’s ability to adapt, respond and prevail in complex, technology-driven battlefields.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, reviewed the exercise in the general area of Haridwar on Saturday and validated the operational doctrines and procedures.

Exercise Ram Prahar reflects the Indian Army’s resolve to remain agile, resilient and future-ready, drawing strength from synergy, innovation and its enduring bond with the people, a spokesperson for Western Command said.

Himachal pilot’s body flown back for last last rites at hometown Kangra

A day after a Tejas jet crashed at an airshow in Dubai, killing a pilot, top sources in the Indian Air Force dismissed speculation that the indigenous fighter jets would be grounded.

“No such grounding has taken place. All (Tejas) planes are cleared for flying,” said the sources. The IAF has 36 such jets in its fleet.

Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who died in the crash, have been flown back to India. An IAF plane flew in from Dubai with the remains of the pilot to Sulur, Tamil Nadu, the home base of one of the Tejas fighter jet squadron. Sources in the IAF said the cremation was planned at the family hometown in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

Wing Commander Syal was posted to the squadron at Sulur. The military leadership at the base and his colleagues will pay their last respects at an associated solemn ceremony. The mortal remains would then be moved to Kangra by the IAF for the last rites.

Wing Commander Syal was piloting a Tejas Mark-1 fighter aircraft at the Dubai air show and he died when the plane plunged to the ground while he was executing a low-flying manoeuvre called the ‘barrel roll’. The pilot tried to stabilise the jet, but could not eject in time. The ill-fated plane nosedived and erupted into a fireball on impact.

The Tejas Mark-1 plane manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is powered by the F-404 engine made by US company General Electric. The HAL delivered 38 jets in the first tranche, of which two have been lost. Another 180 jets of the upgraded variant of the jet, called Tejas Mark-1A, are on order with the HAL. Deliveries are yet to start.

A court of inquiry is being constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident. Sources said there could be multiple reasons for malfunction, including trouble in the fly-by-wire system, engine failure, or any control system malfunctioning. The IAF would be retrieving the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder.

Admiral Tripathi’s US visit pushes tie-up in unmanned systems, cyber & space

India and the US are looking to collaborate on emerging military domains and refine the scope of their maritime exercises to make these more complex and challenging. These issues were discussed between the military leadership of both countries during Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi’s recent six-day visit to the US.

Collaboration on expanding military domains would include unmanned systems, surveillance, cyber and space-enabled maritime capabilities. The two sides operate several common-origin platforms such as MQ-9B drones and Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft, allowing them to share a common operational picture.

In the space domain, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February, the Transforming Relations Utilising Strategic Technologies (TRUST) initiative was announced to advance cooperation in space alongside defence, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and biotechnology.

The India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) is aimed at fostering startup partnerships in satellite technology and space situational awareness. Defence space cooperation has also deepened with India’s participation in the US Space Command’s Global Sentinel exercise.

On military exercises, the two sides are exploring expansion. “The two sides deliberated on refining bilateral and multilateral exercises,” the Navy said after the visit concluded.

The navies are looking to add greater complexity to the drills, including “submarine hunts” and tracking “enemy vessels”, which would strengthen the India-US maritime partnership and advance shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific, sources said.

Both navies are part of strategic multi-nation constructs such as the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. India hosts the Milan exercise, in which the US is an important participant. Along with Japan and Australia, both countries are also part of the Malabar Exercise.

The latest edition of Malabar was conducted last week at Guam, a US base in the Pacific Ocean.

Admiral Tripathi and US officials reviewed key pillars of India-US defence cooperation, including strengthening maritime security and domain awareness, expanding operational interoperability, enhancing information sharing, safeguarding sea lines of communication and critical undersea infrastructure, and coordinated responses to counter-piracy and other non-traditional security challenges.

Admiral Tripathi also met Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Stephen T Koehler, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, and other senior naval leaders.

The entry gate of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib glows brightly at Anandpur Sahib on Friday evening.

The holy city transforms in honour of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th martyrdom anniversary

District gears up for solemn farewell

Kangra is preparing to bid a tearful yet proud farewell to Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the LCA Tejas crash during the Dubai Air Show. His mortal remains will arrive from Sulur Air Base, Coimbatore, to Kangra airport at 12.30 pm on Sunday.

According to Nagrota Bagwan SDM Munish Sharma, the last rites will be performed at his native village, Patialkhad near Yol, with full military honours.

The district administration has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure a dignified tribute to the officer. Col Gopal Guleria, Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, told The Tribune that the Air Force unit stationed at Yol is supervising all formalities, while the local ex-servicemen’s unit, led by Hony Captain KC Dhiman, will attend in full uniform to honour this ‘brave son of the soil’.

Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa confirmed that Yadwinder Goma, Minister for AYUSH, Youth Services and Sports, along with local MLA and HPTDC Chairperson Raghubir Singh Bali, will represent the state government.

Former Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar, former Minister Sudhir Sharma and several other political leaders are also expected to pay their respects as the region unites to honour its valiant son.

55 ENGINEER REGIMENT (DELHI-NCR )GTG 16 NOV 2025

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ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF MESSAGE ON 245th CORPS DAY

Defence Ministry mulls retaining more Agniveers

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CO of The Daring Dozen (12 ASSAM), Col Adarsh Kumar reports 

Army’s mono-rail to the rescue: At 16,000 ft, extreme weather and tough terrain no hurdle for delivery of essential supplies to LAC posts

Indian Navy to commission indigenous anti-submarine warfare vessel ‘Mahe’ on November 24

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Navy to get another warship capable of hunting submarines

Lt Col Kaman Singh, MVC A legacy of courage and command

Army validates new battle architecture in Arunachal high-altitude drill

Notice to cops who hit Lt General’s car

DRDO’s new-generation underwater anti-mine system for Navy ready for production

9 killed, 29 injured in Nowgam police station blast in J-K

Col NK Sharma write

GTG today at AVI Noida.
It takes great efforts to organize by Veterans.
We are grateful to Maj SPS Rathore who came from Lucknow, Sushil from Jammu, Chand from Mathura.
It was a great feeling to have Brig Manpreet Singh Dhillon Son of Col Amar Jeet Singh Dhillon , OC HQ Coy in Amritsar, among us.
60th Raising Day, Diamond Jubilee Celebrations due next year was briefly discussed.
One thought is to celebrate Diamond Jubilee in Delhi Cantt and the responsibility to be taken by Serving Officers.
Enthusiast and Josh is quite good and high for the same.
Some of the photographs taken are share

BEAUTIES OF 55 ER

COL RN Khanna writes

GTG: DELHI-NCR
16th Nov.

1.PACHPANITES VETERANS have settled in specific areas. When I mooted & designated four separate CHAPTERS for ease of conducting GTGs, initially it looked odd. But it has worked & serving the purpose.

2. During the last few years GTGs being organised by each CHAPTER, have caught on & have become rituals.
   Participation & enthusiasm has also increased. Idea of Inviting the EXTENDED FAMILY members has caught on to associate the next generation. The atmosphere, atleast in Delhi-NCR, is so free & frankly Joice.
3. Though it takes lots of effort on the part of the organising team, as well as PACHPANITES, some of them coming from far off cities. All this ought to be appreciated.
4. While chasing & pursuing PACHPANITES on individual basis by organising team members, (some times several times) we come to know the constraints of some for not able to attend & some times last minute drop outs.
5. While on this exercise, 6 veterans, who were unable to attend this time, sent me their best wishes, which were read by two members of the organising team.
   Brig Hira Singh was badly off & was not able to even speak to me. So he sent his wishes in writing & posted on my WhatsApp. 😊
6. I mooted the idea of having next year’s DELHI-NCR GTG in Delhi , through general consensus.
   Could be syncrinised with the 60th Raising Day date with max participation. We can even think of combining DELHI-NCR & PUNJAB Chapters.
   It’s a long call, which has to be taken by Gaurav & Vijay. Long way & plenty of time to have views, discussion & plan.
   Let us hope for the next grand GTG.
7. God bless PACHPANITES & PACHPAN AJA

OPEN Pdf FILE BELOW

ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF MESSAGE

The Territorial Army in its present form was established under the Territorial Army Act on August 18, 1948

The Army is considering the induction of women into Territorial Army (TA) battalions as a pilot project, with recruitment initially restricted to a few units.

Army sources confirmed the developmenton Sunday, saying the intake would begin with small numbers and may expand after an evaluation of the scheme. They emphasised that the TA is not deployed on front-line battle roles.

Currently, women are commissioned into 10 arms and services — the Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch and Army Education Corps, in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Women are not inducted into the infantry or armoured corps.

The Territorial Army, raised as a “citizen soldiers’ force”, allows able-bodied volunteers — particularly those overage for regular Army enrolment — to serve the nation in uniform while augmenting the Army’s organisational needs.

At present, the Territorial Army has a strength of around 50,000 personnel comprising 65 Departmental TA units such as Railway, IOC, ONGC, and Non-Departmental TA units of Infantry Battalion (TA), including Home and Hearth Battalions, Ecological Battalion (TA) affiliated to various Infantry Regiments and Engineer Regiment (TA) for maintenance of Line of Control fencing.

TA units have participated in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations, and played active roles in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, and Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang in the North-East.

The Territorial Army in its present form was established under the Territorial Army Act on August 18, 1948, and was formally inaugurated by C Rajagopalachari on October 9, 1949.

A proposal on the Agnipath scheme is being examined on three key points — providing financial support to family in case of death, lifelong medical treatment in case of disability and an increase in the number of those being retained after the four-year tenure ends.

The Department of Military Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Defence and is headed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, is now examining a proposal to tweak the Agnipath scheme on three key points — providing financial support to family in case of death, lifelong medical treatment in case of disability and an increase in the number of those being retained after the four-year tenure ends.

Sources said a decision was expected soon as the first lot of Agniveers – the name of soldiers recruited under the scheme – would complete their four-year tenure in October next year.

The armed forces have made a pitch for increasing the retention percentage of soldiers. The Agnipath scheme entails the recruitment of youth in the armed forces for four years. After the period, 25 per cent of the recruits would be retained as full-time soldiers, while others will be relieved of the service.

The three services want that ceiling of retaining 25 per cent soldiers be increased. Sources said the suggestion of the forces is to retain 50 per cent of the recruits in all arms and 60 per cent in case of technical arms.

The move comes as all the three forces are rapidly absorbing technology and need more trained hands to operate UAVs, scan surveillance footage and read radars signals to launch air defence mechanisms like in Operation Sindoor.

Also, in case of an Agniveer dying in the line of duty, his family be given a “subsistence allowance” for life, is part of the proposal. Since those recruited under the scheme cannot marry, the proposal does not mention the wife as a beneficiary.

Under the proposal, Agniveers who get disabled in line of duty are to be made entitled for benefits like regular soldiers who get free medical facilities for life and disability allowance.

In December 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chaired by BJP MP Jual Oram recommended that families of Agniveers, who die in line of duty be provided the same benefits as given to the families of regular soldiers.

The present rules do not have the provision of pension for the family of Agniveers dying in the line of duty.