All posts by webadmin

The upper echelons of India’s military establishment stand on the cusp of significant upheaval. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi are all approaching the end of their tenures.

This triple transition will reshape the four-star leadership of the world’s fourth-largest military.

General Anil Chauhan, the pioneering Chief of Defence Staff, retires at the close of May. Appointed in 2022 after superannuation from active service, he has been instrumental in fostering tri-service integration. At 65 years of age—the designated retirement threshold for the CDS post—his departure prompts urgent deliberations on a successor.

Admiral DK Tripathi, the Navy Chief, likewise demits office at month’s end in May. His tenure has overseen naval modernisation amid rising maritime tensions in the Indian Ocean region. The Navy Chief’s superannuation age stands at 62, aligning with standard norms for service heads.

General Upendra Dwivedi, commanding the Indian Army, retires on 30 June. As the senior-most uniformed officer in the Army, his exit caps a period marked by border skirmishes and internal reforms. Like his Navy counterpart, he reaches the 62-year mark, necessitating a seamless handover.

These changes coincide with the government’s drive for enhanced jointness across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The CDS role, created post the 2019 Balakot strikes and the Galwan clash, underscores this imperative. Appointing a new triad of leaders will test the Defence Ministry’s commitment to theatre commands and integrated operations.

Recent Army reshuffles signal proactive planning for General Dwivedi’s successor. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Southern Army Commander from the Armoured Corps, assumes the Vice-Chief of Army Staff position on 1 April. As the senior-most officer post-Dwivedi, Seth emerges as a frontrunner for Army Chief.

Lieutenant General PP Singh, the outgoing Vice-Chief, shifts to helm the Western Command at Chandimandhar. This key formation guards India’s western frontier, with corps stationed at Ambala, Jalandhar, and Yol near Dharamsala. The move bolsters operational readiness along the Pakistan border.

Lieutenant General Sandeep Jain, previously Chief of Staff at Southern Command, ascends to Army Commander rank. He replaces Seth at Pune-headquartered Southern Command, which oversees corps at Jodhpur and Bhopal—vital for western theatre contingencies.

In the east, Lieutenant General VMB Krishnan secures promotion to Army Commander for the Eastern Command, effective 1 April. He succeeds Lieutenant General RC Tiwari, inheriting responsibility for the North-East, West Bengal, and Sikkim. This volatile zone demands vigilant leadership amid China tensions.

The CDS vacancy offers flexibility under extant rules. The government may elevate a serving service chief or recall a retired three-star officer (Lieutenant General or equivalent), provided they have crossed 62. General Chauhan himself exemplifies the latter, having been reinstated post-retirement.

Three-star officers typically retire at 60, creating a pool of eligible retired talent. Speculation swirls around figures with tri-service exposure, as the CDS must champion jointmanship. The Air Force Chief’s tenure, unaffected here, remains stable for now.

These transitions unfold against a backdrop of geopolitical flux. India’s military grapples with dual-front threats from China and Pakistan, while advancing ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in defence manufacturing. Indigenous projects like Tejas fighters and Agni missiles hinge on stable top brass.

India defense updates

Procurement delays and budget constraints further amplify the stakes. The new leadership must navigate Quad partnerships, BrahMos exports, and hypersonic pursuits. Coordination via the CDS will prove pivotal in aligning these vectors.

Analysts anticipate announcements within weeks, likely post the Lok Sabha session. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, holds the reins. Political consensus could favour continuity or inject fresh perspectives.

For the Army Chief, Vice-Chief Seth’s elevation positions him advantageously under the seniority-cum-merit principle. Yet, surprises loom—past picks like General Dwivedi bypassed seniors. Naval and CDS slots may draw inter-service talent.

Ultimately, this churn reinforces the armed forces’ resilience. As India eyes great-power status, its military hierarchy must embody agility and unity. The coming months will reveal the faces steering this course.

Indonesia has reportedly sealed a deal with India to procure the advanced BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, marking a notable expansion of New Delhi’s defence exports in Southeast Asia.

The agreement follows months of negotiations and gains added momentum from the missile’s proven battlefield efficacy during India’s Operation Sindoor.

A senior Indonesian Defence Ministry official, Rico Ricardo Sirait, has confirmed the development, underscoring Jakarta’s commitment to bolstering its military arsenal with cutting-edge technology. 

BrahMos Aerospace, the Indo-Russian joint venture behind the missile, had previously indicated in 2023 that talks with Indonesia were progressing towards a contract valued between $200 million and $350 million.

Defence policy updates

This procurement aligns with Indonesia’s broader push to modernise its armed forces, particularly in missile capabilities amid regional tensions. The BrahMos system stands out for its supersonic speed—reaching Mach 3—and pinpoint precision, rendering it a formidable asset for coastal and land-attack roles in national defence strategies.

The timing of the deal coincides with the recent triumph of BrahMos in Operation Sindoor, where India unleashed the missile against terror infrastructure deep within Pakistan-held territory. Triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack, the operation showcased the weapon’s lethality when launched from modified Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters.

In those strikes, BrahMos dismantled key runways, command centres, and fortified positions with remarkable accuracy, crippling Pakistan’s retaliatory potential. This real-world demonstration highlighted the missile’s multi-platform versatility, low-altitude flight profile, and resistance to interception, affirming India’s growing prowess in precision strike warfare.

The operation not only validated BrahMos as a cornerstone of India’s self-reliant defence ecosystem but also elevated its appeal on the global market. For Indonesia, acquiring such a system enhances deterrence against maritime threats in the strategically vital Malacca Strait and beyond.

India’s export momentum with BrahMos builds on prior successes, including a $375 million pact with the Philippines signed amid escalating Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. Last April, the Indian Air Force airlifted the first batch of missiles and launchers via C-17 Globemaster aircraft to equip Philippine marine units.

Vietnam, too, remains in advanced talks with India for BrahMos acquisitions, signalling a pattern of South and Southeast Asian nations turning to New Delhi for reliable, battle-tested weaponry. These deals reflect shifting geopolitical alignments, with countries seeking alternatives to traditional suppliers like Russia amid supply chain disruptions.

BrahMos’s technical edge—combining Russian engine technology with Indian seeker systems—ensures sea-skimming trajectories and stealthy terminal manoeuvres, making it ideal for archipelagic nations like Indonesia. The system’s integration into naval vessels, submarines, and aircraft further amplifies its strategic value.

As Indonesia integrates BrahMos, it joins a select group of operators, strengthening bilateral ties with India under frameworks like the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Meeting. This move could reshape regional power dynamics, prompting neighbours to reassess their own procurement priorities.

Geopolitical analysis India

Arab ambassadors in Moscow sought Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s help in bringing peace in West Asia

KP Nayar

FOR the first time in their post-colonial history, Arab Gulf states are victims of war, not its victors. Quietly, money, including Indian money, is moving to destinations away from economies hit by the war in West Asia. The region’s big sporting event after cricket, the Formula One Grand Prix races in several countries, scheduled for next month are likely to be cancelled. Had Pakistan’s participation in the just-concluded T-20 cricket matches been in the United Arab Emirates as once planned, instead of Sri Lanka, they would perforce have been in jeopardy if Pakistan had advanced to semi-finals. The Gulf has been where the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (MENASA) turned to for several past decades when their own regions faced turbulence.

Such disruptions to good life aside, geopolitics and geo-economics post the ongoing conflict — howsoever it ends — will be very different for the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Anger against the US, the protector of the Gulf since Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, is not just simmering. It is boiling over at times. And the censorship-prone governments in the region are not trying to stem the overflow of such feelings.

Ahmed Al-Tuwaijri is a former Dean at King Saud University and a member of the Shura Council (nominated Consultative Assembly) of Saudi Arabia. He wrote recently in the kingdom’s Al Jazirah newspaper (not the Al Jazeera TV conglomerate) of Trojan horses within the Arab world. In an interview to Deutsche Welle television, Saudi writer and political researcher Munif Ammash Alharbi spoke of militias being propped up in Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen to undermine Arab nation-states.

Dubai billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor’s outburst against US President Donald Trump for dragging the Gulf states into war has been widely reported in the Indian mainstream media last weekend. “Who gave you the right to turn our region into a battlefield?” Al Habtoor asked Trump in an open letter. He is no stranger to Trump. The billionaire has met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

These are not standalone free-thinkers in a region which has suppressed free thinking.

When the royalty in the region also speaks out against Trump, it is clear that the ruling elite has empathy for the Arab street on this issue. Influential Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal told CNN on Wednesday: “This is Netanyahu’s war. He somehow convinced the (US) President to support his views.”

The grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Turki was the kingdom’s chief of intelligence and Ambassador to the United Kingdom and the US. Prince Turki has been consistently outspoken in his opposition to the Abraham Accords, which Saudi Arabia has not joined.

A major topic of conversation at iftar parties of elites in Gulf capitals last week was grievance among regional leaders, conveyed to the US in private, that the Pentagon’s forces had not adequately protected their expensive skylines against Iran’s relentless missile and drone onslaughts.

When US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed a press conference at the Pentagon to mark “the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury”, he was on the defensive against such complaints. “We cannot stop everything (that comes from Iran), but we ensured that the maximum possible defence and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offence.” He said the US had spared “no expense or capability” to enhance air defence systems to protect allies in the Gulf.

Frustrated Gulf military leaders have now been reduced to seeking help from Ukraine, which has experience in intercepting Iranian drones, which are used by Russia in the war between the two countries, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has acknowledged.

Another topic of conversation is the abrupt absence of US civilians at such iftars because they have left the Gulf. US Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said on March 7 that 28,000 American citizens have “safely returned” to the US from the war-affected countries. He said many others are in transit homewards. His figure did not include those who have relocated elsewhere in West Asia.

The Arab street is aghast that after plunging the region into a war, the US government is evacuating Americans at such speed although many US citizens may be doing work that is critical for Gulf countries gripped by crisis.

This is in contrast to Indian expatriates doing similar work who have refused the option to leave when the host countries need their services.

Blacked out by international news agencies and by virtually the entire Anglo-Saxon media on both sides of the Atlantic, on March 5, Arab ambassadors in Moscow, in one voice, sought Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s help in bringing peace in West Asia. Their dean, Bahrain’s Ambassador Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Saati, said at an Ambassadors’ Roundtable that “Russia has stronger positions on this issue (the West Asia conflict) and can help put an end to the aggression against our countries.”

Lavrov then did some reality check. He asked Al Saati: “Did you condemn what the US and Israel started doing? Did you condemn the death of 170 schoolgirls?” He went on: “We are against the suffering of the Gulf countries…But we also cannot accept (that) Iran’s actions are deemed unacceptable while everything the US and Israel are doing is beyond discussion. Do you see my point?”

One certainty after this war must be borne in mind. This is a turning point for the Gulf just as Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait changed history in that region. At the request of Arab ambassadors, Lavrov outlined Russia’s “Concept of Collective Security in the Gulf.” He said “the core idea is very simple… Come together and discuss existing problems. Each participating country would set out the threats or the risks to its security as it sees them. Then we could begin with an agreement on transparency in military activities; transparency and perhaps limitations on the number of exercises that each country along the Gulf coast conducts. That would include mutual visits by military personnel and joint economic and trade projects.”

Lavrov promised to send details to Gulf ambassadors. Of course, any such Collective Security process can only start after the end of the war and only if Iran survives as a sovereign state. But the proposal offers promise.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran’s slain supreme leader, has been named as the Islamic Republic’s next ruler, authorities announced on Monday, as Tehran widened its attacks across the Mideast to strike oil and water facilities crucial to its desert sheikdoms.

With Iran’s theocracy under assault by the US and Israel for more than a week, the country’s Assembly of Experts chose as the next supreme leader a secretive, 56-year-old cleric who maintains close ties to the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states since the younger Khamenei’s father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on February 28 during the war’s opening salvo.

Bangladesh shuts universities early to save power amid energy crisis

March 9, 2026 10:18 am

Dhaka: Bangladesh will close all universities from Monday, bringing forward the Eid al-Fitr holidays as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity and fuel amid a worsening energy crisis linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Authorities said the decision applies to all public and private universities across the country, a move that officials said will not only reduce electricity consumption but also ease traffic congestion, which leads to fuel wastage. Officials said university campuses consume large amounts of electricity for residential halls, classrooms, laboratories and air conditioning, and the early closure would help ease pressure on the country’s strained power system. Reuters

Markets bleed as crude spikes; Nifty drops 582 points, Sensex falls 1,862 points

March 9, 2026 10:18 am

Mumbai: The share markets in the country opened with a bloodbath on Monday as both benchmark indices declined sharply in the opening session amid a huge surge in crude oil prices and heavy selling across global markets. The Nifty 50 index opened at 23,868.05 with a decline of -582.40 points or (-2.38 per cent), while the BSE Sensex opened at 77,056.75 with a decline of -1862.15 or -2.36 per cent, reflecting strong selling pressure across sectors. ANI

Rupee crashes 46 paise to 92.28 against US dollar in early trade, nears all-time low

March 9, 2026 10:12 am

Mumbai: The rupee plummeted 46 paise to near its all-time intra-day low of 92.28 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday as global crude oil prices shot up and the greenback strengthened amid the worsening situation in the Middle East. PTI

Oil soars 25 per cent, gold drops as Iran war jolts global commodity markets

March 9, 2026 10:11 am

Singapore: Oil prices surged around 25% on Monday to their highest since mid-2022, with Brent on track for a record one-day gain, while gold fell 2% as an escalating Iran war squeezed world energy supplies, boosted the dollar and dampened hopes of interest-rate cuts. Agriculture markets, led by edible oils, rose as they took their cue from oil prices due to the extensive use of vegetable oils in making biofuels. Aluminium firmed on supply worries even as other metals faced headwinds from a stronger dollar. Reuters

No Indian fatality in Saudi projectile incident: Embassy

March 9, 2026 8:44 am

Dubai: There was no Indian fatality in the projectile incident that struck a residential compound in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday. It added that an Indian national injured in the incident on Sunday is undergoing treatment at a government hospital.

Airline shares battered as oil prices spike, Iran war intensifies

March 9, 2026 8:40 am

Hong Kong: Surging oil prices and the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran hammered airline stocks in Asia on Monday, piling pressure on carriers already navigating tight airspace as travellers scramble to evade the Middle East conflict. Reuters

Crude oil prices surpass $100 a barrel as Iran war impedes production, shipping

March 9, 2026 8:13 am

Chicago: Oil prices eclipsed $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022 on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged past $114 after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. That was up 23% from its Friday closing price of $92.69. West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, also was selling for about $114 a barrel. That’s 25% higher than its close Friday at $90.90. AP

Ex-Chief Patron Sanjha Morcha :Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar :Appointed as Governor of Bihar

Brig Prahlad Singh,Chaiman , All India United Front Shanjha Morcha: facilitated by Army Cdr Western Command during Investiture Ceremony

First Time Ever… A Command Investiture Ceremony in Full Combat Mode 🔥🔥🔥 Never Seen before experience !!!

First Time Ever… A Command Investiture Ceremony in Full Combat Mode 🔥🔥🔥 Never Seen before experience !!!

s This How India Treats Its Soldiers?! Disability Pension Tax Shocks Army Veterans | Barkha Dutt

Gurugram pilot among 2 killed in Assam Sukhoi crash

Four cops granted bail in Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath assault case

IAF officer from Jammu balances motherhood, duty, marathon dreams

Army intensifies counter-terror operations in Rajouri, Poonch

Deployed planes, ship for sunken Iranian warship IRIS Dena: Indian Navy

India denies claims of US using its port to strike Iran

West Asia crisis: 3 Australians were on board US submarine that sank Iranian ship, says PM Albanese

Shown dead in Border, two ‘alive’ soldiers question war movie distortions:As Sunny Deol’s Border-2 sweeps box-office, those who fought real battle of Laungewala ‘want to tell the true story’

Military expands definition of family for housing entitlement

Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar is a retired General of the Indian Army currently serving as 30th Governor of Bihar since 2026. His last assignment in service was as the Military Secretary of the Indian Army. Prior to that, he commanded the Indian Army’s 15 Corps in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, amongst other appointments.^[2] He has also commanded 21 Corps (Strike). In 2018, General Hasnain was appointed Chancellor of Central University of Kashmir.^[3]

Syed Ata Hasnain is the second son of Major General Syed Mahdi Hasnain, PVSM. He completed his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital. Thereafter he attended Delhi University, where he received a B.A. (Honours) degree in History, in 1972. General Hasnain is an alumnus of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Hawaii, USA and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.^[4] He also studied at King’s College, University of London.^[5]

Syed Ata Hasnain was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Garhwal Rifles, from the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on 16 June 1974.^[1] It is a unit raised by his father. He eventually commanded the same battalion. He participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka during 1988-90, and took part in counter insurgency operations in Punjab in 1990-91.^[6] During the 1990s, the then Colonel Hasnain served with the United Nations in Mozambique, and later, war torn Rwanda. He attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, and thereafter served as Colonel General Staff at the HQ Victor Force at Avantipura South Kashmir, at the height of the militancy. As a Brigadier, he served in J&K as Commander, 12 Infantry Brigade, on the Line of Control, at Uri.^[7]

He later commanded 19 Infantry Division in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, as a Major General, serving under the overall direction of XV Corps. As a Lieutenant General, Hasnain has been posted as General Officer Commanding (GOC), XXI Corps, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. In October, 2010, it was announced that he will be returning to XV Corps in Kashmir, as the GOC of that formation.^[8] As GOC of XV Corps, he has held several meetings to redress grievances and concerns of commons citizens, and to bring the Army closer to them^[9] He conceived and operationalised the “Hearts Doctrine” which focused on people as the centre of gravity in Kashmir. His contribution towards improving the security scenario in Kashmir was the balance he brought between the employment of hard power in counter infiltration and counter terrorist operations and military soft power. Gen. Hasnain played a pivotal role in starting the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) in 2011, to build bridges between Kashmiris and Indian Army men.^[10] Throughout his tenure he applied an intellectual approach towards conflict and even guided the State Government in its approach as its Security Adviser. On 9 June 2012, Lt Gen Hasnain took office as the Military Secretary, at Army Headquarters, New Delhi.^[11] His unique and innovative approach defined as “Playing Friend Not God” has been widely appreciated as the new HR management mantra across domains in and outside the military.

On 7 Sep 2013, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain was awarded his first civilian honor by the Capital Foundation Society of Delhi. He received the award from the Vice President of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari. The award was for Military leadership of an exceptional order. On 9 Sep 2013, the General Officer spoke at the Global Town Hall organized by the US based Ali Soufan Group and Qatar International Academy for Security Studies. This event was simultaneously held at New York, Singapore, Dakkar and Belfast. Lt Gen Hasnain spoke at Singapore on the subject ‘ Applying Counter Narratives in Conflict Stabilisation : The Heart is My Weapon Doctrine in Kashmir’s Conflict Zone’.

Ever since his superannuation on 30 June 2013, General Hasnain has actively pursued intellectual activities and promoted the cause and perception of the Indian Army. He is a prolific member of Track 2 diplomacy with Pakistan bringing his vast experience of J&K to the meetings.^{[citation needed]} He is a Visiting Fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi and Senior Fellow with Delhi Policy Group, two of the most prominent think tanks of New Delhi besides being on the Governing Council of Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.^{[citation needed]} He writes for The Times of India , The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Asian Age, Brighter Kashmir and The Tribune on various strategic issues.^{[citation needed]} He lectures at the National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie and National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), Faridabad, besides the College of Air Warfare, Army War College, Mhow, Defence Services Staff College and various institutions under the All India Management Association and Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).^{[citation needed]} He has recently lectured at United Service Institution (USI) and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA).^{[citation needed]}

Gen Hasnain introduced the Scholar Warrior concept to the Indian Army,^[12] and after superannuation has extensively promoted the necessity of incorporating military intellectualism and strategic culture in India.^{[citation needed]} In this regard he is a popular speaker at corporate events.^{[citation needed]} Among the companies that he has addressed include Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Ashok Leyland, Larsen & Toubro (Design), Amdocs Pune, Atoc, Sanofi Pasteur, SBI, KPMG, Amit Rathi, Mindtree and Knight Frank India.^{[citation needed]} His talks have been greatly appreciated because of the passion, patriotic fervor and linkages that he establishes between national security, the common citizen and the corporate world.^{[citation needed]} He has spoken at nine chapters of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the Chennai chapter of the Entrepreneur Organisation of India, each on a different subject.^{[citation needed]} He spoke at the Regional Meeting of the Owner’s Forum in Mar 2017 and DEc 2018; a reputed international corporate club of families who own business houses.^{[citation needed]} A signature event was his talk to the visiting members of YPO Coastal California, on India-US relations.^{[citation needed]} Gen Hasnain’s attraction as a speaker of international repute is his long experience in turbulent zones and ability to handle touchy issues with ease.^{[citation needed]} His vast knowledge of history, politics and international relations allows him to address and explain issues which would need days of individual study to understand and comprehend.^{[citation needed]}

On 21 February 2020 he was appointed Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) ^[13] In that appointment, he is currently also a member of the Empowered Committee for Information & Communication set up by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).^{[citation needed]}

Brig Prahlad Singh All India Chairman of United Front Shanja Morcha Chandigarh and UFESM Welfare Society Pathankot being facilitated by Army Cdr Western Command during Investiture Ceremony held at Mamun on 26 Feb 26