With the induction of INS Aridhaman, India now has the requisite number of submarines to maintain a “continuous at-sea deterrent” posture. This positions India as the only country apart from China, France, Russia, the UK and the US  to have this ability.

India on Friday commissioned its third indigenous nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-carrying submarine, INS Aridhaman.

In Naval parlance, such submarines are called ‘ship submersible ballistic nuclear’ (SSNB). India has already inducted two such submarines — INS Arihant and INS Arighaat — in 2016 and 2024, respectively. The series of these vessels is called the ‘Arihant class’.

INS Aridhaman and its sister submarines — INS Arihant and INS Arighaat — are nuclear-powered and can remain submerged under water for weeks at a stretch. India’s nuclear doctrine rules out a ‘first strike’; however, to carry out a retaliatory strike, an SSBN submerged under water is considered the best option.

Analysts say India now has the requisite number of submarines to maintain a “continuous at-sea deterrent” posture with at least one SSBN on armed patrol at all times. This will position India as the only country apart from China, France, Russia, the UK and the US — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — to have this ability.

INS Aridhaman is expected to carry 750-km range K-15 and also a K-4 intermediate range (some 3,500 km) ballistic missiles, which can also carry a nuclear warhead.

The three submarines are part of India’s secretive advanced technology vessel (ATV) project and form a critical component of the nuclear triad – the ability to fire a nuclear weapon from air, land and sea.

INS Aridhaman — being longer in length than its sister vessels — has eight launch tubes instead of four, thus doubling the vertical launch system (VLS) capacity to fire missiles.

Earlier in the morning, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Vishakhapatnam for the commissioning of warship Taragiri, posted a one liner in Hindi language on X which when translated in English means: “It’s not a word, It’s a power — Aridhaman”.

Sources said the nuclear submarine was commissioned after a public ceremony to commission INS Taragiri.

The submarine’s hull has been fabricated by L&T and built at Visakhapatnam. The Arihant-class submarines are powered by an indigenous 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

The sumbarine features improved sonar suites and indigenous communication systems, alongside more refined hydrodynamics to reduce its acoustic signature (noise level), making it harder to detect during deep-sea patrols.

Besides its indigenous SSBNs, India is looking to secure a nuclear-powered attack submarine from Russia. It does not carry nuclear missiles. Sources said it was expected to be arriving in India by 2027.

West Asia crisis: One of two pilots rescued | Opening Hormuz no big deal, claims Washington

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

A US fighter jet was shot down over Iran even as US President Donald Trump said the US “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran”. One of the two pilots of the downed jet had been rescued by the US forces, CBS News reported on Friday, citing two US officials.

Trump’s comments came hours after an under-construction civilian road bridge was damaged near Tehran, killing eight.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, responding to Trump’s threat to send Iran “back to the Stone Age,” called it an admission of intent to commit a “massive war crime”. “This was the question I asked my Finnish counterpart, who is a jurist,” he said, referring to Alexander Stubb. “History is full of those who paid a heavy price for their silence in the face of criminals,” he said. An Iranian capture of a US pilot could be a turning point in the war and bad optics for Trump. Iranian media said the downed jet was an F-35. Two US sources told Reuters the plane was a two-seat F-15E and a search was underway.

Iranian television announced that the country was offering a cash reward for anyone who could find the pilot. This is the second time Iran has hit a US jet. Three other jets of the US were downed, which Washington attributed to “friendly fire”.

On the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump on Friday claimed that Washington could do it easily. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said with a “little more time, we can easily open Hormuz, take the oil and make a fortune”.

In Washington, the Trump administration has requested the Congress to increase defence spending by an astonishing $1.5 trillion. Trump and his Cabinet have long pushed allies to increase their defence budgets.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran was putting together a framework to administer and manage passage through the strait. However, countries that were hostile to Iran were not allowed to pass through. There had been consultations with Oman as the narrow water body sits between the two countries.

The southern side of the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by Oman, yet the Iranian side is deeper; that’s why most ships prefer to pass through the Iranian side. It isn’t feasible for large vessels to pass through the Omani side.

Major oil and gas exporters from the Gulf region rely on it to move supplies to international markets, while importing nations depend on its uninterrupted operation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that 70 per cent of Iran’s steel production capacity has been destroyed by the combined US-Israeli air strikes, which have repeatedly targeted critical Iranian infrastructure and the country’s industrial base.

Israel has threatened to destroy more of Lebanon’s bridges as Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon expands, spurring more fear, displacement and deadly attacks.

Kuwait says a water desalination plant and an oil refinery have been struck by Iran as Gulf nations continue to face attacks from Tehran. A gas plant in the UAE was also targeted on Friday morning. Iran has also fired missiles at Israel, where homes and cars have been damaged.

The UK is sending in an air defence system — Rapid Ranger — to Kuwait, a short-range system that is designed to counter drones.

Iran’s Press TV has posted a clip of army spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warning that if the US continues to threaten strikes on Iranian power plants, Tehran will target regional energy infrastructure and telecommunications companies with American shareholders.

The UN has warned that world food prices have climbed for a second consecutive month in March, reaching their highest level since December. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks a basket of globally traded commodities, averaged 128.5 points last month, up 2.4 per cent from February.

Meanwhile, oil prices have surged following Trump’s renewed threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose about 8 per cent on Friday, topping $109 a barrel.

At least 2,076 people have been killed and 26,500 wounded by the US-Israeli attacks across Iran since February 28.

Major Gen Harvijay : Senior Patron Sanjha Morcha gives Presentation MLF at Ferozepur. Regarding Turmoil in West Asia

Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh takes over as Western Command GOC-in-C

Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh takes over as Western Command GOC-in-C

Iran-Israel War LIVE updates: Iran claims to be drafting proposal with Oman to ‘monitor’ Strait of Hormuz

Three US Apache Helicopters Arrive in India for Western Front Deployment

Now, get freehold rights of property within 35 days in Chandigarh

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Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh assumes charge as the Western Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Chandimandir on Wednesday.

On assuming command, he reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining high operational readiness

Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh assumed charge as the Western Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Chandimandir on Wednesday. He succeeds Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who superannuated a day earlier.

Prior to this, Lt Gen Singh, a Special Forces officer, was serving as the Vice-Chief of Army Staff at Army Headquarters. On assuming command, he reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining high operational readiness, fostering innovation and ensuring the welfare and morale of all ranks.

Commissioned into the 4th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in December 1987 Lt Gen Singh is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and the Lucknow University.

With a career spanning nearly four decades, he has commanded formations in high-altitude and sensitive operational sectors along both the northern and the western borders.

His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan, as well as multiple tenures in counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border.

In recognition of his distinguished service and gallantry, Lt Gen Singh has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Sena Medal twice.

Nearly 600 Indian troops serving in interim force in Beirut

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File photo

India on Thursday strongly condemned the recent deadly attacks on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling for strict accountability and reiterating that the safety and inviolability of UN missions must be upheld under international law.Responding to queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had already issued a statement denouncing the incidents involving the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), where three peacekeepers were killed and injured in successive attacks.

“We have around 600 Indian troops serving in UNIFIL. Our peacekeeping operations go back several decades, and India remains one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN missions. The contribution of our peacekeepers has been widely recognised in maintaining global peace and security,” Jaiswal said.

He added that India “strongly condemns the recent attacks” and paid homage to the “brave blue helmet soldiers” who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The remarks come in the backdrop of a sharp escalation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where the UN has confirmed multiple fatal incidents involving its personnel.

According to UNIFIL, two peacekeepers were killed and others injured on March 30 when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan in southern Lebanon. The incident followed another deadly blast a day earlier, marking the second fatal attack within 24 hours.

The UN has termed the attacks “unacceptable”, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating that investigations were underway and stressing the need for full accountability.

Indonesia also condemned the incident, calling any harm to peacekeepers unacceptable, while reiterating its criticism of Israeli actions in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defence Forces said it was aware of the reports and that the incidents were under review to determine whether they resulted from the actions of Hezbollah or its own operations.

India, aligning its position with established UN norms, invoked United Nations Security Council Resolution 2589, which underscores the responsibility of states to ensure accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. “As one of the largest and longest-serving contributors to UN peacekeeping, we seek accountability for crimes against peacekeepers,” Jaiswal said.

At the UN Security Council, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix described the developments as “abhorrent”, noting that three peacekeepers had been killed within a span of 24 hours. Initial findings indicate that one of the incidents involved a roadside explosion targeting a UNIFIL convoy, while another was caused by a projectile strike on a UN base.

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Mina Al Fajer, United Arab Emirates, on March 11, 2026. AP/PTI file

Dubai: Iran on Thursday claimed its drafting a proposal with Oman to ‘monitor’ Strait of Hormuz. The comments by Kazem Gharibabadi, an Iranian diplomat, quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency, described the proposal as “intended to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships passing through this route.”

Iran’s attacks on shipping in the region, as well as reportedly demanding as much as USD 2 million for passage through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, have created a stranglehold on the route.

It is unclear what the proposal would mean. Oman did not immediately acknowledge it. The strait runs through Iranian and Omani territorial waters but is considered an international waterway that should freely allow ships to pass.

“Naturally, when we face an act of aggression, navigation encounters serious problems, and this is the result of the aggressive act,” Gharibabadi said. “We are currently at war and cannot expect pre-war rules to govern wartime conditions.” Agencies

Trump threatens to strike Iran’s bridges and electric power plants

April 3, 2026 9:00 am

US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday about striking and destroying bridges and electric power plants in Iran in his latest threat to hit the country’s infrastructure. The US military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” Trump wrote on social media.

Nearly three dozen nations talk about securing Strait of Hormuz

April 3, 2026 8:24 am

Iranian attacks on about two dozen commercial ships, and the threat of more, have halted nearly all traffic in the waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Since March 1, traffic through the strait has dropped 94 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Lloyds List Intelligence shipping data firm. Two ships are confirmed to have paid a fee, the firm said, while others were allowed through based on agreements with their home governments.

No sign of war winding down in Middle East

April 3, 2026 8:24 am

There was little sign Friday of the war in the Middle East winding down as Israel said it faced incoming fire from Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain reported being under attack, and Iran said eight people were killed while celebrating the close of Persian new year near a major bridge hit by a US strike. Iran decried the strike on the bridge, which also injured 95 people celebrating Nature Day, when Iranians gather for picnics and other celebrations outdoors on the last day of Nowruz, the Persian new year. “Striking civilian infrastructure only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote Thursday in a post on X.

India also 2nd largest importer of weapons

Export of defence equipment, items and systems touched an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, amounting to a rise of Rs 14,802 crore (62.66 per cent), over the previous fiscal’s exports of Rs 23,622 crore.

Defence public-sector undertakings (DPSUs) and the private sector have contributed 54.84 per cent and 45.16 per cent, respectively, to the exports, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

The growth in defence exports has happened even as India continues to be the world’s second-largest importer of weapons. It accounted for 8.3 per cent of global arms sales for a five-year block (2021-2025), according a report titled, Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025, released last month by international think-tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the export performance and added that India was marching ahead towards becoming a global manufacturing hub for defence equipment.

Defence PSUs’ exports surged by 151 percent in comparison to the previous year, while private firms also recorded an increase of 14 percent. In terms of value of contribution, the private sector accounted for Rs 17,353 crore worth of defence exports, while DPSUs contributed Rs 21,071 crore. Their respective figures in the previous financial year stood at Rs 15,233 crore and Rs 8,389 crore.

The figure indicates an increase by around three times in the last five years. The Ministry of Defence said, “The rise in exports highlights the increasing global acceptance of Indian-made defence products and the sector’s growing integration into the international supply chains.”

India is exporting defence equipment to more than 80 countries as of FY2025-26, while the number of Indian exporters has reached 145.

Three AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters from the United States have arrived at Hindon Airport for the Indian Army, marking a significant milestone in enhancing India’s military capabilities amid ongoing hostilities with Pakistan and China. This delivery of the advanced  helicopters  is  part  of  an  $800  million agreement signed in February 2020, under which India is set to receive a total of six Apaches. The helicopters, known for their combat efficiency and versatility, are equipped with sophisticated weaponry including Hellfire missiles and a 30 mm chain gun, allowing them to perform effectively in various combat scenarios. The Indian Army Aviation Corps is poised to deploy these helicopters at the Western front, with the establishment of the 451 Aviation Squadron in Jodhpur in March 2024 specifically for this purpose. The induction of the Apache helicopters will not only bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army but also strengthen the defense posture of India in a rapidly evolving security environment. The successful delivery and integration of these state-of-the-art platforms signify a critical step in India’s military modernization and strategic readiness, leveraging lessons learned from the Indian Air Force’s experiences with the Apache fleet.

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Admn notifies 90 more time-bound delivery of services

Dushyant Singh Pundir

To strengthen citizen-centric governance, the UT Administration has notified time-bound delivery of 90 more services across various departments under the Punjab Right to Service Act as extended to the Union Territory. The services include 35 of the Estate Office, 24 of the Registering & Licensing Authority (RLA), eight of the Directorate of School Education, seven of the Directorate of Higher Education; six each of the Directorate of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy and Chandigarh Child & Women Development Corporation Limited; and two each of the Tourism Department and Chandigarh Transport Undertaking. The notification lays out the

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timelines, designated officers, first and second appellate authorities to ensure a quicker and more accountable public service delivery. The stipulated time limit fixed for delivery of services will start from the date of submission of application, along with the entire requisite documents complete in all respects. Each department head or the designated officer will serve as the nodal authority responsible for ensuring compliance with the Act.

According to the notification, the Estate Office will now give an NOC for sale/gift/ transfer of lease rights (uncontested) within 50 days; change of ownership/lease-hold rights on the basis of sale deed/gift deed/ transfer of lease rights (uncontested) in 30 days; transfer on any basis e.g. intestate death/registered/unregistered Will/court decree/family settlement, etc where issuance of public notice is required (uncontested) within 40 days. Change of ownership on any basis, e.g. intestate death registered/un-registered Will/court decree/family settlement etc on application after public notice (uncontested) will be carried out within 20 days.

Similarly, the Estate Office will issue No Dues Certificate (NDC) after depositing the dues, if any, within 15 days, conversion of property from leasehold to freehold within 35 days, change of partners in partnership firm after public notice within 20 days and conversion of property from shop-cum-flat (SCF) to shop-cum-office (SCO) within 30 days.

The Tourism Department has fixed seven-day deadline for giving permission for movie shooting and booking of the guest house.

Learner licence within one-day

The Registering & Licensing Authority (RLA) will now issue learner licence within one-day. The RLA has a timeline of 10 days for issuance of new driving licence, addition of another class of vehicle, renewal, issuance of a duplicate licence, change of address on the driving licence etc.

Similarly, the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has fixed a deadline of three days for bus passes issued at the ISBT-17 for sub-urban routes and five days for bus passes issued at Sampark Centres for other routes.

According to the notification, the Directorate of Higher Education will issue bona fide and character certificate within seven days. Similarly, Directorate of School Education will issue school leaving certificate within 10 days and duplicate certificate in 20 days.

Earlier, the administration had notified time-bound delivery of 182 services in December last year and 32 services in September. According to officials, more than 700 services of various departments have been brought under the Right to Service Act so far in the city.