The Indian Armed Forces have successfully concluded Exercise Devil Strike, a high-intensity joint military exercise held from January 16 to 19, 2025. This collaborative effort involved the elite airborne troops of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, showcasing their operational excellence and readiness to tackle diverse challenges in demanding environments.
The exercise emphasized flawless coordination between the Army and Air Force, validating complex airborne operations such as the precision insertion of troops and equipment into hostile terrains.
Cutting-edge technologies and state-of-the-art equipment were deployed to ensure efficient and accurate delivery of forces to remote locations, enhancing operational capabilities.
The exercise featured meticulously coordinated airborne drills that demonstrated exceptional teamwork between the two branches of the military.
Mission scenarios closely mimicked actual combat challenges, ensuring that troops were well-prepared for real-world operational demands.
Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwala, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 33 Corps, observed the exercise and praised the professionalism and adaptability of the participating units.
He remarked, “Exercise Devil Strike has once again demonstrated our Armed Forces’ ability to adapt, innovate, and operate as a cohesive unit in diverse operational scenarios,” reflecting a strong commitment to maintaining readiness for future challenges.
Exercise Devil Strike has significantly enhanced joint operational capabilities within the Indian Armed Forces, reaffirming their preparedness to safeguard national interests and respond effectively to emerging threats. This exercise marks another milestone in their ongoing pursuit of operational excellence and
Arms, ammo recovered during search operations in Manipur
Security forces on Monday recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during a search and area domination operation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. The search operations were conducted to ensure security in vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts of…
Security forces on Monday recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during a search and area domination operation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. The search operations were conducted to ensure security in vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts of Manipur.
The recovered items included one 7.62 mm sniper rifle, five 9 mm pistols with magazines, two SBBL guns, two 36 hand grenades, six live rounds of ammunition, two stun shells (normal), one tear smoke shell (chilli), one tear smoke shell, and a Motorola communication set.n
Earlier on Sunday, during search operations and area domination exercises, the security forces recovered arms and ammunition from Thoubal district.
The items recovered included one single bore barrel (sniper), one country made rifle, one Amogh carbine magazine, three .303 magazines, one hand grenade, one detonator, and several live rounds.
Nuclear-capable missile Pralay to debut at Republic Day Parade
The newly developed short-range, tactical nuclear-capable missile ‘Pralay’ will make its public debut at the Republic Day Parade. On the cultural front, over 5,000 tribal artistes will perform at Kartavya Path.
Providing details to the media on Monday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced that the theme for this year’s parade is “75 Years of the Constitution”, marking the adoption of the Constitution in 1950.
The 90-minute parade will feature 31 tableaux, including 16 from states and 15 from Central ministries. To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, some tableaux will highlight his contributions.
The parade will include 18 marching contingents, 15 bands, and a cultural troupe of 300 performers. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest, accompanied by a military marching contingent, a band and a cultural troupe from Indonesia.
“The military and martial character of the parade is being maintained, but we are incorporating wider societal and cultural participation,” the Defence Secretary said.
ALH issue will be resolved soon: Defence Secretary
The grounding of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) fleet is a slight setback, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Monday. “Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is currently conducting safety checks, and the issue will be resolved soon,” he stated. However, Singh added that it is unlikely the fleet will be operational in time for the Republic Day Parade.
The display of the ‘Pralay’ missile is significant as it is currently being inducted into the armed forces, marking a milestone in India’s tactical ballistic missile capabilities. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ‘Pralay’ is a surface-to-surface missile system classified as a Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM), with a range of 150 to 500 km.
Its ‘elder sisters’ like Agni-V target long distances of 5,500 km or more.
Powered by a solid propellant motor, it offers quick-launch capabilities and increased mobility. The Pralay can change course mid-flight, making it difficult to intercept with traditional missile defence systems.
Designed for precision, Pralay ensures highly accurate strikes, adding strategic flexibility to India’s military arsenal. Its induction enhances the country’s tactical options across a range of scenarios.
A soldier was killed in an overnight encounter in north Kashmir’s Sopore, officials said on Monday. The soldier, identified as Pangala Kartheek, was injured in the exchange of fire with terrorists in the Zaloora Gujjarpati area of Sopore and died…
A soldier was killed in an overnight encounter in north Kashmir’s Sopore, officials said on Monday. The soldier, identified as Pangala Kartheek, was injured in the exchange of fire with terrorists in the Zaloora Gujjarpati area of Sopore and died as he was being evacuated, they said.
Following a tip-off, the security forces busted a hideout of terrorists in the area. A cordon and search operation was launched by a joint team of the police and Army personnel.
Srinagar-based 15 Corps said a suspicious activity was observed by the troops. “On being challenged, terrorists opened indiscriminate fire. Our troops effectively retaliated. The operation is still in progress,” the Army said.
Police sources told The Tribune that one jawan was killed after he suffered injuries in a grenade attack during the encounter. Paying tributes to the slain soldier, the Army, in a post on X, said, “All ranks of the Chinar Corps salute the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Pangala Kartheek, who laid down his life in the line of duty.”The sources said it was believed that two militants were trapped in the area.
On Delhi poll eve, Cabinet clears 8th Pay Commission
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cleared the formation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and pensions of nearly 1.15 crore Central government employees and pensioners. The decision comes ahead of the…
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cleared the formation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries and pensions of nearly 1.15 crore Central government employees and pensioners. The decision comes ahead of the crucial Delhi Assembly elections.
1.15 cr central staff, pensioners to benefit
Around 50L Central government employees, including defence personnel, along with nearly 65L pensioners are set to benefit from the move
The 8th Pay Commission is likely to be formed by 2026; the term of the 7th Pay Commission, set up in 2016, ends on December 31, 2025
A chairman and two members will soon be appointed; they will hold talks with Central and state governments, besides PSUs and other stakeholders
Sources in the government said around 50 lakh Central government employees, including defence personnel, along with nearly 65 lakh pensioners will benefit from the move.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the Cabinet decision, said the commission was likely to be formed by 2026 and reiterated that the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission had already been implemented.
The 7th Pay Commission was set up in 2016 and its term will end on December 31, 2025. It had seen an expenditure increase of Rs 1 lakh crore for financial year 2016-17. With Delhi being the seat of all Central government offices and lakhs of employees residing here, the decision by the BJP-led government is being seen as an attempt to woo the key voter segment in view of the Assembly elections. As many as four lakh Delhi government employees stand to gain from the decision. “Typically, Delhi government employees see a hike in their salaries with the central pay commission,” said sources.
The announcement also comes ahead of the Union Budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the decision would boost consumption and improve the quality of life. “We are all proud of the efforts of all government employees, who work to build a Viksit Bharat. The Cabinet’s decision will improve the quality of life and give a boost to consumption,” he said in a post on X.
Vaishnaw, while briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, said: “PM Modi has approved the formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission for the benefit of all central government employees and pensioners.”
“Since 1947, seven pay commissions have been formed. The 7th Pay Commission came into effect in 2016. Its tenure will conclude in 2026. By deciding to form the 8th Pay Commission in 2025, we have sufficient time to receive recommendations well before the completion of the period of the 7th commission,” Vaishnaw said.
The minister added that the process would involve exhaustive consultations with central and state governments, besides public sector undertakings and other stakeholders. “A chairman and two members will soon be appointed for the commission,” he said.
Pay commissions are generally formed once in 10 years to recommend the fitment factor (multiplier used for calculating salaries and pensions) and other modalities.
The implementation of the 8th commission is expected to result in a salary hike for Central government employees along with their dearness allowance (DA).
The commission plays a crucial role in determining salary structures, allowances and other benefits for government employees, and its recommendations significantly impact millions of workers and pensioners across the country.
8th Pay Commission for Central government employees approved ahead of Budget 2025
8th Pay Commission News: In a major development, the Union Cabinet has approved the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries of central government employees and pensioners’ allowances.
8th Pay Commission News: The Union Cabinet has approved the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission to revise salaries of nearly 50 lakh Central government employees, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday, January 16. The implementation of the 8th Pay Commission will not only lead to salary hikes for the Central government employees, but also an adjustment in the Dearness Allowance (DA).
The 8th Pay Commission will also revise the pensions and allowances of 65 lakh Central government retirees. Government employees and retirees had long been expecting a revision of their pay scales, which is now possible with the setup of the 8th Pay Commission.
The announcement that the Union Cabinet has approved the 8th Pay Commission has come days ahead of the Budget 2025 announcements.
While Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the 8th Pay Commission for Central government employees, the exact date for its setup has not been announced yet.
8th Pay Commission date: What we know so far
1. The Union minister has, however, announced that the commission will likely be formed by 2026. According to the reports, the 8th Pay Commission will come into force on January 1, 2026.
3. The decision to set up the 8th Pay Commission was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the announcement.
He said, “For your awareness, our Prime Minister has approved the establishment of the 8th Central Pay Commission for all Central government employees.”
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the setting up of the new Pay Commission in 2025 will ensure that its recommendations are received well before the completion of the term of the seventh pay panel. Vaishnaw said consultations will be held with central and state governments and other stakeholders.
7th Pay Commission: What changes it brought?
1. Employee unions demanded a 3.68 fitment factor when it came to the salary revision for the 7th Pay Commission, but the government decided on a fitment factor of 2.57. The fitment factor is a multiplier used for calculating salaries and pensions.
2. This led to the minimum basic pay for government employees to be ₹18,000 per month, compared to ₹7,000 in the 6th Pay Commission.
3. The minimum pension also rose from ₹3,500 to ₹9,000. The maximum salary became ₹2,50,000, and the maximum pension became ₹1,25,000.
The 7th Pay Commission was set up in 2016, and its term will end on December 31, 2025. Ahead of the end of term for the 7th Pay Commission, a decision has been taken to set up the 8th Pay Commission to revise the salaries of the Central government employees.
Who benefits from 8th Pay Commission?
1. The pay commission plays a crucial role in determining salary structures, allowances, and other benefits for government employees, and its recommendations significantly impact millions of workers and pensioners across the country.
2. There are over 49 lakh Central government employees and nearly 65 lakh pensioners who will benefit from the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission.
The Central Pay Commissions are typically set up once every decade to evaluate and suggest modifications to pay scales, allowances and benefits for central government employees, considering various economic indicators, including inflation.
Since 1947, the government has constituted seven pay commissions. The pay commission plays a key role in deciding salary structures, benefits and allowances for government employees. Most state-owned organisations follow the commission’s recommendations.
Home-made light helicopter not part of R-day flypast
The indigenously made advanced light helicopter (ALH) will not be part of the Republic Day flypast this year as the entire fleet of 330 copters across the armed forces has been grounded following the crash of an Indian Coast Guard ALH on January 5 at Porbandar, Gujarat.
The ALH and its multiple variants have been part of Republic day flypasts for over 15 years. The copter is showcased as a prime indigenous platform. The ALH is part of the fleet of IAF, Navy, Army and Coast Guard. Several civilian operators too fly it.
The IAF will conduct its customary flypast over the Kartavya Path in New Delhi on January 26. The flypast will comprise 22 fighter jets, 11 transport planes, seven copters and also three Dornier surveillance planes of Coast Guard. The flypast shall also not include the indigenous fighter jet, the Tejas. The jet is a single-engine platform and IAF stopped flying single engine jets in the Republic day flypast many years ago.
The flypast will be in two separate phases. The Mi17 helicopters carrying the national flag will be part of the commencement of the parade. A formation of the MiG 29 will fly overhead when the IAF marching contingent of 144 personnel is on the parade route.
The second phase of the flypast will mark the culmination of the parade. The first formation will be of Apache attack helicopters, followed by transport planes and An32 and two Dorniers.
The transport plane C17, the surveillance plane ‘Netra’ will be part of the flypast. A formation of Jaguar fighter jets and Sukhoi 30MKIs will follow. The Sukhoi pilots will do the ‘Trishul manoeuvre’ — three Sukhoi jets will split in three different directions over the Kartavya Path.
A formation of six Rafale jets will follow. A single Rafale jet will culminate the parade with a striking manoeuvre called the ‘vertical charlie’ – the jet while flying horizontally will change its trajectory and fly straight in the air vertically.
Back from Russian warfront, youths picking up threads of life
From wielding assault rifles while fighting Russia’s battle in Krasnohorivka city of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, a number of Amritsar youths are now armed with wrenches, plungers and other tools as they resume the jobs of plumber, wallpaper installer and…
From wielding assault rifles while fighting Russia’s battle in Krasnohorivka city of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine, a number of Amritsar youths are now armed with wrenches, plungers and other tools as they resume the jobs of plumber, wallpaper installer and dairy worker that they had been pursuing before leaving India. From travelling in tanks and army trucks, they are now using bikes and bicycles on their way to work.
Life is back to ‘normal’ for these youths, but thoughts about the choices they had made and the turn their life took as they landed on Russian territory still haunt them. They want to erase the psychological imprints of the war which was fraught with bullets and bombs.
“Having witnessed gory scenes and destruction caused by the war, low wages and long working hours don’t bother me anymore. Last month, I was in Rajasthan and now in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, due to my job. Weather in our country is tolerable in comparison to the extreme and harsh winter we had to endure in Russia,” said Rohit, a 26-year-old youth from Ajnala. “It is better to earn less and stay with one’s family,” he said as he summed up his experience of going abroad.
A promise of Rs 1 lakh a month as salary, a Rs 7 lakh signing bonus and potential Russian citizenship — many like Rohit couldn’t resist this alluring opportunity they first saw on Instagram in January last year. They had never imagined that they would be made to serve on frontline when they fell for helper’s job in Army.
Hired as an Army helper, Rohit feared for his life as he delivered eatables and goods to Russian Army soldiers at the warfront. Up in the sky, Ukrainian drones captured even a slight movement on the ground and dropped explosives. He saw a Russian soldier getting killed in such an action.
After spending seven to 10 months in Russia, these youths have returned home with the intervention of the Indian government.
Amritsar’s Jaimal Singh, Rohit, Sarbjit Singh, Avtar Singh, and Sukhman Singh safely returned home after the Consulate General of India in St Petersburg arranged their return flight. Their return was facilitated by a request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 8.
The story of each of these youths is about grit and despair at the same time.
Jaimal Singh, 25, is satisfied with his plumbing job in India. Like all returnees from Russia, he too feared drones and harsh winter. Unlike before, he now travels to neighbouring villages for work, boosting his monthly income to nearly Rs 20,000 from Rs 15,000 he used to make before going to Russia. Despite owning a house and six acres, Jaimal’s decision to go to Russia baffled his neighbours.
After a seven-month deployment, 26-year-old Rohit returned to Amritsar. Now working with a Ludhiana-based company, he installs boilers across North India. Less income and long working hours no longer bother him as he has witnessed the horrors of war.
Sarbjit Singh, 50, of Jagdev Khurd, hoped to join his family in the UK from his war earnings. Sukhman of Chogawan, a daily wager, is back to his job of sticking wallpapers. He found the winter harsh and disliked the repetitive non-vegetarian meals given to him during his stint in Russia.
Others from Jaimal’s neighborhood, including Shamsher Singh, 22, and Avinash, 21, had also gone to Russia in the hope of better prospects. Back home, Shamsher and Avinash have resumed their daily-wage jobs.
“I tell everyone it is better to be with your family and stay in your home country even if you earn less,” said their 62-year-old neighbour Baljit Singh, a farmer by profession.
The recent death of a 32-year-old Keralite Binil and injury to his 27-year-old relative Jain Kurian while serving the Russian Army prompted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to reiterate its demand for the early release of all its citizens who continue to work for the Russian armed forces in its conflict with Ukraine. This once again brought spotlight on Indian youths in general and Punjabis in particular who have been fighting the war for Russia. Tejpal Singh of Amritsar was killed in March and Rahul, also from Amritsar, who had sustained injuries in hand due to a landmine explosion, is recuperating in Russia.
Any blockade of the Malacca Strait could result in the Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The reverse is also possible: a blockade of Taiwan by China could lead to the closure of the Malacca Strait.
FROM the 48th floor sea-facing room at Oakwood Hotel in Sri Racha, Thailand, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, I see an oil refinery being built by some 200 Indian employees of the multinational, Petrofac. Unlike in the adjoining dispute-ridden, China-claimed South China Sea, the Thai Gulf is tranquil. The growth of China, the world’s second biggest economy, depends on an uninterrupted supply of energy, which suffers from a Malacca dilemma.
During his marathon briefing on Monday, eve of Army Day, Chief of Army Staff, Gen Upendra Dwivedi said the LAC was sensitive but stable (earlier it was unpredictable). China calls the shots there; India reacts. Time it turned the tables elsewhere: possibly the Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean where India has the upper hand for now.
Along the narrow neck of southern Myanmar and Thailand, connecting the Malaysia peninsula to the Asian mainland, is the Isthamus of Kra, called Devil’s Neck, like our own Chicken’s Neck in the Siliguri corridor which is being hedged under the Kaladan Multi-Modal project through Sittwe port in Myanmar.
Across Kra, Thailand, prodded by China, had sought to make a canal; now a 90-km land bridge is to join the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean with the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea/Pacific Ocean to bypass the Malacca Strait.
An alternative passage avoiding the Malacca Strait will inflict severe strategic and economic loss on Malacca’s custodians — Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia — and alter maritime dynamics in the Indo-Pacific: depriving India of a strategic choke point in the Indian Ocean to offset its diminished deterrence against China along the LAC.
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China’s Malacca dilemma is the stuff of legend. At a Chinese Communist Party meeting in 2003, the then President Hu Jintao mentioned the lack of alternative routes and vulnerability of the Malacca Strait to naval blockade. As much as 90 per cent of China’s trade is by sea, including 80 per cent of oil and 60 per cent of gas. The Strait of Malacca is 80 km long, 65-to-150 km wide and 2.8 km at its narrowest point.
From Malacca town, I could see the other side. Around 250 ships use it daily; it is congested with cargo ships and will reach its capacity by 2030. A closure of Malacca by accident or design will cost $85 million a week. During the Gulf War, Indian warships escorted US shipping through the Malacca Strait.
China has weighed its Malacca diversion options: alternative routes, a new passage and enhancement of detterence to use the existing route. Alternative routes are available further south of the Malacca Strait through Sunda, Lombok and the Macassar Strait. These are shallow for submarines and involve two-to-three days of additional sailing (1500 nm), incurring added cost, which a Thai estimate puts at an astounding $200 billion a year.
The Maritime Silk and Belt and Road initiatives launched in 2013 were designed to protect China’s land routes and sea lanes of communication for energy. Three land corridors were envisaged: the $65-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from Gwadar to Xinjiang; the China-Nepal Economic Corridor (CNEC), which is at the design stage, and the $7-billion partly developed China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) from Kyaukphyu to Kunming, containing road, rail and oil and gas pipelines with SEZs.
China is acquiring military bases and access to ports and airfields to dominate the Indian Ocean Region — the Djibouti military base, Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (99-year lease in Sri Lanka), Kyaukphyu and Coco island (Myanmar) and Ream (Cambodia) in the Gulf of Thailand. Negotiations are on with Madagascar, Comoros, the Seychelles and Mauritius for use of/access to military facilities.
India, too, is creating strategic assets in Mauritius, the Seychelles and Myanmar, coupled with bilateral and multilateral partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. China is a loner.
In November 2023, the then Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin presented the design to bypass the Malacca Strait and ports in Singapore and Malaysia, with a land bridge from Ranong and Chumphon, both deep sea container ports in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. In September 2024, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the South-Eastern Corridor connecting Bimstec and Asean countries with the Indo-Pacific would come into effect in September 2025, the construction would commence in 2026 and the project completed in 2030. In August 2024, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that Thailand would seek Chinese investment for the $27-35-billion project.
For enhancing deterrence in the Indian Ocean, Beijing had shifted the military focus from the PLA to the PLA Navy (PLAN). It is now the fastest growing naval armada in the world, transforming from a brown-water navy to a blue-water one, crossing the First Island Chain and implementing the Two-Oceans Strategy — the Indian and Pacific Oceans. By 2035, it will be a 390-ship navy with seven aircraft carriers, frontline warships and submarines, hugely surpassing the US navy.
In the event of a blockade of the Malacca Strait by the US and/or India, which is an act of war, China may not attempt to break the blockade as it has three months of strategic oil reserves, with plans to make it last for 18 months and replenishing from Uzbekistan and Russia.
Any blockade of the Malacca Strait could result in the Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The reverse is also possible: a blockade of Taiwan by China could lead to the closure of the Malacca Strait. Further, a blockade or invasion of Taiwan independent of action against Malacca will also harm India’s economy.
In such contingencies, as per the India-US cooperative deterrence — the Indo-Pacific Strategy — New Delhi should align its maritime domain expertise and naval capability in the Indian Ocean while the US focus should be in the Pacific Ocean. As PLAN’s blue-water proficiency would take a decade to manifest, India should exploit more imaginatively China’s Malacca dilemma to alter the adverse balance along the LAC. Or, will the Kra land bridge become China’s hedge?
