Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass to be the new distric

Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Ladakh this week, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday approved the notification for the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory—nearly two years after the Union Home Ministry announced the decision.

Taking to X, the Ladakh administration termed it a “historic day” and said the notification fulfils a long-pending demand and the aspirations of the people of the region.

With the creation of the new districts—Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass—Ladakh will now have seven districts, up from the existing two.

The Lieutenant Governor said the move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and prosperous Ladakh.

He said the decision would “strengthen grassroots governance, decentralise administration and ensure faster delivery of public services, particularly in remote and far-flung areas”.

“Creation of new districts, apart from bringing governance closer to citizens, will create new avenues for growth, employment and entrepreneurship,” the L-G said.

He added that every citizen of Ladakh would benefit from what he described as a historic decision aimed at building a stronger and more prosperous future.

In 2024, the Union Home Ministry had announced the creation of five new districts in line with the Prime Minister’s development vision, but the formal notification had been pending since then.

The announcement comes ahead of Amit Shah’s two-day visit to Ladakh beginning April 30. The visit coincides with the country’s first exposition of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics, scheduled from May 1 to May 14, adding both spiritual and public significance.

The L-G had on Sunday announced that the next round of talks between Ladakh civil society representatives and the Ministry of Home Affairs will be held on May 22.

These talks will be the first since Saxena assumed office as Lieutenant Governor, replacing Kavinder Gupta. Since taking charge in March, he has initiated outreach efforts, expressed confidence in the dialogue process, and pushed for development and revival of stalled projects.

At 19, Goverdhan Singh Rana youngest Vir Chakra recipient of Indian Army

In 1961, the 1st Dogra Battalion undertook a pivotal peacekeeping role in the newly formed Republic of Congo, then torn by mutiny and civil strife. After intensive training, the battalion sailed aboard the US Naval Ship General Blatchford and reached Kamina Base on April 18.

Tasked with restoring law and order in the rebel-dominated Katanga region, the Dogras launched decisive operations around Kabalo, neutralising armed factions and securing key communication centres. Their professionalism earned widespread recognition with Sepoy Goverdhan Singh of ‘C’ Company being honoured with the Vir Chakra for exceptional bravery during one such mission.

On September 13, 1961, Sepoy Goverdhan Singh Rana was part of C Company of 1st Dogra Battalion during its assault to capture Katanga radio station which was strongly held by the gendarmeries. The No. 2 section of the company to which Goverdhan belonged was ordered to lead the advance. When the section neared the outer periphery of the radio station, it was pinned down by intense automatic fire from the gendarmeries.

Sepoy Goverdhan who was in the lead quickly spotted the two light machine guns that were firing from inside the building. He waited for some time, then crawled forward through the small undergrowth, snapped the parameter fence and reached within 10 yards of the building. He then stood fully exposed and accurately lobbed a hand grenade into the window housing the machine gun, killing its crew.

Taking the rebels by complete surprise and in that confusion, Goverdhan leaped forward at another machine gun, turned away its hot muzzle and then killed its two firers. In the process, his right hand was badly burnt but he kept engaging the rebels till such time the entire Katanga radio station complex was cleared of the gendarmerie.

Incidentally, it was the same action in which another Himachali Dogra Sepoy Amar Singh of ‘B’ Company was also awarded the Vir Chakra for his indomitable courage.

Barely 19, yet a legend

Goverdhan Singh, the proud son of Sher Singh — a ‘Victoria’ medal recipient for bravery shown in World War-II, was born on October 10, 1942 in the serene village of Paleta in Kangra district—fondly known as ‘veer bhoomi’ for its legacy of valour.

His grandfather Jawahir Singh was also decorated with a ‘George’ medal in World War-I. At just 17, he joined the Dogra Infantry Regiment on October 10, 1959. Following his training at the Regimental Centre, Meerut, he was posted as a young Sepoy to 1st Dogra at Dagshai in August 1960, then part of the 99 Infantry Brigade.

Today, the decorated soldier lives with his wife, Kamla Devi, in their native village near Palampur. They are proud parents of three daughters of which two are married and well-settled while the third is teaching in Palampur. Their son Amit Rana, youngest in the family, is an advocate with an outstanding academic record. Amit fondly recalls his father’s unwavering courage, displayed in the most challenging and demanding moments.

Rising through dedication and distinguished service, Sepoy Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, VrC, retired as an Honorary Captain in November 1992. Remarkably, he remains one of the youngest recipients of the Vir Chakra in the Indian Army’s history—barely 19 when he earned the nation’s honour for his exceptional

The proposed structure envisions the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) rotating between the Army, Navy and Air Force over time, it is learnt.

What You Need to Know

India is adopting a defense theaterisation model with a rotational Chief of Defence Staff post and limited operational roles for Service Chiefs. Three-star officers will serve as initial theatre commanders, focusing on institution-building for tri-service headquarters. Appointments will be staggered, prioritizing administrative setup, with consensus now reached on air asset division.

New Delhi: India’s defence establishment is closing in on a theaterisation model that will introduce a rotational system for the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); assign operational roles, albeit limited, to Service Chiefs; and appoint three-star officers as theatre commanders with a focus on institution-building, ThePrint has learnt. 

Sources in the defence and security establishment also told ThePrint that the office of the Vice Chief of Defence Staff, which will be the principal operational authority with theatre commanders reporting to it, could be held by a single service in the initial years.

The Army is pushing to retain the office, arguing that India’s primary security challenges, Pakistan and China, remain land-centric, and that it is the largest of the three services.

The proposed structure envisions the post of CDS rotating between the Army, Navy and Air Force. While both Chiefs of Defence Staff so far have been from the Army, sources said officials stressed that the rotational principle would guide future appointments, even if not in a strictly sequential manner.

Further, in a significant shift from earlier thinking, the first set of theatre commanders is likely to comprise three-star officers rather than four-star officers. Their immediate mandate will not be operational control but to establish a system of protocols, command chains and organisational structures needed for integrated functioning, sources explained. 

During this phase, existing single-service commands will not formally report to theatre commanders. However, they will keep them looped into all operational and administrative correspondence with their respective chain of command, allowing a gradual transition without disrupting current command and operational responsibilities.

Each theatre headquarters will be tri-service composition. Deputies, whether designated as Deputy Theatre Commanders or Chiefs of Staff, will come from a service different from that of the commander. The final nomenclature is still under discussion, reflecting differences in expected roles and responsibilities, sources said. 

As ThePrint reported on 8 April, the Western theatre to be based in Jaipur and focused on Pakistan will be headed by an IAF officer while the Northern Theatre, based in Lucknow and focused on China, will be headed by an Army officer. The maritime theatre command based out of Thiruvanthapuram will be headed by a Navy officer.

Appointments are expected to be staggered and aligned with routine postings rather than through a disruptive, one-time overhaul.

“There won’t be any operational change once the theatre commands are announced, The focus will be on the administrative part in the first phase. All theatre commanders will have a deputy or Chief of Staff who will be from the other Service. Similarly, the operational hierarchy of each Theatre will also have elements from all Services,” a source said.

Sources added that appointments will be made as and when the current officer gets posted out in normal circumstances. 

The theaterisation proposal had been stuck over how limited air assets would be divided. However, as ThePrint reported on 9 April, consensus has been reached on division of air assets among the three theatres. Air Headquarters will control the strategic air assets namely refuellers, transport aircraft, airborne early warning and control aircraft, besides any electronic intelligence aircraft acquired in future and space assets.

Enough indications are that, unlike what was originally planned, the Service Chiefs will have some kind of operational role, even if limited. The original plan was to make the role purely raise, train and sustain. 

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)

Baldev Singh Bains, 80, and Manny Singh Kang, 52, join the estimated 59,000 runners at the annual marathon sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services

Among the thousands who participated in the 2026 London Marathon were two British Sikh runners who had been training to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Baldev Singh Bains, 80, and Manny Singh Kang, 52, joined the estimated 59,000 runners on Sunday at the annual marathon sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

They were cheered on by over 19,000 people who gathered along the over 42-km route for the long-distance race, which saw Kenyan Sabastian Sawe beat the marathon time barrier to complete the challenge in just under two hours.

“It’s been incredible, truly historic. We’ve got some incredible sports performances, incredible people raising money for charity, and we have the highest number of participants with a disability and the most diversity we’ve ever had,” said Hugh Brasher, London Marathon Event Director.

Bains was inspired to raise funds for a charity in memory of Fauja Singh, the well-known UK-based marathon runner who died aged 114 in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab last July.

The over 7,500 pounds raised through the GoFundMe fundraising online platform will go towards the creation of the Fauja Singh Clubhouse, a multi-use sports club proposed by the Sikhs in the City charity to provide facilities to improve community wellbeing in the London Borough of Redbridge.

“The Creator/Waheguru arranged to meet Bhai Fauja Singh Ji, Marathon Runner, in his 100 plus year age, who encouraged me to start walking around Beal High School, Redbridge, and then joining Parkrun. This is where in his memory the Fauja Singh Clubhouse will be built,” shared Bains.

“Due to his encouragement, guidance and love I started getting good health and happier. My doctor, who had been increasing my medicine regularly, started decreasing them,” he said.

Bains has been guided by the same coach who worked with Fauja Singh to help him with his running and preparing for the London Marathon. A second beneficiary of the octogenarian runner’s fundraising efforts will be the non-profit social enterprise One Humanity, working on carbon emission reduction.

Kang, meanwhile, is a regular runner who had dubbed his 2026 challenge as ‘Manny’s Marathon Madness’ as it included walking to London from his home in Wolverhampton, an estimated 209km distance.

“I walked to London and ran the marathon without any sleep,” Kang announced on social media as he hit the finish line.

He raised over 325,000 pounds via the Just Giving online fundraising platform for Dementia UK, a specialist nurse charity providing care for families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

“The energy inside us all is the same and using it means we do justice to the human life we have been given. I thank all those that join me to help the causes we support,” he said.

Football fan Kang is popular for his ‘Samosa Saturdays’ campaign, cooking and selling samosas for a small donation every Saturday during a Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, or Wolves, home game.

“Next Samosa Saturday on May 2nd before we play Sunderland,” he announced.

The London Marathon is among the world’s largest annual day-long fundraising events, with TCS as its title sponsor since 2022. Among the thousands who took to the UK capital’s roads on Sunday were more than 700 fundraising finishers for the Charity of the Year, end-of-life care provider Marie Curie.

The event holds the record as the biggest one-day fundraiser, with nearly 90 million pounds raised last year and the 2026 total to be announced in the coming months.

Tribune News Service

India and the US deepened defence ties during the visit of Pacific Air Force Commander Gen Kevin Schneider

A top US military commander, Gen Kevin Schneider, has emphasised the US commitment towards deepening its strategic defence partnership with India and advancing a shared vision for a secure and stable Indo-Pacific.

General Schneider is the Commander, Pacific Air Forces & Air Component Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command.

During the visit (April 19-25 ), General Schneider focused on advancing logistics cooperation between the two countries. Strengthened logistics frameworks and agreements enable more seamless coordination, improving readiness and supporting rapid, coordinated responses to humanitarian crises and regional contingencies. This growing cooperation enhances both nations’ ability to deliver timely assistance and maintain operational presence across the Indo-Pacific.

General Schneider engaged with senior Indian defence leaders, including counterparts from the Indian Air Force, to reinforce longstanding military ties and explore opportunities to expand operational collaboration. The visit reflects the growing scope, complexity and interoperability of US-India defence cooperation across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains.

“The US and India continue to build a robust defence partnership rooted in shared democratic values and mutual interests in maintaining regional stability. Recent years have seen an expansion in joint exercises, training engagements and high-level exchanges, enhancing both nations’ ability to operate together effectively in diverse scenarios,” the US embassy in New Delhi, said.

General Schneider also visited operational and training facilities, highlighting the increasing integration and trust between the US and Indian forces.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is leading a high-level Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting scheduled at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday.

The minister will highlight India’s commitment towards global peace, amid the prevailing global security challenges and underline India’s consistent stance on zero tolerance for terrorism and extremism, the Ministry of Defence said.

At the meeting, defence ministers of various member countries will deliberate upon a number of issues concerning the defence and security of the region. Issues related to international peace, counter-terrorism and defence cooperation among SCO member states will also be discussed.

This year’s SCO meeting is taking place in the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil being witnessed due to the situation in West Asia. The SCO, one of the largest political and economic organisations of the region, may discuss measures to reduce the impact of the ongoing conflict.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Rajnath Singh is likely to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts of some participating countries.

The SCO is an inter-governmental organisation established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China. Its membership includes India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023.

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Hearty congratulations to 53 ER (1st) and 65 EBR (2nd). It is proud privilege to inform that with the teams effort, God’s grace and prayers of all ranks of the units they have won handball championship at BEG&Centre today

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High levels of occupational stress, extended deployments and long separation from family are among factors cited for suicides in the Armed Forces

The death by suicide of a 19-year-old trainee Agniveer at a Naval establishment in Odisha on April 18 has raised concern as it is the second such reported incident from the same station this month, focusing attention of service conditions and psychological health of troops.

According to reports, the trainee, Vikas Kumar, hailing from Bhojpur district of Bihar, had joined the Navy as an Agniveer in February and was undergoing training at INS Chilka in Odisha. His body was discovered on April 18 in a gym at the station.

This incident comes on the heels of another case reported from INS Chilka on April 8, when a trainee, Katik Yadav, belonging to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh had been found dead.

Agniveers in the Three Services are recruited for a four-year term, including the training period, after which 25 per cent are absorbed into the permanent cadre while the remaining are discharged from service. The first batch of Agniveers, which was enrolled in the end of 2022, will complete their term later this year.

When it was launched, apparently to keep the age profile of the armed forces low and reduce the pension bill, the Agniveer scheme had raised considerable debate in the security establishment over its efficacy and post discharge rehabilitation.

There have been earlier reports of suicides by Agniveers. Sources estimate the number of such cases in all three services to be about 25, including those in operational areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

High levels of occupational stress, extended deployments and long separation from family are among factors cited for suicides in the Armed Forces. Personal issues like marital discord, financial problems and family issues are also among reasons for suicides.

The Armed Forces have a structured programme to deal with stress among soldiers and several policies relating to service conditions and welfare measures have been implemented to address the issue.