SOURCE: PIB

Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane visited the Indian Coast Guard facilities in the North West Region on 28-29 March 2024. During the visit, he inaugurated the infrastructure for the Hovercraft Maintenance Unit (HMU) at Okha on 28 Mar 24. Coast Guard OTM and Married Accommodation at Inaz Village Veraval was inaugurated by Mrs. Gayatri Aramane on 29 March 2024. The Defence Secretary was also briefed about the upcoming 200 mtr ICG Jetty Construction work at Okha. He appreciated the role played by ICG, in safeguarding national maritime interests in its area of responsibility.

The hovercrafts are based at Okha and Jakhau for maintaining surveillance in 50 Islands in the Area of Responsibility (AoR), Gulf of Kutch, in the shallow water and marshy terrain along the coast of Gujarat. The field facility for HMU will enable timely technical support, upkeep & maintenance of these hovercrafts which in turn will ensure optimum operational availability and keep them in ever ready state to meet any operational requirement.HMU facilities comprise of ACV parking for technical assistance, Office Building, Workshop and Maintenance Area.

SOURCE: PIB

The delivery of ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 18’, part of 11x ACTCM Barge Project, built by MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane for Indian Navy, was undertaken on 28 Mar 24 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai for NAD(Karanja). The Induction Ceremony was presided over by Cmde Vikram Bora, ND(Mbi)/ GM(Tech).

The contract for building 11 X ACTCM Barge was signed between MoD and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on 05 Mar 21. Induction of these Barges would provide impetus to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.

SOURCE: PTI

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said we very much “hope” that in India and any country that is having elections, people’s “political and civil rights” are “protected” and everyone can vote in a “free and fair” atmosphere.

Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made these remarks on Thursday while he was responding to a question on the “political unrest” in India ahead of the upcoming national elections in the wake of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of the opposition Congress Party’s bank accounts.

SOURCE: PTI

In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key conspirator in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

Muzammil Shareef was picked up on Wednesday and placed in custody as a co-conspirator after NIA teams cracked down at 18 locations, including 12 in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh, it said.

SOURCE: ANI

The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered a drone near Dauke village in Amritsar district on Thursday evening, the BSF stated in an official release. The recovered drone is a DJI Mavic 3 Model. “On 28th March, at approximately 06:40 pm, vigilant BSF troops detected unusual sounds near their duty post in the border area of Amritsar district”. “Acting swiftly, BSF troops initiated a thorough search operation in the suspected area.

During the search, they successfully located and recovered a small quadcopter drone (DJI Mavic 3) from a farming field near Dauke village in Amritsar district,” the BSF said. This recovery marks another successful prevention of drone intrusion from across the border, owing to the alertness of BSF troops and the Punjab Police.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

The skies over Bengaluru witnessed a landmark event recently with the successful maiden flight of the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet. This indigenous aircraft has garnered praise not just for its performance, but also for the significant improvements made in its build quality and maintainability.

Images of the Mk1A reveal a key feature numerous quick-access panels adorning the underside of the fuselage. This design shift prioritizes ease of maintenance, allowing for quicker access to critical components during ground checks and repairs. This focus on serviceability is a major step forward and reflects a credit to the tireless efforts of HAL and its network of suppliers.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) celebrated a momentous occasion yesterday in Bengaluru with the successful maiden flight of the LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jet. Following the impressive test flight, HAL Chairman, Ananthakrishnan, addressed the media, highlighting the significance of this achievement.

“This is a big step today,” Ananthakrishnan declared, emphasizing the crucial role the Mk1A’s first flight plays in advancing towards the delivery of these aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). He elaborated on HAL’s commitment to fulfilling IAF requirements, stating, “We are also looking to deliver one more LCA trainer aircraft to the IAF before March 31.” This commitment builds upon the foundation laid by the previous delivery of four trainer-version aircraft to the IAF.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

Satellite imagery reveals promising progress in the development of DRDO’s joint LRDE-GTRE Test Facility Centre at Rajankunte, India. Notably, GTRE’s Twin Test Cell, a crucial component capable of testing future engines exceeding 130kN thrust, is clearly visible in the images.

This project signifies a significant advancement in India’s indigenous engine development capabilities. The groundwork for the facility, encompassing Civil Works and Allied Services for the Engine Test Facility along with ancillary work for GTRE, commenced in September 2023. Consultancy work for the project began two months prior, in July 2023.

SOURCE: Larsen & Toubro

In a significant development emphasising the robust ties between United Kingdom and India, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay arrived at L&T Shipbuilding’s Kattupalli Shipyard for Assisted Maintenance Period (AMP) and Self Maintenance Period (SMP) respectively. This marks a historical milestone in the longstanding collaboration between UK and India in the maritime domain.

The choice of L&T Shipbuilding highlights the growing stature of L&T in the field of shipbuilding and ship repairs. Given the state-of-the-art infrastructure, expanse and skilled workforce, L&T’s Shipyard, equipped with shiplift facility, multiple dry berths and wet berths, is well equipped to undertake complex maintenance requirements of modern naval vessels.

SOURCE: ANI

Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable part of India,” the Ministry of External Affairs said that China may repeat its “baseless claims” as many times as they want but that will not change the position.

In response to a query during a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Our position on the matter has been made very clear on Arunachal Pradesh time and again. We have recently also issued statements in this regard. I think a couple of statements.”

SOURCE: ANI

India is constantly in touch with Russian authorities to have Indian nationals released and discharged from the Russian army as early as possible, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Asked about update on Indians who were duped by agents and sent to Russia to join the military, Randhir Jaiswal stated, “Regarding Russia, as I told you earlier also, we are constantly in touch with Russian authorities. We have taken it up strongly for them to have our nationals released and discharged as early as possible.”

SOURCE: ANI

Hitting back at China over its comments on the investigation into the alleged foiled assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India and the United States are capable of dealing with any issues between the two countries.

The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, added that there is no role for any “speculative comments and gratuitous advice” by “unrelated third parties.”

SOURCE: PTI

India on Thursday said it continues to encourage a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through “dialogue and diplomacy”. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query during a press meet on India’s stand on the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.

“We continue to encourage peaceful resolution of Russian-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.

SOURCE: PTI

Four terrorists were on Thursday given life imprisonment in a terror conspiracy case related to the banned Babbar Khalsa International outfit by a NIA special court in Mohali, according to an official statement.

The terrorists convicted and sentenced by the court include chief conspirator Kulwinderjeet Singh alias Khanpuria, involved in several terror cases, including a bomb blast at Connaught Place and a grenade attack at Red Fort in Delhi, in the nineties, said the statement issued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

SOURCE: PTI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday defended the Agnipath scheme underlining that the future of youths joining as Agniveers would not be impacted, even as he said the government was “open” to bring any change in it “if required”.

During a fireside chat on the concluding day of the Times Now Summit here, Mr Singh, while responding to a question on the criticism of the scheme, said such questions have “no standing” and underlined that everyone will accept that the armed forces should have a young profile.