SOURCE: PTI

India on Friday sealed five major defence acquisition contracts worth ? 39,125 crore including procurement of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, radars, weapon systems and aero-engines for MiG-29 jets as part of efforts to boost the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

The mega procurement projects were firmed up amid India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh, and they will be implemented under the broad framework of the government’s policy to boost domestic defence manufacturing.

SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, is developing a first-of-its-kind indigenous room-temperature quantum computer that will use photons for faster calculations, according to officials.

The computer, being developed as part of the National Quantum Mission, will be unique in its ability to analyse data and suggest solutions with 86 per cent accuracy without traditional algorithms, they said. Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers.

SOURCE: REUTERS

New U.S. sanctions on Moscow are more likely than previous ones to cut Indian imports of thermal coal from Russia because they specifically cite top exporters SUEK and Mechel, three major traders of Russian coal said.

Russia, historically a minor exporter of the fuel to India, began boosting shipments to the south Asian country after Western sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. The latest U.S. sanctions also include Russia’s payment system, financial institutions and energy production.

SOURCE: AFI

Jammu and Kashmir Police recognized the valuable contribution of a local resident in safeguarding the region’s security. On Thursday, a reward of Rs 3 lakh was presented to the individual who provided crucial information about a Pakistani drone in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district. The drone was subsequently recovered by security forces.

Senior Superintendent of Police Samba, Vinay Kumar, presented the cheque on behalf of the ADGP Jammu Zone during a felicitation ceremony. The event, organized jointly by the Samba Police and the Border Security Force (BSF), saw participation from IG BSF D.K Boora, DIG BSF Jammu Sector Chitter Pal, and other dignitaries.

SOURCE: PTI

The Manipur Police have arrested three members of the banned KCP (N) from Imphal West district and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession, an official statement said on Friday.

Five mobile handsets and Rs 4 lakh in cash were also seized from their possession, it said. The arms and ammunition recovered from them are suspected to have been looted from security forces earlier, a police officer said. The arrested members of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Nongdrenkhomba) were identified as L Alin, Herish Maibam and Bela Oinam, the statement issued from the police control room said, adding that a case was registered for further investigation.

SOURCE: PTI

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that the police are waiting for the Forensic Science Laboratory report to take action in connection with alleged pro-Pakistan slogans raised by supporters of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

He said that a suspect has been secured and his voice recording has been gathered by the cops. Opposition BJP alleged that Hussain’s supporters allegedly raised pro-Pakistan slogans, while celebrating his victory in the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday. The purported videos of the incident were telecast by TV news channels and also had gone viral on social media.

SOURCE: AFI

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) has announced the successful completion of trials for their new Wheeled CBRN (8×8) vehicle. This indigenously developed platform promises to be a significant advancement in the field of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) reconnaissance, surpassing its competitors in several key aspects.

Before delving into the prowess of the Mahindra CBRN, it’s essential to contextualize its position among similar-class vehicles globally. The landscape comprises renowned contenders such as the Fuchs 2 from Germany, the Stryker M1135 from the USA, and the Piranha 3 from Switzerland. Each vehicle boasts distinct specifications and capabilities, presenting a competitive environment for the Mahindra CBRN.

Here’s a comparative analysis of the DRDO-Mahindra CBRN with its counterparts:

SOURCE: AFI

In a display of military prowess and technological advancement, the Indian Army recently conducted its Annual Eastern Command Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) field firing exercise at the Teesta field firing range in West Bengal. The exercise, conducted under the aegis of Trishakti Corps, marked a significant milestone in the army’s operational readiness and combat effectiveness.

During the exercise, more than 260 missiles were fired, reflecting the army’s commitment to precision and effectiveness in anti-tank warfare. The overarching objective of achieving “one missile one tank” underscores the army’s dedication to mastering the latest technologies and tactics in modern warfare scenarios.

SOURCE: PIB

DRDO conducted two successful flight tests of Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile on 28^th & 29^th Feb 2024 from a ground based portable launcher off the coast of Odisha from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. These tests were carried out against high speed unmanned aerial targets under different interception scenarios. During all the test flights, the targets were intercepted and destroyed by the missiles, meeting the mission objectives.

VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners. VSHORADAS missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics which have been successfully proven during the tests.

SOURCE: AFI

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of ‘Sikhs for Justice’, has sparked controversy by releasing a video message allegedly advocating for the kidnapping of ministers and the forceful release of radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh from jail. Amritpal Singh has been in custody since April last year, facing charges including attempted murder, and is currently held in a special cell at Dibrugarh jail in Assam.

In the video, Pannun, who is also labeled as a designated terrorist, purportedly provides instructions on how to orchestrate Amritpal’s release. According to reliable intelligence sources, Pannun is advising individuals on methods to assault jails and has even referenced a union minister and his son as potential targets for abduction in his discourse.

SOURCE: ANI

In a move towards strengthening its position in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy is going to commission a new base, INS Jatayu, in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep. The Indian Navy is also going to hold its commanders’ conference on board the twin aircraft carriers, including INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, where they will be undertaking high-tempo operations like taking off from one carrier and landing at the other, along with participation from other warships and submarines in the carrier battle groups, defence officials told ANI.

The Indian Navy is also going to formally commission the multirole helicopter MH-60 Romeo at Kochi in the next week, they said. The force would also see the buildings of its naval war college in Goa and facilities in Karwar inaugurated around March 4, the officials said.

SOURCE: ANI

The External Affairs Ministry has said that India shares a very expansive, broad-based, multifaceted relationship with South Korea and during the upcoming visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the nation, all aspects of this relationship would be discussed. “EAM is to visit Japan and S Korea from March 5-8. We have issued a press release in that regard. In South Korea, he will be attending the 10th joint commission meeting, where we have a very expansive, broad-based, multifaceted relationship with S Korea,” the official spokesperson of the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal said in the press briefing on Thursday.

“All aspects of the relationship would be discussed,” he said. Jaiswal also emphasised on India’s strong ties with Japan and stated that the foreign minister-level strategic dialogue will be conducted during the visit. He said, “EAM would be visiting Japan. We have very strong ties with Japan. The foreign minister-level strategic dialogue will be conducted during the visit.

SOURCE: ANI

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the entry of foreign nationals into the country is a sovereign decision regarding the denial of entry to Nitasha Kaul, a UK national. During a weekly media briefing by the MEA, the official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said, “This particular UK national (Nitasha Kaul) came to India on February 22. As you know, the entry of foreign nationals into our country is a sovereign decision…”

Notably, UK-based Indian-origin academic and professor, Nitasha Kaul, claimed that she was deported from India immediately after her arrival at the Bengaluru airport.

SOURCE: ANI

Clarifying the status of the eighth former Indian Navy officer, who was put on death row by a Qatar court in an espionage case before being released, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said he has certain requirements to fulfil.

The eighth Indian national will return as soon as he fulfils all the requirements, the MEA stated in a briefing on Thursday. Addressing the press briefing on Thursday, the official spokesperson of the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal said, “As you know, all 8 Indian nationals who were involved in the Al Dahra Global case, have been released.”

SOURCE: ANI

The India-US Homeland Security Dialogue deepened the strategic partnership between Washington, DC and New Delhi on issues ranging from counternarcotics cooperation and customs-to-customs collaboration to combating terrorism and cybercrime and addressing irregular migration, an official readout from US Homeland Security said. From February 27 to February 29, the senior official performing the duties of US Deputy Secretary Kristie Canegallo and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla met in New Delhi to co-chair the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue.

During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed the commitment of the United States and India to strengthen access to lawful immigration pathways while enforcing immigration law to include returns of individuals who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States. They also agreed to work together to expand law enforcement cooperation to target smugglers who prey on and profit from vulnerable migrants, it added.