SOURCE: AFI

India’s decision to walk out of the 5th Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) program with Russia, a joint venture aimed at co-developing and producing nearly 144 cutting-edge stealth jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), has had long-lasting consequences. While the decision was reportedly based on several factors, including delays, cost concerns, and differences over technological transfer, the absence of a strong backup plan has left a significant gap in the IAF’s modernization plans and its ability to maintain squadron strength.

This move, which might have seemed strategically necessary at the time, now seems ill-conceived in hindsight, given the pressing need to replace aging fleets and ensure the IAF can meet future operational demands.

SOURCE: AFI

The delivery of the indigenously produced Dhanush artillery guns to the Indian Army is facing significant delays, raising concerns about meeting the targeted completion date of March 2026. The initial goal was to equip the Army with 114 of these advanced artillery systems, but production challenges have put the timeline in jeopardy, according to officials involved in the project.

Advanced Weapon Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), responsible for manufacturing the Dhanush guns at the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur, was scheduled to deliver an additional 48 guns by March 2025. However, production has been plagued by setbacks. The first batch of six guns was handed over in April 2019, but progress has been slow ever since.

SOURCE: AFI

With the recent transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago from the United Kingdom to Mauritius—except for Diego Garcia, where a major U.S. military base is located—there is increasing discussion on the strategic benefits of the Indian Navy establishing a presence in the region. India, which has been a consistent supporter of Mauritius’ sovereignty claims over the Chagos Islands, played a significant role in the negotiations behind this historic transfer. Given the Indian Ocean’s critical role in global maritime trade and security, the idea of the Indian Navy having a base at Chagos warrants careful consideration.

The Chagos Archipelago is located in the central Indian Ocean, a region of immense strategic value. The islands are situated near major global shipping routes that link Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, making the area a vital maritime crossroads. The proximity of the Chagos Islands to key choke points such as the Straits of Malacca, Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb further enhances their significance.

SOURCE: AFI

Noida-based Brainwave Science Private Limited has made significant strides in the field of security and truth verification with the launch of its groundbreaking technology, iCognative. This innovative solution is poised to redefine the way deception is detected, offering features that promise unparalleled accuracy and efficiency.

iCognative leverages the power of artificial intelligence to analyze brainwave patterns in real-time. By employing advanced algorithms, the technology can identify subtle changes in brain activity that indicate deception. This is achieved through a headset that records the user’s brainwaves, allowing for a highly accurate assessment of their veracity.

SOURCE: AFI

As the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) engages with private sector entities to explore the operation of 220 MW small modular reactors (SMRs), experts are anticipating potential collaboration with Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom.

Rosatom, which is already involved in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) project, has expressed interest in expanding its nuclear cooperation with India. Kavya Wadhwa, a nuclear energy advocate and policy analyst, highlighted that the numerous benefits of Bharat Small Reactors, including their cost-effectiveness, compact design, and the utilization of indigenous 220 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology, have garnered significant international attention.

SOURCE: IANS

Labelling them as “preposterous imputations”, India on Monday slammed the Canadian government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asserting once again that it has “consciously provided” space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.

“We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” read a strongly-worded statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday afternoon.