SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said that India and South Korea have become “truly important partners” for each other and stressed that bilateral exchanges have witnessed steady growth. On a two-day visit to South Korea, Mr Jaishankar said that India is interested in now expanding the partnership to new areas like critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors, green hydrogen and nuclear cooperation among others.

Mr Jaishankar recalled that the ties between the two counties were elevated to a special strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Korea in 2015. He noted that the two counties celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2023.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Navy commissioned the first squadron of its newly-inducted MH 60R Seahawk multi-role choppers in Kochi on Wednesday. According to an official release, “INAS 334 ‘Seahawks’ was commissioned in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff at INS Garuda, Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on March 6, 2024.” This landmark event marked the formal induction of these versatile and capable helicopters into the first MH 60R Naval Air Squadron, commanded by Captain M Abhisheik Ram, it said.

The Chief of Naval Staff was presented with a 50-man Guard of Honor on arrival at the venue. As per the release, the commissioning ceremony commenced with the recitation of the invocation followed by the reading of the squadron’s commissioning warrant by the commanding officer. Thereafter, the commissioning plaque was unveiled by the Chief of Naval Staff in the presence of Vice Admiral V Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command.

SOURCE: PTI

A local leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was shot dead by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Wednesday, a police official said. The victim, Kailash Nag, a construction contractor by profession, had given his JCB machine for a pond digging work in his village, he said. This was the eighth killing of a BJP leader or member by Maoists in affected areas of the state in the last year.

The latest incident took place at around 5 pm in Bhurripani village under Jangla police station limits, the official said.

SOURCE: PTI

An Army porter was killed in an explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said. The incident took place in the evening in Makri village of Nowshera sector, they said, adding that the body of Rajesh Kumar has been retrieved from the spot.

Kumar was a resident of Saryah village near the LoC in Nowshera and was working as an Army porter, the officials said. Police said the exact nature of the explosion was yet to be ascertained but it is suspected to be an anti-personnel landmine.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy has successfully concluded the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) stage for its P-75I program, a crucial step in acquiring new conventional submarines.

The project aims to bolster India’s underwater defense capabilities by inducting six new submarines. Two companies emerged as frontrunners after submitting bids:

SOURCE: AFI

Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) in Ahmednagar has achieved a significant milestone in the field of defense technology with the successful realization and testing of the indigenously designed and developed CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle (Wheeled) at the National Center for Automotive Testing (NCAT), Ahmednagar. The vehicle’s developmental trials, which included rigorous testing of mobility, obstacle crossing, compliance of CBRN instrumentation, area marking, sample collection, and firing trials of RCWS 7.62mm, were executed with commendable precision and efficiency.

CBRN reconnaissance units play a critical role in safeguarding national security by detecting and responding to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats. The successful realization of the CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicle underscores VRDE’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the design and development of wheeled combat vehicles.

SOURCE: PTI

The Indian Navy on Wednesday commissioned its new base “INS Jatayu” at Minicoy island that will bolster its operational capabilities within the strategically important Lakshadweep islands. The Naval Detachment will also enhance operational reach, and support the Indian Navy’s efforts in anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations in the Western Arabian Sea. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar commissioned the new base at a function held here. Jatayu has been commissioned under the command of Commandant Vrat Baghel Addressing the gathering at Minicoy after the commissioning of INS Jatayu, Kumar said the unit was named after the mythical creature in the epic Ramayana who tried to stop the abduction of Sita.

“In the Ramayana, Jatayu was the ‘first responder’, trying to stop the abduction of Sita ji, even to the peril of his own life, exemplifying service before self. So the naming of this unit as Jatayu is an apt recognition of this spirit of providing security surveillance and selfless service,” Kumar said.

SOURCE: AFI

Building upon the success of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is setting its sights on a more ambitious lunar mission: Chandrayaan-4. This mission, unlike its predecessor, will be a two-part endeavor aiming to not only land on the Moon but also retrieve and return lunar rocks and soil (lunar regolith) to Earth.

Chandrayaan-4 will involve five distinct spacecraft modules, each playing a crucial role:

SOURCE: AFI

Centum Electronics, a leading Indian company engaged in electronic system design and manufacturing, has secured a significant contract from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The contract, valued at Rs 187 crore, is for the realization of space-based electronic warfare (EW) payloads within a 16-month timeframe.

This development marks a notable achievement for Centum Electronics, showcasing its expertise in the design and manufacturing of high-end electronic modules, subsystems, and systems for the aerospace, defense, and industrial electronics sectors. The company’s successful bid highlights its growing capabilities in catering to the evolving needs of India’s defense and space programs.

SOURCE: PTI

Maldives will not renew an agreement with India to conduct hydrographic surveys and plans to acquire the facilities and machines required to do the exercise by itself, President Mohamed Muizzu has announced.

Muizzu also announced that his country is working to establish a 24X7 monitoring system for the Maldivian waters this month to ensure control of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) despite its significantly large area. The development comes days after China signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster “stronger” bilateral ties.

SOURCE: PTI

China on Tuesday vowed to work with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with the island nation and underlined that normal cooperation between the two does not “target” any third party and will not be disrupted by any 3rd party.

Asked for her comments on China’s military agreement with the Maldives at a press briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning referred the media to “competent Chinese authorities” for details. “More broadly, China is committed to working with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” she said.

SOURCE: IANS

New Delhi played host to the India-France Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on March 5, 2024, co-chaired by Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, and Ms. Anne-Marie Descôtes, the Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

This meeting saw a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in various dimensions of bilateral cooperation, as outlined in the India France Horizon 2047 Roadmap, a landmark agreement adopted during the Prime Minister’s visit to France on July 14, 2023.