SOURCE: AFI

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken action in response to delays and challenges faced in post-blast investigations across various states. These delays have hampered the work of the National Security Guard (NSG) and compromised the quality of investigations into blasts with national significance.

This communication, recently sent to all states, emphasizes the importance of immediate action and prompt reporting to central authorities. Previously, some states have been slow to inform the Centre, leading to delays in NSG intervention and the potential loss of crucial forensic evidence.

SOURCE: UNI

Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande on Monday said that as part of the Atmanirbharta pursuit, the Indian Army has been focusing on leveraging both the MSMEs and the Start Up ecosystem for meeting the capability development requirements. Delivering a keynote address at the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 at Pune, Gen Pande said that under the Innovations in Defence Excellence (iDEX) procurement, all projects are mandated to be progressed through Start Ups, an official statement said here.

He said, “Currently under the iDEX route, 55 Indian Army projects, worth Rs 400 crore are being pursued, which encompass a total of 65 Start Ups. As many as four contracts worth Rs 70 crore have been concluded for procurement of equipment in limited quantity for field exploitation.

SOURCE: PTI

A nation has to become “industrially strong” and full spectrum self-sufficiency is required in defence, especially in the aerospace sector, Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit said on Friday.

Delivering a keynote address at an international conference here, he also said it is being seen that ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-dependence) is becoming more and more important after the “two wars” happening around us in the world.

SOURCE: PTI

Several Indians who worked as support staff to the Russian army were discharged following India’s demand, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

It said India remains committed, as a matter of “top priority”, to actively pursuing with the Russian authorities all the relevant cases of Indian nationals for an early discharge from the Russian army. According to media reports, several Indians have been working as security helpers in the Russian military and they were forced to even fight with Russian soldiers in certain areas along Russia’s border with Ukraine.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Ministry on Monday rejected reports claiming that Indians with the Russian army are seeking help for discharge and said that “each and every case” has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities. “We have seen some inaccurate reports in the media regarding Indians with the Russian army seeking help for discharge,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement today.

“Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities, and those brought to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian Embassy in New Delhi. Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” it said. “Several Indians have already been discharged as a result,” the statement read.

SOURCE: PTI

A 47-year-old member of Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) who also allegedly edited a magazine of the banned organisation besides indoctrinating many gullible youths has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Sunday.

According to the police, Hanif Sheikh was declared a proclaimed offender in 2002 and has been absconding for the last 22 years. He was nabbed on February 22 from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district in Maharashtra where he was a teacher in an Urdu school under a different identity, they said.

SOURCE: ANI

Actor Yami Gautam’s action political thriller film Article 370 has been banned in the Gulf countries. While Article 370 has been riding high on success at the domestic and overseas box office, garnering praise from both audiences and critics alike, the ban in the Gulf is another dampener on the Hindi film industry, as it deprives audiences in the region of the opportunity to experience an Indian cinematic offering, which has been widely lauded.

The film primarily explores universal human experiences within the framework of a complex socio-political landscape. Themes of identity, struggle, and resilience resonate deeply throughout the narrative as it delves into the aspirations and challenges faced by individuals amidst turbulent times, fostering understanding and dialogue in the process.

SOURCE: PTI

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror module was busted on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district with the arrest of four militant associates, police said. Security forces arrested four terrorist associates and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession in the south Kashmir district, a police spokesman said.

The arrests were made in connection with case FIR no. 14/2024 registered under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

SOURCE: IANS

The Maharashtra Police have arrested a woman Maoist leader carrying a reward of Rs 6 lakh on her head from the terror-hit Gadchiroli district, officials said here on Monday. The arrested person has been identified as Kamla Padaga Gota, alias Rajeshwari, who became an outlaw in 2006 when she was barely 13 years old, said Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police, Neelotpal.

The arrest came in the midst of CPI-Maoist’s four-month long ‘tactical counter offensive campaign’ (February-May) when they take up various subversive activities, arson, attacks on security forces, destruction of public properties and other violence.

SOURCE: AFI

Armenia is actively pursuing closer ties with India, aiming to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, according to an exclusive interview with Armenia’s Labor Minister Narek Mkrtchyan in Mint. “I think our relations are mature enough to be defined as a strategic partnership,” Mkrtchyan stated, expressing his hope for discussions on this matter between the foreign ministers of both countries.

Furthermore, Armenia seeks to strengthen its defense cooperation with India. Mkrtchyan acknowledged existing collaboration in this domain and emphasized the desire to “make our cooperation much deeper.” This statement hints at potential future defense deals between the two nations.

SOURCE: PIB

To enhance cooperation and synergy with the industry, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organised a DRDO-Industry Meet on February25, 2024 during the Maharashtra MSME Defence Expo 2024 at Pune.The meet was intended to apprise and update industries, especially the MSMEs & start-ups about various industry-friendly initiatives and policies of DRDO as well asaddress the concerns of the industry.

During the meet, DRDO handed over 23 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOT) to 22 industries in presence of Secretary Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamatand other dignitaries. The technologies transferred cover the domains of electronics, laser technology, armaments, life sciences, materials science, combat vehicles, naval systems and aeronautics.

SOURCE: AFI

Pakistan’s Air Force has court-martialed 13 senior officers, including several retired personnel, on charges of exposing alleged corruption by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Babar Sidhu. The move has sparked controversy, with some experts claiming the officers are being targeted for whistleblowing.

Among the court-martialed are prominent figures like Air Marshals Ahsan Rafiq, Tariq Zia, and retired Javed Saeed, who led Operation Swift Retort following the Balakot airstrike by India. All 13 officers have been arrested.

SOURCE: PTI

India will add 18 more nuclear power reactors with a cumulative capacity to generate 13,800 MWe of electricity, taking the total share of atomic power in the energy mix to 22,480 MWe by 2031-32.

This was announced by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated two home-built 700 MW nuclear power reactors at Kakrapar in Gujarat last week.

SOURCE: ANI

Former Maldivian minister of foreign affairs Abdulla Shahid said on Saturday that the claims made by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu about “thousands of Indian military personnel” were just another in a string of lies, adding that there are no armed foreign soldiers stationed in their country.

Posting on his social media account X, the newly elected president of the Maldivian Democratic Party said, “100 days in, it’s clear: President Muizzu’s claims of ‘thousands of Indian military personnel’ were just another in a string of lies. The current administration’s inability to provide specific numbers speaks volumes. There are no armed foreign soldiers stationed in the country.”

SOURCE: ANI

The Sarang Helicopter Display Team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in the Singapore Airshow. IAF’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), manufactured the Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv), operated by the Sarang helicopter display team, enthralled the audience at the Singapore Airshow on February 24.

In a post on X, IAF’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team said, “Reflecting on our journey, every milestone reached, and every triumph celebrated, the Sarang team has completed 20 glorious years as the ambassadors of the Indian Air Force. Happy raising day to our incredible display team!”