SOURCE: AFI

Dr. V K Saraswat, the former Director General of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), recently made remarks regarding India’s successful test of the Agni-5 Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV). He emphasized that this achievement marks a pivotal moment for India, positioning it among a select group of nations with advanced nuclear capabilities. According to Dr. Saraswat, the Agni-5 MIRV test is a game-changer that significantly alters India’s geopolitical and strategic standing, particularly in Southeast Asia.

In Dr. Saraswat’s assessment, the Agni-5 MIRV test introduces a transformative element to India’s defense posture. By enhancing the efficacy of its missile systems, India can achieve greater annihilation potential with fewer launches, thereby optimizing its strategic deterrent capabilities. Dr. Saraswat aptly describes this phenomenon as a “Force Multiplier,” indicating that the deployment of MIRV technology minimizes the number of missiles required to neutralize potential threats.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Russia are in discussions to collaborate on a range of activities including research on controlled thermonuclear fusion and joint development of the transit potential of the Northern Sea route, a top official of the state-run atomic energy corporation in Moscow, Rosatom, has said.

AE Likhacheva, CEO of Rosatom said the main topic of discussion with India was on the prospects of further cooperation in the field of nuclear technologies and in non-energy and non-nuclear areas. Likhacheva, who visited the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu last month, said both sides have gained enormous experience in cooperation during the construction of KNPP’s first units.

SOURCE: PTI

India today strongly rejected China’s objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, and asserted that the state “was, is, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India”.

Rubbishing China’s complaint, External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Chinese side has been made aware of this “consistent position” on several occasions. “Objecting to such visits by Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh or India’s developmental projects in the state does not stand to reason,” he said.

SOURCE: AFI

A cohort of 39 naval officers has set foot at the Military Institute of Technology (MILIT) in Pune, India, to embark on a specialized Naval Weapon & Missile Technology Course. This group comprises 31 officers from India, alongside six from Sri Lanka and two from Myanmar.

The curriculum will equip these officers with in-depth knowledge and practical skills pertaining to advanced weaponry and missile systems employed in naval warfare. They will delve into intricate aspects like missile aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and the latest advancements in naval armaments.

SOURCE: AFI

Further solidifying the strong defense ties between India and Seychelles, the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel, PS Zoroaster, has arrived at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata for a short refit.

This development comes after the vessel’s participation in the recent exercise MILAN-24 held in Visakhapatnam last month. Notably, India gifted the PS Zoroaster to Seychelles in 2021, highlighting the ongoing maritime cooperation between the two nations.

SOURCE: PTI

In the arid terrain of Rajasthan’s Pokhran, the stage has been set for the mega ‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise which will demonstrate on Tuesday the prowess of indigenously manufactured defence equipment of the three services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will witness the integrated tri-service firepower and manoeuvre exercise that will be held for about 50 minutes. The country’s top military brass will also be present on the occasion.

SOURCE: ANI

India has strongly condemned the countries that use their veto powers to block evidence-based terrorist listings at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and said the practice is uncalled for and smacks of doublespeak to the council’s commitment in tackling the challenge of terrorism.

“Let us turn to the subsidiary bodies inhabiting a subterranean world with their own custom-made working methods and obscure practices which do not find any legal basis in the charter or any of the council’s resolutions. For instance, while we do get to know of the decisions of these committees on listing, the decisions on rejecting listing requests are not made public,” India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, said at a session of the United Nations Security Council.

SOURCE: PIB

IIT Madras is collaborating with Vellon Space, an Indian space start-up, to advance extra-terrestrial manufacturing research and development. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in orbital ‘Microgravity Research.’ Vellon Space will receive a Technology Development Fund from IIT Madras to demonstrate its miniature space laboratory called ‘AsteriX Lab’, in orbit.

The IIT Madras research centre called ‘Extra-Terrestrial Manufacturing’ (ExTeM-IITM) is the pilot customer for this in-orbit demonstration mission of Vellon Space. The AsteriX Lab, during its demonstration, will undergo space qualification to conduct biological experiments, particularly in long-duration cell culture under Lower Earth Microgravity. This demonstration in space is expected to take place by 2025.

SOURCE: PTI

“This is like real Ram Rajya for us,” said a Hindu migrant from Pakistan residing here as celebrations broke out after the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament.

In the settlements of Hindu migrants from Pakistan, the residents lit lamps and burst firecrackers on Monday night soon after the rules to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014, were unveiled.

SOURCE: PTI

Those seeking Indian nationality under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will become eligible to apply after spending at least 12 months in the country preceding the date of the application, according to the rules notified on Monday.

Also, the applicant will be eligible to get Indian citizenship if he has spent not less than six years in the country out of eight years immediately preceding those 12 months, the rules said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 paves the way for granting Indian nationality to undocumented non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians — from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.

SOURCE: PTI

The National Investigation Agency or NIA on Monday carried out searches in four states and a Union Territory as part of its probe into the terrorist-gangster nexus case, sources told Press Trust of India.

Extensive searches were carried out by the NIA at 30 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh in the terrorist-gangster nexus case, the source told news agency PTI.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s recent announcement of the successful test of its Agni-V Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) equipped with Multiple Re-entry Vehicle (MRIV) technology has stirred significant interest and speculation among defense analysts and observers worldwide. The unveiling of the first official images of the Agni-V MRIV has sparked discussions, particularly regarding its distinctive conical nose, which sets it apart from its predecessors.

The Agni-V MRIV test marks a notable departure from the previous iterations of the Agni series, particularly in terms of its design and technological capabilities. The prominent feature of the conical nose on the Agni-V MRIV raises questions about the evolution of India’s ballistic missile program and hints at the possibility of a more advanced and sophisticated weapon system than initially perceived.