Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut to travel to space, has expressed his readiness to contribute to the Gaganyaan mission using insights gained from his recent Axiom-4 flight. He returned after spending 21 days in space, including 18 days on the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone for India’s presence in human space exploration.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with his Axiom-4 crewmates Commander Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla called the experience both transformative and invaluable. He described the journey as intense and said it condensed a year’s worth of learning into just three weeks.

He recalled the emotional moment after landing when he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a powerful reminder of India’s long-awaited return to space after 41 years. He said the mission symbolized a second beginning for India in space, one where the country is ready to take a leading role in future space exploration.

The astronaut highlighted that training for the Axiom-4 mission began in August 2024. Despite rigorous simulations, real conditions in space brought their own challenges, particularly adapting to microgravity. He explained that while disorienting at first, he adjusted quickly and was soon able to carry out the full range of experiments and activities aboard the ISS.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla also shared details about his physical recovery after reentry. He mentioned experiencing difficulty walking immediately after the mission but regained strength and balance within a few days with help from rehabilitation exercises. He now feels physically normal and mentally prepared for future missions.

He expressed gratitude to the Indian Air Force, ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, and the Government of India for making the mission possible. He emphasized that the real work begins now, as he is ready to apply his firsthand knowledge to help shape India’s first indigenous human spaceflight.

“This is just the beginning of India’s future in human space exploration,” said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, as he reaffirmed his commitment to support the Gaganyaan program in every way possible.

The TEJAS MK-2, India’s much-anticipated Medium Weight Fighter, is emerging as a showcase of indigenous aerospace innovation. Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) along with DRDO and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the MK-2 is designed to replace ageing IAF fighters such as the Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29.

With its prototype rollout expected by the end of 2025 and induction planned by 2029, the TEJAS MK-2 aims to feature over 90% indigenous content in later production phases. A major highlight of the aircraft is its integration of Indian-designed technologies that significantly reduce dependence on foreign systems while enhancing combat capability and flexibility.

Here are six key Made-in-India technologies going into the TEJAS MK-2:

1. Uttam AESA Radar
   Developed by DRDO’s LRDE, this radar provides multi-target tracking, electronic warfare support, and BVR engagement capability. It represents a major step towards radar self-reliance and is currently undergoing flight trials.
2. Indigenous Mission Computer
   Jointly developed by HAL and DRDO, the open-architecture mission computer integrates navigation, weapon control, and sensor fusion, enabling software upgrades without foreign assistance.
3. Electronic Warfare Suite
   Designed by DRDO’s Defence Avionics Research Establishment, the EW suite offers radar warning, jamming, and countermeasure deployment to enhance survivability in hostile airspace.
4. Fly-by-Wire Flight Control System
   The Indian-developed quadruplex fly-by-wire system improves combat manoeuvrability, handling at high angles of attack, and flight safety through redundant controls.
5. Cockpit Display Systems
   HAL and BEL have built multifunction wide-area cockpit displays, forming a modern glass cockpit that improves pilot situational awareness and supports helmet-mounted systems.
6. Indigenous Weapons Integration
   The MK-2 is configured to carry Indian weapons like Astra BVR missiles, SAAW, and laser-guided bombs, ensuring an entirely indigenous offensive loadout.

With a powerful GE F414 engine in its early production and plans to adopt an Indian Kaveri variant in future, the TEJAS MK-2 stands as a bold leap in India’s defence self-reliance journey. These technologies are not just upgrades—they represent India’s growing capability to design, build, and field cutting-edge combat aircraft systems independently.

A serious incident unfolded at the Srinagar airport on Friday when a senior Army officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet ground staff members after being asked to pay for excess cabin baggage. The violent episode occurred at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 bound for Delhi, leaving multiple employees hospitalized with grievous injuries.

According to a statement by a SpiceJet spokesperson, the officer was carrying 16 kilograms of cabin baggage—more than double the permissible limit of 7 kilograms. When politely informed about the excess and asked to pay the additional charges, the passenger reportedly refused and attempted to forcibly enter the aerobridge without completing the boarding process, in violation of aviation security protocols.

He was escorted back to the boarding gate by a CISF official. However, upon returning, the situation escalated rapidly. The officer allegedly began physically assaulting four SpiceJet employees using punches, kicks, and even a queue stand. One staff member collapsed unconscious after repeated blows, but the passenger continued to assault him. Another employee, who bent down to assist the unconscious colleague, received a forceful kick to the jaw and suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth.

The injured staff were immediately taken to a hospital and are currently under medical treatment. One suffered a spinal fracture, while others sustained jaw and facial injuries.

SpiceJet has filed an FIR with local police and has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging strict action against the officer. The airline has also initiated procedures to place the individual on India’s no-fly list, in accordance with civil aviation norms. CCTV footage of the incident has been retrieved from airport authorities and handed over to the police as part of the ongoing investigation.

Rajendra Prasad Bagadia, a soldier from Nagwa village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, was martyred while on duty in the hilly terrain of Jammu and Kashmir. The news of his death has plunged the entire district into mourning. His mortal remains will reach his native village today, and a Tiranga Yatra will be held in his honour.

Rajendra Bagadia was serving with the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and was posted in the Gandoh area of Doda district in Jammu. He tragically lost his life after slipping on a hill during a patrol. The incident occurred while he was performing his duties in the challenging terrain. He had been stationed there with the 7th Battalion, F Company, for the past one and a half years.

The soldier’s body will be brought to Dhod police station area today and taken to Nagwa in a Tiranga rally that will cover a distance of 8 kilometers. A military funeral will be held in the village with full honours.

Rajendra Bagadia had joined the SSB in 2012. His father Ramniwas is a farmer, while his mother and wife are homemakers. He leaves behind two daughters and a two-year-old son. His younger brother is employed abroad. The entire region is mourning the loss of this brave soldier, who laid down his life in the line of duty.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has initiated a detailed investigation into a Chinese-made drone discovered near the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura. The drone, equipped with two high-resolution cameras and weighing approximately 915 grams, was found on Friday by a young boy in a paddy field near the Durgabari Border Outpost. The field is located just 650 metres from the international boundary.

According to officials, the boy unknowingly took the drone home and washed it with water before his family notified local authorities. The Tripura Police promptly took custody of the drone and sent it to the state forensic science laboratory for preliminary examination. After forensic analysis is complete, the drone will be handed over to the BSF for a comprehensive study at its headquarters in New Delhi.

A meeting between BSF and Tripura Police officials was held soon after the discovery to coordinate the investigation. Authorities have not yet determined the origin or purpose of the drone, and a detailed probe is expected to shed light on whether it was used for surveillance or any other activity.

The BSF has heightened vigilance across the Indo-Bangladesh border following increased internal instability in Bangladesh, particularly since the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. With a shared border of 856 kilometers, Tripura remains one of India’s most sensitive and porous states, prone to infiltration, smuggling, and cross-border crimes.

Security forces have already fenced most of the border, but sporadic incidents continue to raise concern. The recovery of the drone has added to ongoing worries about foreign surveillance attempts and technological infiltration in border areas.

In a significant boost to the Indian Air Force’s tactical airlift capabilities, the 16th and final C295 transport aircraft manufactured at Airbus Defence and Space’s facility in Seville, Spain, has been officially handed over to India. This delivery concludes the first phase of the C295 procurement program and marks a strategic turning point as the project now enters its Indian production stage.

The C295 aircraft, which will replace the ageing Avro-748 fleet, is a versatile tactical airlifter capable of performing a range of missions including troop transport, cargo airlift, special operations, and humanitarian assistance. The completion of all 16 aircraft deliveries from Spain sets the stage for the next phase of the program—local manufacturing in India under the Make in India initiative.

With the Spanish deliveries complete, production activity will now shift to the final assembly line (FAL) being established in Vadodara, Gujarat, by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus. The Vadodara facility, the first private-sector aircraft manufacturing project of its kind in India, is on track to roll out its first C295 in September 2026.

At the Vadodara plant, the remaining 40 aircraft will be assembled, integrated, and tested, with key components such as fuselages, empennages, and wings being produced domestically. This marks a major step in India’s journey toward self-reliance in aerospace manufacturing and technology development.

More than 125 Indian MSMEs are already involved in the C295 ecosystem. Airbus and Tata aim to create a comprehensive supply chain and maintenance base that not only supports Indian operations but also serves export opportunities in the future. The project is expected to generate thousands of skilled jobs, enable significant technology transfer, and strengthen India’s defence industrial base.

With the transition to domestic production now underway, the C295 program is emerging as a landmark example of collaborative defence manufacturing under the Make in India vision, combining operational readiness with long-term strategic self-reliance.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), functioning under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has extended the deadline for submitting bids for the Expression of Interest (EoI) regarding the Full-Scale Engineering Development (FSED) of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Originally set for August 16, 2025, the new deadline is now August 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM.

The extension is part of an updated EoI document (ADA/AMCA/FSED/EOI/01-2025) dated June 18, 2025, which also includes amendments to Sections 2.1, 2.2, 6, and associated annexures. These changes signal refined scope, eligibility norms, and collaborative models for India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter initiative.

The AMCA program aims to deliver a twin-engine, 25-tonne, low-observable multirole fighter to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by the early 2030s. Designed to counter China’s J-20 and J-31 stealth aircraft, AMCA will feature supercruise capability, low radar cross-section, integrated sensor fusion, and compatibility with unmanned systems. The Mk1 variant will use GE F414 engines (98 kN thrust), while the Mk2 version will incorporate a new 110 kN indigenous engine developed with foreign partners, potentially France’s Safran.

In March 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved ₹15,000 crore for Phase 1 of the project. This phase covers five prototypes by 2029, with production slated to begin in 2032. The IAF is expected to induct 120–150 aircraft to replace its Mirage 2000 and Jaguar fleets. The project’s total cost is estimated at ₹1.2 lakh crore, making it one of India’s most ambitious defence programs.

The EoI invites Indian private sector participation in the FSED phase, including design finalization, prototype fabrication, testing, and preparation for serial production. Industry interest is reportedly strong, with companies like Tata Advanced Systems, HAL, Bharat Forge, and L&T expected to compete. Sources close to the matter say the deadline was extended following industry requests for more time to align with the revised scope.

Amendments to the EoI cover the scope of work, eligibility criteria, commercial terms, and annexures. These are aimed at clarifying technical deliverables, streamlining partnerships, and enhancing technology transfer and risk-sharing frameworks. Key updates likely relate to integration of stealth coatings, DRDO’s Uttam AESA radar, and advanced avionics developed by LRDE.

However, the AMCA program faces challenges in areas such as engine development, sensor fusion, and stealth technology. The Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), which struggled with the Kaveri engine, is now pursuing global collaboration to meet the AMCA’s engine requirements. Lessons from the prolonged Tejas development cycle are also being factored into the new program structure.

The extension of the EoI deadline and associated amendments represent a strategic push to secure capable private partners and ensure timely delivery of India’s next-generation fighter.

A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who went missing from his unit headquarters in Srinagar has been traced in Delhi while travelling to his home in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Friday.

The trooper, Constable Sugam Choudhary, was part of ‘C’ Company of the 60th Battalion and had gone missing from the Panthachowk area of Srinagar on Thursday evening. Following his disappearance, the BSF and local police launched a large-scale search operation and registered a missing report at the Panthachowk Police Station.

Search teams scanned nearby locations including bus stands, taxi stands and the Nowgam Railway Station but were unable to trace him initially. Later, a senior BSF officer confirmed that the constable had been located in Delhi.

He was found travelling towards his home without proper permission, the officer stated. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to look into the matter. The officer also ruled out any subversive motive behind the incident.

Further details will emerge once the trooper’s statement is recorded.

This development comes amid heightened security measures across Jammu and Kashmir following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.

Security forces continue to intensify counter-terror operations across the Union Territory, targeting terrorists, their overground workers and sympathisers to dismantle the terror ecosystem.