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.

The Government of India has officially confirmed that no formal discussions have taken place with the United States regarding the procurement of F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets. This clarification came in response to a parliamentary query raised in the Lok Sabha.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh made the statement in reply to a question by Congress MP Balwant Baswant Wankhade. The minister stated that despite references in the India-US joint statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025—where potential review of US policy on transferring advanced platforms like the F-35 was mentioned—no concrete negotiations or proposals have emerged.

The statement aligns with recent reports from international media, including Bloomberg, which suggested that India has not actively pursued any immediate defensive procurements from the US, especially the F-35 stealth fighters.

Instead, India appears to be recalibrating its economic and diplomatic response to the recent 25% tariff hike imposed by the US on Indian exports. The tariffs, announced by President Donald Trump and effective from August 1, 2025, have reportedly surprised Indian officials. Rather than retaliate, India is exploring options to boost imports from the US—such as natural gas, communication technology, and gold—to stabilise trade relations.

The Centre’s stance on the F-35 reflects its broader emphasis on self-reliance in defence under the “Make in India” campaign. During his Washington visit, Prime Minister Modi reportedly communicated India’s preference for joint development initiatives over direct purchases of platforms like the F-35A stealth jet, which President Trump had strongly pitched.

Defence analysts view India’s rejection of the F-35 offer as a strategic decision rooted in long-term sovereignty, despite limitations in indigenous defence manufacturing and operational challenges in platforms like the TEJAS fighter program. India is also reportedly evaluating alternatives like Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation jets and exploring deeper defence cooperation with countries such as France.

Recent tensions in India-US relations have been further strained by President Trump’s critical comments on India’s trade policies and strategic ties with Russia. His social media posts dismissing India and Russia as “dead economies” have sparked diplomatic discomfort, even as formal communication between the two nations continues, including US engagement in de-escalation talks after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Amidst growing trade frictions and shifting geopolitical priorities, the Indian government remains committed to a non-escalatory, diplomatically balanced approach—keeping defence co-development, economic diplomacy, and indigenous capability enhancement at the centre of its strategic policy.

Three terrorists have been neutralised by security forces in a fierce encounter during Operation Akhal in the Akhal forest area of Devsar locality in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police based on credible intelligence inputs.

The encounter began on Friday evening when security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the dense forest following reports of terrorist movement. The operation escalated into a gunfight after terrorists opened fire on the troops. One of the slain terrorists has been identified as Haris Nazir, a resident of Pulwama and a Category-C militant affiliated with Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Officials stated that intermittent gunfire continued through the night, with a particularly intense firefight reported around 4 am on Saturday. The terrain and darkness delayed retrieval operations, but the area remains under a tight cordon. It is suspected that 2–3 foreign terrorists may still be hiding in the area, and the operation remains active with further search and engagement underway.

This encounter is part of a broader counter-terror crackdown dubbed Operation Mahadev, under which security forces earlier this week eliminated three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed in Parliament that one of the neutralised militants, Suleiman, was the mastermind behind that attack.

Recent days have seen a spike in counter-terror activity across Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces foiled an infiltration attempt in Poonch’s Kalsian-Gulpur area just days before the Kulgam encounter, killing two infiltrators trying to cross the Line of Control.

In a separate incident, Indian Army Agniveer Lalit Kumar died in a landmine explosion on July 25 while patrolling the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch. While July has seen fewer incidents compared to the spring months, the number of encounters and militant casualties has risen from June.

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out terrorism in the region. Officials assure that the joint forces will continue their efforts to secure the area and ensure the safety of civilians as Operation Akhal continues in the Kulgam forests.

Raj Kumar Arora, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has officially assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). The appointment marks a significant step in the administration of defence finances, with Shri Arora bringing vast experience in financial policy, auditing, accounting, budgeting, procurement, and personnel management.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Shri Arora has held several key positions in the Government of India. These include serving as Additional Secretary in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Finance Manager (Air) in the Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence, and Director in the Ministry of Finance. He has also served as Integrated Financial Advisor (IFA) in various Commands and field offices under the Defence Accounts Department.

In addition, Shri Arora played a crucial role in the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) as Member (Finance), contributing significantly to financial oversight and modernization efforts in India’s defence production ecosystem.

The Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) is the apex post in the Defence Accounts Department, which plays a vital role in the financial management of India’s Armed Forces. As CGDA, Shri Arora will be responsible for overseeing defence expenditure, audits, and financial advisory functions across the Ministry of Defence.

With his proven track record in financial governance and administrative leadership, Shri Raj Kumar Arora’s appointment is expected to strengthen fiscal discipline, transparency, and efficiency within the defence financial ecosystem.