In line with the Government of India’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has initiated a comprehensive review of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. The move aims to streamline defence procurement processes and align them with broader national objectives such as Aatmanirbharta, ‘Make in India’, and enhanced defence manufacturing capabilities.

A high-level committee headed by the Director General (Acquisition) has been set up to lead the review. The panel includes senior MoD officials, defence industry representatives, and members of academia. Former IAS officer Shri Apurva Chandra, a 1980 batch officer and ex-DG (Acquisition), has been appointed Principal Advisor to the committee.

The committee has already begun consultations and is inviting detailed suggestions from all stakeholders by July 5, 2025. Inputs can be sent to secy-dap2025[at]gov[dot]in.

The objectives of the review are focused on ensuring timely fulfilment of the armed forces’ operational and modernisation needs while integrating emerging technologies such as AI and advanced surveillance systems into procurement practices.

The review also seeks to simplify acquisition procedures, enhance ease of doing business, and promote indigenously designed systems. The MoD is looking to facilitate joint ventures, encourage foreign direct investment (FDI), and foster private sector participation to position India as a global defence manufacturing and MRO hub.

Key areas for suggestions include procedural changes in categorisation, trial procedures, post-contract management, Fast Track acquisition methods, and clarity in the DAP’s language to eliminate ambiguities.

The initiative reflects a strategic shift towards creating a defence ecosystem that is agile, transparent, and innovation-driven—empowering startups, MSMEs, and private enterprises in India’s defence sector.

In the aftermath of the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171, top executives from the airline have confirmed that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved showed no technical or maintenance issues prior to takeoff. Both aircraft and engine systems had cleared all recent inspections, according to statements issued by Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran.

Wilson noted that the aircraft was “well maintained,” with its last major inspection completed in June 2023 and the next scheduled for December 2025. “Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored and showed no issues before the flight,” he said. He also announced enhanced safety checks across Air India’s Boeing 787 fleet, with 26 out of 33 Dreamliners already cleared to fly again.

Chandrasekaran added that the right engine was newly installed in March 2025, while the left engine had been serviced in 2023. “There were no red flags or safety concerns. Dreamliners have maintained a strong safety record globally,” he stated.

The executives also defended the professionalism of the crew. The flight was captained by Sumeet Sabharwal, a senior pilot and trainer with over 10,000 hours of flying experience on widebody jets, and assisted by First Officer Clive Kunder, who had clocked over 3,400 hours of flight time.

The crash, which occurred just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, claimed the lives of 241 people on board and 34 individuals on the ground. In response, Air India has temporarily reduced its international widebody operations by 15% to prioritize fleet-wide safety inspections.

Both Wilson and Chandrasekaran urged against premature conclusions about the crash’s cause, emphasizing that detailed investigations are ongoing. Chandrasekaran said black box data will be crucial to understanding what happened, and preliminary findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are expected within a month.

Air India expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to the highest standards of passenger safety.

The Uttarakhand High Court has been informed that the 27 Infantry Battalion, ECO, Garhwal Rifles of the Territorial Army does not have the jurisdiction to take legal action against illegal mining activities in the Ganga river region. The statement came in response to a query posed by the court during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against rampant mining between Raiwala and Bhogpur.

The division bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani and Justice Pankaj Purohit was hearing the PIL filed by Matri Sadan, an ashram involved in environmental advocacy, and others. The petition alleges that illegal mining in the river is threatening the ecological balance and existence of the Ganga, and that such activities continue despite repeated directives from the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to the state government.

During an earlier hearing, the court had sought to know if the 27 Infantry Battalion could assist in stopping illegal mining. In response, Captain Raghav from the battalion’s legal cell had appeared via video conferencing and promised to return with a clear position.

On June 18, the Territorial Army, through its legal cell, clarified that while the battalion fully supports environmental protection and water conservation initiatives, it does not have the legal authority to initiate or enforce action against illegal mining operations. Such matters, it said, fall under the purview of civil administration and law enforcement agencies.

A senior officer from the battalion is scheduled to provide a more detailed briefing via formal presentation during the next hearing of the PIL, scheduled for June 23.

The petitioners have requested a complete ban on mining activities in the stretch of the river, citing violations of environmental laws and the risk posed to the river’s health. They also raised concerns over the lack of enforcement despite the creation of the NMCG Board, which was established by the central government to protect and rejuvenate the Ganga.

The case underscores the ongoing challenge of illegal mining in ecologically sensitive regions and the limitations faced by various agencies, including the Territorial Army, in addressing the crisis.

In a significant move at the 55th Paris Air Show, Safran Aircraft Engines and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed an agreement to jointly produce rotating forged parts for the LEAP aircraft engine program. This latest pact builds upon previous collaborations and aims to strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities under the Make in India initiative.

The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2023 and a contract in February 2025 focused on developing industrial cooperation for LEAP engine parts. Under the new deal, HAL will manufacture Inconel-based rotating parts, a critical material used in high-performance jet engines due to its heat and corrosion resistance.

Safran Aircraft Engines is one of the world’s leading engine manufacturers and is expanding its industrial presence in India. With this cooperation, Safran seeks to support the growing demand for LEAP engines, which power the majority of India’s single-aisle commercial aircraft fleet. The company also aims to diversify its global production footprint while reinforcing partnerships with Indian firms.

Dr. D K Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, stated, “We are proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with Safran and enhance our industrial capability in forging high-performance engine parts for the LEAP program.”

Dominique Dupuy, Purchasing Vice President of Safran Aircraft Engines, added, “This collaboration aligns with our strategy to bolster our manufacturing base in India. HAL is a vital partner, and this initiative also supports the future of the M88 engine, which powers the Rafale fighter aircraft.”

Safran already operates five production facilities in India, located in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Goa. A sixth site dedicated to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of LEAP engines is scheduled to become operational in Hyderabad by the end of 2025. The Safran HAL Aircraft Engines joint venture, established in 2022, specializes in LEAP and M88 engine components.

India is CFM’s third-largest market globally in terms of engine deployments, with over 370 of the 500 aircraft operated by Indian carriers using LEAP engines. More than 2,000 additional LEAP engines have been ordered for future use. The deepening collaboration between Safran and HAL marks a pivotal step in building a self-reliant aerospace ecosystem in India, with both commercial and military benefits.

A grand Course Ending Parade was held at the Officers Training College (OTC) of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) Centre & College in Lucknow on June 18, marking the successful conclusion of a demanding 10-week Senior Cadre Course in Combat Medical Support and Leadership. The parade was reviewed by Major General Vinod Kumar Patra, Commandant and Chief Instructor, who has been instrumental in raising the training standards at the institution since assuming command in February 2025.

The course saw the graduation of 92 non-commissioned officers (NCOs) from across the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), all of whom were trained to deliver high-quality medical support in frontline combat situations. Emphasis was placed on rapid triage, evacuation techniques, trauma response, and field leadership—skills critical to battlefield survivability and efficiency. Data from previous deployments show that such training can lead to a 15% improvement in casualty survival rates.

Major General Patra commended the graduating NCOs for their dedication and highlighted the importance of combat medical training in India’s broader military preparedness, especially given ongoing operational demands along the country’s borders. He praised the synergy between technical competence and military leadership cultivated during the course.

One of the most moving moments of the event was the presentation of the Naik Deepak Singh VrC Rolling Trophy to Havildar Harsh Kumar Jha from MDC Jabalpur, who emerged as the course topper. The trophy commemorates Naik Deepak Singh, a gallant nursing assistant who was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his heroism during the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, where 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives. The award reinforces the AMC’s ethos of honoring valor and excellence in military medical service.

The parade, attended by faculty, families, and fellow service members, concluded with a reaffirmation of the AFMS’s mission to provide exceptional medical support to India’s armed forces, with a growing emphasis on innovation, readiness, and battlefield capability.

Canada’s top intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has officially acknowledged for the first time that Khalistani extremists are using Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and plan violent activities targeting India. This confirmation lends weight to long-standing Indian concerns about anti-India elements operating freely from Canadian territory.

In its 2024 annual report, CSIS noted that “a small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.” The report distinguishes these extremists from those engaged in peaceful advocacy but emphasizes the ongoing threat posed by politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) linked to pro-Khalistan ideologies.

The agency traced the roots of this threat to the mid-1980s, when Canada-based Khalistani extremists began using the country to advance separatist goals for an independent Khalistan in India’s Punjab state. The report also noted that such extremism continues to provoke Indian foreign interference activities in Canada, including alleged attempts to monitor or target individuals perceived as Khalistani supporters.

This revelation comes amid strained diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa, especially following the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Khalistani terrorist, in British Columbia. Canadian authorities had linked the assassination to Indian government involvement—an accusation that India strongly rejected as “absurd,” instead accusing Canada of turning a blind eye to anti-India extremism.

Significantly, the release of the CSIS report coincided with a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Alberta. Despite the diplomatic friction, both leaders agreed to restore formal ties, appoint new high commissioners, and resume stalled trade negotiations. Carney defended his outreach to Modi amid domestic criticism, citing India’s global economic influence and the necessity of constructive engagement.

The CSIS findings reinforce the urgency of addressing cross-border extremist activities and come as a vindication of India’s repeated assertions on the misuse of foreign soil to incite violence back home. While the report noted that no Khalistani extremist attacks occurred in Canada in 2024, the continued planning of violence abroad remains a serious concern for Canadian national security.

The acknowledgment marks a turning point in bilateral discussions on terrorism, foreign interference, and diaspora politics, potentially reshaping the trajectory of India–Canada relations in the months ahead.