In a proud and commendable achievement, cadets of 3 UP Naval Unit NCC, Lucknow have brought laurels to the city by securing 1st position in 7 out of 9 events at the recent Inter-Group Competition (PNSC) camp held in Prayagraj. This outstanding performance is the result of sustained and focused training conducted by the unit since January 2025.

Under the dynamic leadership of the Commanding Officer, Commander Gaurav Shukla, the naval unit has been conducting intensive training across all AINSC events, including service subjects, drill, semaphore, boat pulling and rigging, swimming, seamanship practicals, and ship modelling. The rigorous preparation and commitment displayed by the cadets and training staff culminated in exceptional results at the IGC.

To honour this stellar performance, a felicitation ceremony was held at NCC Group Headquarters, Lucknow, on 18 July 2025. Brigadier Puneet Srivastava, VSM, Group Commander, NCC Group HQs Lucknow, graced the occasion and felicitated the participating cadets for their dedication, discipline, and excellence. While addressing the gathering, the Group Commander applauded the relentless efforts of the cadets and the training team of 3 UP Naval Unit NCC and encouraged all cadets to continue striving for the best results at the All India Nau Sainik Camp (AINSC) at Lonavala, commencing in September this year.

The event was also graced by the Deputy Commander, Training Officer, and Commanding Officer, 3 UP NU NCC, as well as the Commanding Officer of 66 Battalion, Raebareli, who acknowledged the support of NCC Group HQs Lucknow and reiterated the unit’s commitment to nurturing the future leaders of the nation.

In a proud moment for Assam, 8th-grade student Kripsita Pradhan has become the first girl from the state to gain admission into the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun. Her selection marks a historic milestone and sets an inspiring precedent for girls in the region aspiring to serve in the armed forces.

Kripsita hails from Udalguri district and comes from a family with a strong tradition of service in the Indian Army. Her success is especially significant in a region where girls’ access to quality education remains limited. According to 2024 figures from the Assam Education Department, only 12 percent of rural girls progress to higher secondary education.

She was recently felicitated by the Station Commander at Hattigor Military Station, who praised her determination and offered guidance for her future in military training. The public recognition highlights the growing encouragement for female participation in India’s defence services.

RIMC, established in 1922, is among India’s most competitive military preparatory institutions, with only about 25 cadets selected annually through a rigorous process that includes written exams, interviews, and medical assessments. Kripsita’s entry reflects her academic excellence, leadership qualities, and mental discipline, according to local teachers and district officials.

Her achievement has sparked celebration in Udalguri and beyond. Community leaders and educators have hailed her as a role model for the next generation. As she prepares to begin her journey at RIMC, Kripsita Pradhan’s story is inspiring many young girls in Assam to dream beyond limitations and aim for service to the nation.

An Agniveer of the Indian Army was killed and two other personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), were injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Krishna Ghati area of Poonch district on Friday.

The deceased soldier has been identified as Agniveer Lalit Kumar of the 7 JAT Regiment. The incident occurred while the troops were conducting an area domination patrol in the forward sector near the LoC, a region notorious for the presence of anti-personnel mines.

The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the news on microblogging platform X, stating, “GOC WhiteKnightCorps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Agniveer Lalit Kumar of 7 JAT Regiment, who made the supreme sacrifice, while on an area domination patrol in general area of Krishna Ghati brigade on 25 July 2025, following a mine blast. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.”

Army sources said the injured personnel were promptly evacuated to a nearby military medical facility and are currently stable.

Security forces regularly carry out patrols in this sensitive sector to prevent infiltration and monitor any suspicious activity along the volatile border. Landmine-related incidents continue to pose a persistent threat in the area, especially during routine operational movements.

Further details are awaited as the army continues to assess the situation.

The Lok Sabha is set to hold a special 16-hour debate on July 28 focusing on the Pahalgam terror attack and the recently conducted Operation Sindoor, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Friday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to initiate the discussion, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to intervene during the proceedings.

The following day, on July 29, the Rajya Sabha will hold a similar 16-hour discussion in which External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will participate. Modi may also address the Upper House depending on the flow of the debate.

The decision follows a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where consensus was reached to allow a full debate on these pressing national security issues. Rijiju emphasized that the government has been willing to engage in discussion since the beginning of the Monsoon Session, despite continuous disruptions by the Opposition.

The Operation Sindoor debate will be the focal point, followed by other national concerns. Multiple senior leaders are expected to contribute, including Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Anurag Thakur, and regional party leaders such as TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi. The Samajwadi Party will be represented by Akhilesh Yadav and Rajiv Rai.

The Opposition had demanded clarity from the Prime Minister on Operation Sindoor and on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated claims about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Modi’s participation is seen as a significant step in addressing those concerns directly on the Parliament floor.

The debates in both Houses are expected to cover a wide range of strategic, diplomatic, and internal security topics. This marks a key moment in the ongoing Monsoon Session, which has seen limited legislative progress due to repeated adjournments and protests from Opposition parties.

With the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha scheduled to reconvene on July 28 and 29 respectively, political observers anticipate a charged and pivotal week ahead in Parliament.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a ₹1,640 crore contract with the Ministry of Defence to supply advanced Air Defence Fire Control Radars to the Indian Army. The agreement marks a significant step in the Army’s ongoing drive to modernise its air defence regiments.

The radars have been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be manufactured by BEL. According to the company’s BSE filing, the systems will support surveillance, detection, acquisition, and tracking of aerial targets. They will also guide air defence guns to effectively neutralise threats such as fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and drones.

The Ministry of Defence stated that the radar systems will contain a minimum of 70 percent indigenous content. Modular in design and capable of operating in all weather conditions, the radars are equipped with electronic countermeasure and counter-countermeasure capabilities, and are deployable both day and night.

“These radars will significantly enhance the operational readiness of the Indian Army and support the government’s goal of achieving self-reliance in defence,” the Ministry said in an official statement.

This deal comes after BEL announced that it had secured additional orders worth ₹563 crore for a range of defence technologies including navigation systems, satcom interception systems, active antenna arrays, jammers, seekers, and communication equipment.

In a significant breakthrough for India’s defence preparedness, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted flight trials of the third version of its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3). The test was carried out at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, marking a major advancement in India’s precision strike capabilities using indigenous unmanned systems.

The ULPGM-V3 is an upgraded variant of the ULPGM-V2 and comes equipped with a high-definition dual-channel seeker, allowing it to engage a diverse range of targets with precision. Capable of operating in both plain and high-altitude terrains, the missile features day-and-night targeting capability and a two-way data link, enabling post-launch updates to the aim-point.

One of the defining features of ULPGM-V3 is its modular warhead design, with three configurations: an anti-armour warhead capable of penetrating modern armour systems including those protected by Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), a penetration-cum-blast warhead for bunker-busting operations, and a pre-fragmentation warhead offering a wide lethality zone for soft targets.

The current trials were conducted for the anti-armour configuration, and the missile was launched from an indigenously developed UAV manufactured by Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace Research Technologies. DRDO has partnered with several Indian companies to integrate ULPGM systems with long-range and high-endurance drones.

This ambitious project is a collaborative effort involving multiple DRDO laboratories, including the Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), and others. Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPPs) Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), along with over 30 Indian MSMEs and start-ups, contributed to the successful development and testing of the missile.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and its industry partners, calling the successful trials a testament to India’s growing ability to absorb and produce advanced defence technologies. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat also praised the teams, stating that the development of such indigenous weapons is vital for national security in the current strategic environment.

The success of ULPGM-V3 not only strengthens India’s strike capabilities but also reinforces its push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding of the Indian Army’s Spear Corps, conducted a forward-area visit to assess operational preparedness in the strategically vital high-altitude regions of Arunachal Pradesh. The visit comes at a time of continued focus on border security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Reviewing deployments in rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions, Lt Gen Pendharkar praised the professionalism and morale of troops stationed at these remote posts. His visit also included a solemn tribute at a memorial marking the 1962 Battle of Walong, where 642 Indian and 752 Chinese soldiers lost their lives, underscoring the region’s deep historical and strategic relevance.

Beyond military assessments, the General interacted with residents under Operation Sadbhavna, the Indian Army’s long-running civic action programme. The General acknowledged the vital role of local communities in nation-building and lauded their continued cooperation with Army-led outreach.

The visit also highlights the ongoing development push by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which has been steadily enhancing connectivity across Arunachal Pradesh since the 1960s. These road networks are critical for both troop mobility and integrating border communities into the national framework.

Lt Gen Pendharkar, a seasoned officer with extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations and recent leadership in conflict resolution in Manipur, emphasized the dual priorities of operational vigilance and civil engagement. His forward-area review reflects the Indian Army’s strategic focus on strengthening deterrence and ensuring stability along India’s northeastern frontier.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has reaffirmed that Operation Sindoor, India’s strategic military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, remains ongoing. Speaking at a defence seminar in Delhi on Friday, Gen Chauhan stressed that India’s armed forces must maintain high readiness levels “24×7, 365 days,” as the nature of modern warfare continues to evolve.

“We are standing at the cusp of what I call the third revolution in military warfare,” said the CDS, describing the new form of conflict as “convergence warfare”—a fusion of kinetic and non-kinetic tactics, combining traditional battlefield methods with emerging technological capabilities.

He underscored the importance of mastering both shastra (weapons) and shaastra (knowledge), highlighting that today’s warriors must operate seamlessly across tactical, operational, and strategic domains. “There is an unprecedented pace of change driven by relentless technology,” Gen Chauhan added, pointing to developments like cyber warfare, AI integration, and real-time battlefield intelligence.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, following a brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. According to government statements in Parliament, the operation targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in the destruction of nine major terror camps linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Over 100 terrorists were neutralised in the precision strikes.

The Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that the operation was not initiated under international pressure but was a “focussed, measured, and non-escalatory” response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha that Pakistan’s attempt to strike Indian civilian and military targets prompted a “strong and decisive” counter-response, inflicting significant damage on Pakistani assets.

After four days of intense fighting, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations requested a ceasefire on May 10, which was agreed upon later that day. However, with continuing security concerns along the border, Operation Sindoor remains active as India strengthens its defence posture and modernises its military capabilities.

Satellite imagery and defence sources suggest India may have targeted sensitive Pakistani military locations, including the Kirana Hills, a site linked to Pakistan’s covert missile and nuclear programs.

As the region remains on alert, Gen Chauhan’s remarks underline the Indian military’s strategic pivot toward integrated, technology-driven operations, ensuring preparedness against both conventional threats and asymmetric warfare.