The Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively exploring the procurement of two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets from foreign sources to bolster its combat readiness until the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) becomes operational, defence sources said on Wednesday.

Each squadron typically comprises 18 to 20 fighter aircraft, meaning the IAF is eyeing an interim purchase of approximately 40 to 60 fifth-generation fighters.

The proposal, presented recently to the government in a high-level meeting, is aimed at maintaining the IAF’s technological edge, particularly amid growing concerns about China’s rapid airpower advancements and its potential transfer of fifth-generation jets to Pakistan. The plan has received support from a defence ministry committee led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, which emphasised the need for deterrence along India’s northern and western frontiers.

While no final decision has been taken, official-level discussions are ongoing. The United States has reportedly offered its F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, and Russia has proposed the Su-57 Felon. India had earlier exited the joint Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project with Russia but retains the option to rejoin.

In parallel, India is also pursuing a separate programme to manufacture 114 next-generation 4.5+ fighters in collaboration with a foreign partner under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This may result in a government-to-government deal following a competitive tender process.

With China progressing toward sixth-generation fighters, the IAF’s push for modernisation reflects a strategic urgency to fill capability gaps before the AMCA enters service later this decade.

The Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard are set to significantly boost their tactical transport capabilities with the planned induction of 15 C-295MW aircraft. Of these, nine will be allocated to the Indian Navy and six to the Coast Guard. The aircraft will complement the Indian Air Force’s existing fleet, which began inducting the C-295 in 2023.

According to defence officials, commercial bids for the marine variant of the C-295 must be submitted by December 2025. The procurement follows the Defence Acquisition Council’s approval of the Acceptance of Necessity and a Request for Proposal issued in March this year.

The C-295MW aircraft are being manufactured in Vadodara, Gujarat, under a landmark joint venture between Airbus and the Tata consortium. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the facility alongside the Spanish President in 2023, marking India’s first indigenous production of military aircraft by a private company. While 16 aircraft are being made in Spain, the remaining 40 will be produced in India.

The Indian Air Force has already received 15 of the 56 aircraft ordered under a 2021 deal. Its first C-295 squadron has been raised at the Vadodara facility, and the first Made-in-India aircraft is expected to be delivered by August 2026.

The C-295 is capable of carrying 5 to 10 tons of cargo, transporting 70 soldiers or 50 fully-equipped paratroopers. It has a rear ramp for paradropping and can be configured with 24 stretchers for medical evacuations. With a maximum flying time of 11 hours, a top speed of 480 km/h, and short runway capability, it is ideal for high-altitude and tactical missions, including along the Line of Actual Control with China.

The ageing Avro fleet is being phased out in favour of the C-295. Other aircraft like the AN-32 and IL-76 will follow, with the AN-32 set to begin retirement post-2032. The Indian Air Force has already issued a Request for Information for a new medium transport aircraft to succeed the AN-32 in the coming years.

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles are facing over 1.09 lakh personnel shortages across various ranks, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. He stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking steps to fill the vacancies in a time-bound and systematic manner.

“Filling up vacancies is a continuous process. The Ministry has been taking and will continue to take earnest steps to fill up the vacancies expeditiously through agencies like the UPSC and SSC,” Rai said. Vacancies arise due to retirements, resignations, promotions, deaths, and the raising of new battalions.

According to the data presented, 72,769 posts have already been notified for recruitment and the process is currently underway. Letters have been issued to the Director-Generals of CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles to address the issue.

As of January 1, 2025, CRPF has a sanctioned strength of 3,30,983 personnel but only 2,96,114 are in position, leaving 34,869 posts vacant. BSF has a shortage of 14,467 out of a sanctioned 2,72,447. CISF faces a gap of over 43,000 with only 1,50,720 personnel against a sanctioned 1,93,970.

The ITBP is short by 15,035, while SSB is facing 7,859 vacancies. Assam Rifles has a shortfall of 3,791 personnel.

To address the manpower crisis, the government has signed an MoU with SSC for annual recruitment of Constables (General Duty). Long-term nodal forces have also been nominated for coordinating recruitment to GD posts at Constable, Sub-Inspector, and Assistant Commandant levels.

Rai further stated that CAPFs have been directed to accelerate recruitment in non-GD cadres. Other measures include faster departmental promotion committee (DPC) meetings, streamlined medical examinations, and lowering of cutoff marks to ensure sufficient candidate selection, particularly in categories with observed shortfalls.

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the use of the Bombay High Court’s acquittal of all 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case as judicial precedent in any pending trials under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). However, the court clarified that the released men do not have to surrender.

A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh passed the interim order after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra government, urged the court to prevent the High Court judgment from influencing other MCOCA cases.

Mehta stressed that the state was not seeking to return the acquitted men to jail but was concerned about the legal findings in the verdict that could adversely affect ongoing MCOCA trials. “I am not seeking stay to bring them back to jail. That is not the intention,” he told the court.

Accepting the state’s concerns, the Supreme Court said, “Taking note of the submission made by the Solicitor General on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent in any other pending trials. Therefore, to that extent, we stay the impugned judgment.”

The court also issued notice to the acquitted men in the state’s appeal challenging the Bombay High Court’s decision.

Earlier, the Bombay High Court had set aside the Special MCOCA Court’s 2015 judgment that sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. The High Court found that the prosecution had “utterly failed” to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The Supreme Court also noted during the hearing that some of the actual perpetrators may have been Pakistani nationals who left India and were never arrested.

The 7/11 Mumbai train blasts were one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India. On July 11, 2006, seven bombs exploded within minutes in first-class coaches of suburban trains between 6:23 p.m. and 6:29 p.m., killing 187 people and injuring over 800 others.