The Indian Army has announced the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, a bilateral joint military drill with France, scheduled to take place from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at La Cavalerie, France. The exercise aims to bolster the joint operational capabilities of both nations’ armed forces in sub-conventional and multi-domain scenarios.

Initiated in 2011, Exercise Shakti is a biennial event conducted alternately in India and France. The previous edition took place in May 2024 in Meghalaya, India, furthering the momentum of military cooperation between the two strategic partners.

The 2025 edition will emphasize developing interoperability, tactical coordination, and mutual understanding between the participating contingents. Focus areas include counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and urban warfare operations, supported by realistic combat simulations and joint mission planning.

Exercise Shakti is a significant component of the broader India-France defense partnership, which has seen a steady expansion in recent years. The collaboration is also part of a larger Indo-Pacific engagement strategy, illustrated by events like the Tarang Shakti multinational exercise in August 2024, where France participated actively.

By fostering greater synergy and camaraderie, the upcoming edition of Exercise Shakti is expected to deepen strategic alignment and enhance the ability of both nations to address contemporary regional and global security challenges.

Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Northern Command, conducted an in-depth review of the security situation in North Kashmir on June 11, 2025. The visit marked one of his key field engagements since assuming charge in April 2025, following a distinguished career that includes serving as Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy). During the visit, he toured formations and units of the Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo), assessing ongoing operations and preparedness in one of the most sensitive regions along the Line of Control.

The General reviewed the progress of Operation All-Out, a comprehensive multi-agency initiative that was launched in response to the 2016 unrest following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The operation has led to the neutralization of over 60 militant hideouts and the seizure of a large cache of arms and ammunition. It has also marked a strategic evolution in counter-insurgency doctrine, emphasizing synergy between military action and civilian engagement.

Interacting with troops on the ground, Lt Gen Sharma lauded their dedication and sacrifices in preserving national integrity. He expressed appreciation for the tireless efforts of the units in combating both conventional and asymmetric threats. He also emphasized the importance of adapting to evolving security challenges while upholding the values and professionalism of the Indian Army.

Lt Gen Sharma also took stock of developmental and humanitarian initiatives under Operation Sadbhavana, the Army’s flagship outreach program in Jammu and Kashmir since 1998. These initiatives, which include healthcare camps, infrastructure support, model villages, and local youth engagement through sports events such as the Kashmir Premier League, have reportedly received widespread community support, with approval ratings reaching 70% in some areas.

The visit reaffirmed the Army’s dual focus on maintaining robust counter-insurgency capabilities and fostering local goodwill through development and confidence-building measures. Under Lt Gen Sharma’s leadership, the Northern Command is expected to reinforce these priorities in its mission to secure peace and stability in the region.

Major Rajprasad RS of the Indian Army’s 7 Engineer Regiment has been awarded the prestigious NSG Counter-IED Innovator Award in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to improvised explosive device (IED) neutralization technologies. The award was presented by the Union Home Secretary during the National Security Guard’s International Seminar held in New Delhi on June 11, 2025.

Major Rajprasad’s innovations have significantly enhanced the Indian Army’s operational capabilities in high-risk environments. Among his most notable inventions are Agniastra, a Multi-Target Portable Remote Detonation System, and Shatrunash, a Handheld Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Gun. Agniastra enables the safe detonation of multiple IEDs from a distance, while Shatrunash disables electronic triggering mechanisms of IEDs, ensuring greater safety for frontline troops during counter-terror operations.

These developments are a major step forward in India’s push for technological self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Major Rajprasad’s portfolio of indigenous solutions includes the Xploder, a kamikaze Unmanned Ground Vehicle capable of reconnaissance and payload delivery for offensive operations, and the Mobile Reactive Munition System (MRMS), a stealthy anti-tank mine system deployable via aerial platforms. Both were showcased at Aero India 2025 and attracted wide acclaim for their innovation and practicality.

In just six months, three of his innovations—Agniastra, Xploder, and Vidyut Rakshak, an IoT-enabled generator monitoring system—have been cleared for induction into the Indian Army, marking one of the fastest transitions from concept to deployment in recent defense history. His earlier creation, the Wireless Electronic Detonation System (WEDC), has also been inducted, offering a long-range, microprocessor-based, precision demolition tool.

The award ceremony was attended by top defense, paramilitary, and intelligence officials, reflecting the high regard for Major Rajprasad’s work and its potential to shape India’s counter-IED and internal security landscape. His achievements not only strengthen operational effectiveness but also serve as a beacon of innovation within India’s growing indigenous defense ecosystem.Tools