In a powerful tribute to the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War, the Indian Army’s ‘Forever in Operations Division’ conducted a commemorative expedition to Tololing Peak on June 11, 2025. This solemn event marks the beginning of the 26th anniversary observances of Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year on July 26 to honor India’s victory in the high-altitude conflict.

A team of 30 soldiers, drawn from regiments that were actively involved in the original Battle of Tololing, embarked on the journey from the Kargil War Memorial in Dras. Their mission: to retrace the historic route, scale the formidable peak once fiercely defended by enemy forces, and pay homage to the bravery and sacrifice that turned the tide of the Kargil War.

The Indian Air Force also participated in the tribute, with its personnel joining the expedition to underscore the spirit of jointmanship that defined Operation Vijay. Upon reaching the summit of Tololing, the team hoisted the Indian Tricolour, symbolizing both a remembrance of the fallen and a reaffirmation of national pride.

The 2025 expedition is part of a larger national tribute campaign. Events are scheduled across 25 Indian states, 2 union territories, and even in Nepal. Soldiers will meet families of the Kargil war martyrs, deliver letters of gratitude, and present commemorative tokens while assessing the families’ current needs and challenges.

The commemorations will culminate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kargil War Memorial on July 26.

The Battle of Tololing, fought at an altitude of nearly 15,000 feet from May 20 to June 13, 1999, was among the fiercest engagements of the conflict. Its successful recapture was a turning point that uplifted the morale of Indian forces and shifted the course of the war.

The 2025 Tololing expedition not only honors that legacy but also serves as a profound educational and motivational endeavor, ensuring that the valor and sacrifice of the nation’s heroes continue to inspire future generations.

In a landmark step toward modernizing its training infrastructure, the Indian Army has inaugurated a state-of-the-art drone training laboratory at the Madras Regimental Centre. The initiative, led by Lt Gen Karanbir Singh Brar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Southern Command, aligns with the Army’s 2024 “Year of Technology Absorption” drive, focused on preparing recruits for emerging digital battlefield environments.

The new facility was developed in collaboration with Chennai-based Zuppa Geo Navigation Pvt Ltd, a leader in advanced drone and navigation technologies. The company brings cutting-edge capabilities, including its patented “Disseminated Parallel Control Computing” technology, and is certified under AS9100D and DGCA standards. This partnership supports the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, encouraging indigenous defense innovation.

Central to the lab’s mission is the upskilling of Agniveer recruits under the Agnipath Scheme, launched in 2022. The program aims to create a younger, technologically adept force by integrating high-tech training modules into traditional military regimens. Certification opportunities at the lab also aim to provide Agniveers with career pathways in both defense and civilian tech sectors.

According to a 2023 study published in the Journal of Defense Studies, integrating drone systems into infantry operations could improve efficiency by up to 30%, making this advancement strategically critical. The lab includes real-time drone control systems, simulators, and modular training frameworks to ensure comprehensive knowledge transfer

Lt Gen Brar reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to holistic development, drawing parallels with initiatives like “Mission Olympics”, which have produced top-tier athletes from military ranks. The drone lab follows his earlier inauguration of a synthetic athletic track at the same centre in February 2025.

As the Indian Army continues to adopt cutting-edge technologies, this development marks a crucial step in enhancing the force’s operational readiness and fostering a culture of tech-enabled defense excellence.

In a tragic incident in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, a 25-year-old Army jawan, Sunil Rawat, lost his life while trying to save a friend from drowning in the Nandakini river on Wednesday afternoon. Rawat, a native of Nandanagar and attached to the Garhwal Rifles regiment, was home on leave for a religious event when the incident occurred.

According to Nandanagar SHO Narendra Rawat, the soldier had gone to bathe with three local friends at the confluence of the Punera rivulet and the Nandakini river around 2 PM. One of the friends slipped and was dragged into deeper water. In a valiant attempt to rescue him, Sunil Rawat jumped in but was caught in a powerful whirlpool and swept away. Despite the efforts of his friends, Rawat could not be saved due to the treacherous terrain and large submerged boulders.

His body was later recovered by rescue teams, lodged between rocks under the water, and was sent to a nearby hospital for postmortem examination.

In a separate tragedy in Chamoli on the same day, two factory workers from Haryana—Sachin Kumar (30) and Ravi Kumar (26) of Yamunanagar—died after their motorcycle was struck by a landslide near Jyotirmath while returning from Badrinath.

Meanwhile, in Tehri Garhwal, seven people were injured on Thursday in a head-on collision between a Haryana-registered camping van and a UP-registered car on the Rishikesh-Gangotri highway near Sarot temple. The car’s occupants—four from Muzaffarnagar and three from Noida—were en route to Gangotri. Three of the injured are reported to be in serious condition.

These back-to-back incidents highlight the hazards of both natural and road-related emergencies during the peak pilgrimage and travel season in Uttarakhand.

The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise, “Nomadic Elephant,” concluded today in Ulaanbaatar with a grand closing ceremony, marking a significant chapter in the evolving defence partnership between the two countries.

India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, serving as the Guest of Honour, presided over the ceremony alongside Mongolia’s Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Brigadier General Baatar Baljid, India’s Ambassador to Mongolia Atul M. Gotsurve, and Lieutenant General Puspendra Singh, Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement.

The exercise, which commenced earlier this month, brought together 45 personnel from India’s Arunachal Scouts and 150 troops from Mongolia’s Special Forces. Over the course of the drills, both sides engaged in joint tactical training and cultural exchanges, reinforcing military cooperation and mutual understanding.

In his address, Defence Secretary Singh praised the discipline and synergy displayed by both contingents, emphasizing the role of such exercises in promoting regional peace and strategic collaboration. The ceremony featured formal honours, group photographs, and the symbolic display of the Indian and Mongolian flags set against Ulaanbaatar’s rugged hills.

Initiated in 2004, “Nomadic Elephant” has grown into a key platform for military engagement, reflecting the strategic elevation of India-Mongolia relations since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit. The 12th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group meeting held in May 2024 further reinforced this momentum, opening new avenues for defence cooperation.

Mongolia’s strategic location between Russia and China adds a geopolitical dimension to the partnership. Experts note that India’s expanding military presence and aid, highlighted in 2024 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, could help balance regional power dynamics.

The successful completion of this year’s exercise underscores the growing interoperability between the two armed forces and sets a solid foundation for future collaborations in regional security and defence.