The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted a Maoist operative, Ashu Korsa of Bijapur district, for his alleged involvement in the targeted killing of Indian Army personnel Motiram Achala in Chhattisgarh last year. The chargesheet was filed before the NIA Special Court in Jagdalpur on Friday.

According to officials, Korsa was part of a broader conspiracy hatched by the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit to instill fear among locals and undermine the authority of the Indian state in the region. The victim, Motiram Achala, was gunned down in broad daylight while attending a local fair with his family in Useli village, located in the Amabeda area of Kanker district, on February 25, 2024.

Investigations revealed that Korsa, an armed cadre of the Kuyemari Area Committee under the North Bastar Division of CPI (Maoist), carried out the attack along with a senior Maoist leader. The NIA took over the case from local police on February 29, 2024, and arrested Korsa in December the same year.

The NIA stated that the act was a deliberate attempt to spread terror among civilians and was part of the CPI (Maoist)’s ongoing campaign against security forces and state institutions in Chhattisgarh’s tribal heartland.

In a landmark step toward reducing global dependence on China for critical mineral supplies, India has expressed interest to form a strategic alliance with five Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—to jointly explore and develop rare earth and other critical mineral resources. This was discussed during the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, held in New Delhi on June 6.

The joint statement issued after the meeting underscored a shared commitment to diversifying the supply chain for essential materials used in sectors like renewable energy, electronics, defense, and electric vehicles. The move comes at a time of heightened concern over China’s tightening grip on rare earth exports, particularly following its April 2025 export restrictions citing national security interests.

Currently, China controls about 70% of the global rare earth mining and dominates refining and processing. The new India–Central Asia partnership aims to challenge this monopoly and mitigate the geopolitical risks associated with over-reliance on a single supplier.

Foreign ministers from all six participating nations reaffirmed their intent to deepen cooperation in trade, connectivity, and technological innovation. The upcoming second India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum will build on the groundwork laid in 2024, with a focus on joint ventures, delegation exchanges, and knowledge sharing.

India, which holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, remains underutilized in the sector due to limited private investment and refining capabilities. Through the National Critical Mineral Mission, the Indian government is promoting domestic mining and processing, including possible fiscal incentives to boost the production of rare earth magnets.

Experts believe this collaboration could reshape the global rare earth landscape, offering alternative supply routes and enhancing economic resilience for partner nations. The agreement also includes India’s offer of technical assistance to its Central Asian partners, as well as efforts to strengthen regional connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port initiative.

In addition to mineral cooperation, the dialogue covered a wide array of strategic issues, including digital infrastructure, healthcare collaboration, and counter-terrorism efforts. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable growth and regional stability.

The next edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue is scheduled for 2026, with strong optimism on both sides for the future of this evolving partnership.

In a major push for indigenous defense innovation, Indian quantum deeptech startup QuBeats has received a Rs 25 crore grant under the Ministry of Defence’s iDEX ADITI 2.0 initiative. The funding will support the development of a cutting-edge Quantum Positioning System (QPS) for the Indian Navy, aimed at ensuring accurate navigation in GPS-denied or spoofed environments.

The proposed QPS system is designed to leverage high-precision quantum sensors, particularly quantum magnetometers, that function independently of satellite-based navigation systems. This breakthrough is seen as critical to modern military operations, especially for submarines, missile systems, and unmanned platforms operating in contested or remote zones where GPS signals may be unreliable or compromised.

The project positions India in the global race for quantum technology supremacy, competing with nations like the United States and China. While China is experimenting with quantum magnetometers to detect stealth submarines, the U.S. is developing chip-scale quantum clocks for resilient battlefield navigation. QuBeats, with a team comprising PhD experts from MIT and Harvard, aims to counterbalance this foreign dominance with indigenous, next-generation navigation solutions.

Recent studies, including those from the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, emphasize the transformative potential of quantum-enhanced inertial navigation. A 2023 research article in Nature Communications further demonstrated that quantum sensors can surpass classical systems in precision by up to 100 times under adverse conditions, indicating their immense military utility.

The grant reflects India’s broader strategic vision to build a self-reliant quantum ecosystem under the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications, which has earmarked nearly USD 1 billion over five years. QuBeats’ leadership welcomed the support, calling it a validation of India’s unique approach to defense innovation and a step toward establishing technological sovereignty in critical areas.

As the project moves forward, the indigenous QPS is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s navigational capabilities and contribute to national security in a technologically competitive global environment.

NIBE Limited has announced a strategic licensing agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specifically with the Research & Development Establishment (Engineers), Pune, for the manufacturing of modular bridging systems. The agreement marks a key move in advancing India’s defense self-reliance under the government’s indigenization drive.

Under the terms of the technology transfer (ToT) pact, NIBE will pay a total of Rs 3.76 crore in tranches over a 10-year period, during which it is authorized to use DRDO’s proprietary technology to produce modular bridges ranging from 14 to 46 meters in length. These bridges are designed as complex, mechanically launched systems capable of rapid deployment, enabling tracked and wheeled military vehicles to traverse challenging terrain and obstacles with ease.

The product is targeted at the Indian Armed Forces as well as central and state government agencies, with DRDO set to provide comprehensive technical know-how and testing methodologies. NIBE aims to roll out the product within the next 24 months.

The deal reflects a significant shift for NIBE, which traditionally operates in the electronic components and fabrication materials sector. The company also offers consultancy and turnkey services for the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of low- and medium-voltage power lines and substations.

Despite this major defense development, NIBE reported a subdued financial performance in Q4 FY25. Its consolidated net profit fell by 30% year-on-year to Rs 7.64 crore, while total income dropped by 25.8% to Rs 113.64 crore. However, investor sentiment remained positive following the DRDO deal, with the company’s shares closing slightly higher at Rs 1,675.85 on Friday, June 6.

The agreement positions NIBE as a key player in India’s defense mobility ecosystem and is expected to contribute to the nation’s strategic and operational capabilities in the years to come.