In a major step toward enhancing maritime safety in one of India’s most strategically vital regions, the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (A&N), conducted comprehensive Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) workshops and mock drills at Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 9 in Diglipur and No. 10 in Campbell Bay earlier today.

The event brought together senior officers and operational teams from various Indian Coast Guard units to strengthen preparedness and inter-agency coordination during maritime emergencies. Uniformed personnel gathered at the coastal facility in Diglipur under the banner of the M-SAR workshop, reaffirming the Indian Coast Guard’s motto, “वयम् रक्षामः” (We Protect), and its commitment to safeguarding the maritime domain.

Mock drills held at sea featured Coast Guard vessels navigating through the turquoise waters of the archipelago, simulating high-stakes rescue operations. A smaller inflatable craft with team members in yellow life jackets maneuvered alongside a larger vessel marked “भारतीय तटरक्षक” (Indian Coast Guard), hull number C-416, practicing swift and coordinated response scenarios.

In another session aboard a Coast Guard ship, trainees were briefed on life-saving techniques and the proper handling of rescue equipment. Officers emphasized the importance of operational readiness in responding to distress calls in the often challenging maritime environment of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands serve as a strategic maritime outpost for India, located near major international sea lanes and increasingly monitored due to growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean. Recent initiatives, such as the rebasing of ICG ships Rajtarang and Rajkiran to Diglipur and Campbell Bay in April 2024, have significantly enhanced the Indian Coast Guard’s reach and rapid response capabilities.

These workshops support the broader national effort to transform the island chain into a maritime, startup, and digital connectivity hub. Under the Rs 10,000 crore development plan launched in 2015, initiatives like Digital India are extending critical services to remote regions, with the Island Development Agency continuing to monitor and drive progress.

As India’s only tri-services command, the ANC plays a crucial role in ensuring integrated maritime defence and security. Today’s workshop exemplifies the collaborative resolve of the armed forces to protect the region’s fragile ecosystem, secure its borders, and uphold maritime law, while enhancing the capabilities of personnel tasked with life-saving missions across this strategically critical maritime frontier.

In a landmark diplomatic initiative, India has announced the launch of a global campaign aimed at spotlighting Pakistan’s alleged role in fostering terrorism. The move comes amid rising tensions following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and India’s subsequent military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, conducted on May 7.

The Indian government is deploying a 40-member delegation comprising parliamentarians from various political parties. Divided into seven groups, the delegations will visit major global capitals including Washington D.C., London, Abu Dhabi, Pretoria, and Tokyo beginning May 23. This unprecedented, multi-party outreach aims to present a united Indian stance on Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism, with a particular focus on Kashmir.

Each team will be accompanied by an official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and will be equipped with dossiers outlining evidence of terrorist infrastructure linked to Pakistan. These documents, jointly prepared by the MEA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, detail Pakistan’s alleged complicity in promoting terrorism and include accounts of the planning and execution of recent attacks.

The campaign will highlight the outcomes of Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror-linked sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), eliminating over 100 militants. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the strikes as “measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible,” emphasizing India’s commitment to combating terrorism while avoiding broader conflict.

The delegation includes prominent MPs such as Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sasmit Patra, Sanjay Jha, Salman Khurshid, and Aparajita Sarangi. The initiative, led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, is intended to send a message of political unity on national security.

The April 22 Pahalgam attack, likened to the 2008 Mumbai attacks for its deliberate targeting of civilians, has drawn global condemnation. India claims the attack was orchestrated by elements based in Pakistan, a charge that Islamabad denies. Pakistan has instead called for an international investigation into the incident.

Operation Sindoor marked the first cross-border strike of this scale since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, with Indian forces reportedly targeting sites deep within Pakistan, including four in Punjab province. The operation has prompted calls for restraint from several nations including France, Germany, Japan, and Qatar, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed strong support for the central government’s anti-terror campaign.

India’s new diplomatic campaign echoes earlier responses such as the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, reinforcing a trend of military and diplomatic assertiveness in response to terror attacks. Analysts view the inclusive nature of this initiative as a strategic move to demonstrate national consensus and enhance the credibility of India’s narrative on the global stage.

As preparations for the tour are finalized, international observers are watching closely to see whether India’s diplomatic efforts will translate into broader global support or further geopolitical tension in South Asi

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has announced the receipt of fresh defence orders worth Rs 572 crore since its last update on April 7, 2025. The latest contracts cover a broad spectrum of high-tech military equipment and systems aimed at enhancing India’s defence capabilities.

The newly acquired orders include key systems such as the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS), Software Defined Radio (SDR), and Data Communication Units (DCU) for attack guns. BEL has also secured contracts to deliver Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based solutions for naval platforms, simulators, advanced communication equipment, electronic jammers, as well as spares and associated services.

These developments reinforce BEL’s strategic position as a leading defence electronics manufacturer and highlight its role in supporting the Indian Armed Forces with cutting-edge, indigenously developed solutions. The company’s consistent alignment with the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative reflects its commitment to strengthening national defence through innovation and indigenous technology.

In a related development, BEL recently appointed Hari Kumar R as its new Director (R&D), indicating a continued focus on research and development to meet future defence needs. The company remains a critical pillar in India’s evolving defence ecosystem.

Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda has ignited a fresh political controversy with his comments on the Indian Army, made during a civil defense volunteers’ training program held in Jabalpur. Devda’s statement, in which he claimed that “the entire nation, including the Indian Army and soldiers, is bowing at the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and civil society alike.

The controversial remarks came as Devda praised Prime Minister Modi for what he described as a decisive and strong response to the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack. “Not just the country, but the entire military is also bowing at Modi’s feet for his strong stance against terrorism,” he declared, urging applause from the audience in support of the Prime Minister. He further added that no amount of admiration for Modi’s leadership in the fight against terror groups was sufficient, attributing India’s military resolve to the PM’s command.

Devda also made graphic references to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, alleging that the terrorists deliberately targeted tourists based on religion. “In Pahalgam, the terrorists asked tourists their religion before shooting them in front of their families. Women were separated, and men were executed before the eyes of their children and relatives,” he stated. He emphasized that such brutality demanded a strong response and pledged that the country would not rest until every terrorist and their supporters were eliminated.

The remarks have triggered outrage from opposition leaders, with Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemning the statement as “extremely shameful and unfortunate.” In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Vadra said, “First, a minister in Madhya Pradesh made offensive remarks about women soldiers, and now the deputy chief minister has insulted our armed forces. The entire nation is proud of the valor of our soldiers, but BJP leaders are consistently disrespecting them. Instead of taking action against such leaders, the BJP is trying to shield them. What message is the party trying to send to our soldiers and the people of this country?”

The controversy follows closely on the heels of a previous incident involving state minister Vijay Shah, who faced backlash for derogatory remarks about Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a decorated officer in the Indian Army. With two such incidents in quick succession, questions are being raised about the BJP’s internal disciplinary mechanisms and the messaging of its leaders.

While the BJP has yet to issue an official statement regarding Devda’s comments, political analysts warn that such rhetoric risks politicizing the armed forces and could alienate a segment of the electorate that holds the military in high regard. The controversy also emerges at a sensitive time, as the nation continues to mourn the victims of the Pahalgam attack and debates national security policy in the wake of Operation Sindoor.