Amid a row surrounding the six martyrs of Operation Sindoor, the defence ministry on Saturday said the nation paid homage to them at the "earliest opportunity", and their memory shall always be honoured with the dignity and reverence, it deserves.
The deployment of the army in all sectors along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between India and China, is 'robust, well poised and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency'.
India's annual defence production has reached an all-time high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, marking a significant 15.6 per cent growth over the previous fiscal year. This achievement reflects a 110 per cent increase since 2020-21 and highlights the country's expanding defence industrial base, driven by policy support and increased private sector participation.
'The share of the private sector is at its all-time high of around Rs 42,000 crore in FY26, reflecting its expanding role in the defence ecosystem.'
In the race for 87 Medium-Altitude Long-Range, Endurance unmanned aerial vehicles deal, around 10 bids have been received from Indian private and public sector firms.
The Congress party has accused the government of concealing the supreme sacrifice of six soldiers during Operation Sindoor, thereby denying them honour and recognition. Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in Parliament, suggesting he either lacked knowledge or misled the House. The Defence Ministry, however, refuted these claims, stating that social media posts selectively quoted the minister's remarks to misrepresent the facts.
General Dhiraj Seth has been appointed as the new Chief of the Army Staff, taking command of the 1.3 million-strong Indian Army. He brings nearly four decades of extensive experience, including commanding two operational Army commands along the western front, and will lead the force in its pursuit of self-reliance and readiness amidst dynamic global geo-strategic challenges.
India fully utilised its military modernisation budget in 2024-2025 -- the first time in five years -- and signed a record Rs 2 trillion defence contracts.
The Sports Ministry has launched a certification system for cycle-friendly institutions and campuses, with several prominent academies and universities set to be felicitated for their sustainable mobility practices during the 'Sundays on Cycle' event.
Army, Navy and Air Force commanders received enhanced powers to address urgent operational requirements quickly.
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (retd) has been appointed as India's next Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been named the next Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. Lt Gen Subramani's primary mandate will be to implement the military theaterisation plan and bolster tri-services synergy.
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, currently the Vice Chief of Army, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff, taking over from Gen Upendra Dwivedi on June 30. He brings nearly four decades of distinguished military experience, having commanded various formations and held key strategic appointments.
The 73rd edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle saw participation from defence forces and citizens at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have successfully conducted flight tests of the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile, marking a significant milestone in indigenous defence technology.
The Indian Defence Ministry has approved the procurement of weapons and military hardware worth Rs 2.38 crore, including S-400 missiles and medium transport aircraft, to bolster the Indian Air Force's capabilities.
'DRDO has been directed to license missile technologies to the private sector.'
The Positive Indigenisation List includes Rs 715 crore worth of high-end materials and spares, the import of which will be permitted only until a date specified for each. After each one's import deadline elapses, it will have to be procured from the Indian industry.
Defence Ministry spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu said the DRDO never installed any helicopter model in Lucknow.
India's defence exports reached a record high of Rs 38,424 crore in fiscal year 2025-26, marking a significant increase of over 62 per cent compared to the previous year, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
India has successfully conducted a flight test of an advanced Agni missile featuring Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology off the coast of Odisha.
The government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), who shall also function as the secretary to the government of India, department of military affairs, with effect from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders.
In Operation Sindoor, Pakistan had deployed additional squadrons of the Chinese-origin HQ-9 air defence systems, which could not do much against the Indian aircraft when they brought down multiple terror targets inside Pakistan.
India has successfully conducted the first flight trial of its indigenously developed Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) glide weapon system off the coast of Odisha, marking a significant step in enhancing its defence capabilities.
Successful interceptor, anti-ship, MIRV and hypersonic technology tests have strengthened India's position among a select group of advanced missile powers.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday conferred seven Kirti Chakras, including two posthumously, to personnel of the armed forces displaying raw courage, unparalleled bravery and total disregard for personal safety in the line of duty.
Durve argued that the word 'secret' is nowhere in the exemption clause under which information could be denied to an applicant.
'If you go by the capital expenditure, this is a good defence budget. But we will have to see if the government can keep defence spending at 2 per cent or higher in 2027-2028.'
In 2025-26, the government allocated Rs 6,81,210 crore for defence budget.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran does not include provisions regarding Tehran's ballistic missile programme. This statement followed talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with Sharif emphasising Iran's right to its defence capabilities and Pakistan's role as a mediator in the US-Iran peace process.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed it had destroyed eight US military infrastructures in Kuwait and Bahrain in a joint missile and drone operation, describing the strikes as retaliation for a second wave of US military attacks on Iranian targets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned the attacks on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah, which resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals, and reiterated India's support for peaceful resolution through dialogue.
A large-scale civil defence mock drill was conducted across Delhi, simulating a hostile attack scenario to test preparedness and response systems.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered New Delhi Russia's fifth-generation stealth aircraft Sukhoi Su-57 and even suggested that the combat jet could even be jointly produced in India in line with the strong strategic partnership between the two countries.
'We are considering this to ensure swift action on content for which the respective ministries have domain experts and can better determine the illegality of the content or the web site that needs to be taken down.'
India's dual pursuit of a robust strategic partnership with Washington and a pragmatic, tension-management policy with Beijing represents the essence of modern multi-alignment. By embracing economic pragmatism, learning to compartmentalize political differences, and engaging in continuous dialogue, India can secure its borders, grow its economy, and contribute to a stable, multipolar Asian century, points out Ambassador Rajasekhar.
The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to Telegram's petition challenging a temporary government order that restricts access to its platform and disables message-editing features in India, citing concerns over potential cheating during the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
The NEET-UG re-exam was held at centres across the country and overseas on Sunday amid tight security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the examination.
The visit was expected to project Assam as the gateway to Southeast Asia and reinforce the state's emergence as a preferred investment destination.
According to a statement issued by the Turkish ministry of defence, search and rescue operations were launched immediately after the crash, leading to the recovery of the wreckage and the bodies of those onboard.
India's defence sector is on the cusp of a 'super cycle' of growth, driven by escalating geopolitical conflicts and a strong policy push towards indigenous manufacturing, with major players like BEL, HAL, and BDL poised for significant order inflows and technological advancements.
