Current Context : India’s Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, launched two key initiatives—ADITI 2.0 and DISC 12—at DefConnect 4.0 in Delhi. Aim : to strengthen India’s defence technology ecosystem by encouraging innovation and providing financial support for new ideas. ABOUT ADITI 2.0 (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX): Features: 19 challenges from the Armed Forces in domains like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technology, and anti-drone systems. Grants: Up to ₹25 crore for winners of the iDEX challenges. Focus: 30 critical and strategic defence technologies to strengthen innovation in India's defence sector. DISC 12 (DEFENCE INDIA START-UP CHALLENGES): Features: 41 challenges focusing on UAVs, AI, Networking,....Read More

Current Context : Indian Navy’s INS Talwar arrived at Simon’s Town, South Africa to participate in the eighth edition of exercise IBSAMAR. The eighth edition f IBSAMAR, running from 6th to 18th October 2024, is being hosted by South Africa at Simon’s Town. INS Talwar, a frontline Indian stealth frigate, is leading India's participation. ABOUT IBSAMAR IBSAMAR is a trilateral naval exercise involving the navies of India, Brazil, and South Africa. Established: 2008 Objective: Strengthen trilateral defense ties, improve tactical skills, and promote mutual understanding. Held every two years, rotating locations among the three countries. INDIA’S OTHER MARITIME EXERCISES India-Thailand: Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT)....Read More

Current Context : Recently, the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd delivered INS Nirdeshak to the Indian Navy. ABOUT INS Nirdeshak is the second vessel in the Survey Vessels (Large) Project, designed by GRSE in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Defence. Significance: It will strengthen the Indian Navy's hydrographic and oceanographic survey capabilities. Critical for coastal defense and underwater navigation. It is 110 meters long and has a displacement of 3,400 tonnes. It is powered by two diesel engines and can reach speeds of over 18 knots. The INS Nirdeshak is the second of four vessels in the series, with....Read More

Current Context : Exercise Malabar 2024 commenced at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It will be conducted in two phases: harbour and sea. ABOUT EXERCISE MALABAR 2024 Aim : to enhance maritime cooperation, promote regional security, and ensure the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Participant nations : India, United States, Japan, Australia It was started in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and US navy. The first Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal took place in Became a trilateral exercise with the inclusion of Japan in 2015. Australia joined in 2020, making it a four-nation exercise.Read More

Current Context : The 8th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2024 commenced, at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand. Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 30th September to 13th October 2024. Aim : to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations. It has been held annually since 2016. Last edition of the Joint Exercise was held at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30th October to 11th November 2023.Read More

Current Index : Recently, a report reviled that Russia used thermobaric weapons in Ukraine war. ABOUT THERMOBARIC WEAPON: Working Mechanism: Releases a fuel cloud that ignites using oxygen from the air, creating a powerful explosion. Blast and Vacuum Effect: Produces a high-pressure blast, followed by a vacuum effect as oxygen is consumed. Alternative Names: Also called vacuum bombs or enhanced blast weapons. Destruction Capacity: Can destroy buildings and cause serious harm to the human body due to extreme heat and pressure. Uses: Effective against fortified areas like bunkers. Legal Implications: Not banned for military use, but its use on civilians....Read More

Current Context : Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), along with researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets named ABHED (ADVANCED BALLISTICS FOR HIGH ENERGY DEFEAT). Material used : Constructed using indigenous boron carbide ceramic and polymer composites, developed in collaboration with DRDO. Design: Based on high strain rate material characterization and simulations. Complies with Indian Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirements. Weight: Lightest weight options at 8.2 kg and 9.5 kg for different BIS threat levels. Protection: Offers 360° protection using modular armor plates. Configuration: Includes rigid Hard Armour Panels (HAP) and....Read More

Current Context : Tirumala laddu is shrouded in controversy over the alleged use of adulterated ghee in its preparation. Tirupati laddus erupted after Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the prasad at the revered temple was mixed with animal fat during his predecessor Jagan Mohan Reddy’s rule. ABOUT TIRUPATI LADDU: Name and Origin:Popularly known as Tirumala Laddu or Śrīvāri Laḍḍū, this iconic sweet is offered as prasadam(consecrated food) at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh, India. Historical Evolution:The practice of offering laddus began on August 2, 1715. Initially, a loose sweet called Manoharam was prepared, which over time evolved into the distinctive laddu known....Read More

Current Context : Recently, the fifth edition of Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) 2024 was hosted by the Indian Navy from 23-24 September 24 under the aegis of Naval War College, Goa. Goa Maritime Symposium is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation, and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the Indian Ocean Region. Theme of the event : Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR – Progressing Lines of Effort to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as illegal and unregulated fishing and other illegal maritime activities. Participant nations from 12 Indian Ocean Littoral countries include : Bangladesh, Comoros,....Read More

Current Context : The Indian Air Force has completed Exercise Eastern Bridge-7 with the Royal Air Force of Oman in Masirah, Oman. The IAF deployed MiG-29s, Jaguars, and C-17 Globemaster aircraft, while RAFO contributed F-16s and Hawks for the exercise. Aim : to improve strategic coordination and tactical capabilities, with a focus on complex air operations, air-to-air combat, and air-to-ground missions. OTHER JOINT EXERCISES BETWEEN INDIA AND OMAN Exercise Naseem Al-Bahr: A biennial naval exercise aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman. Al Najah: A bilateral army exercise focused on counter-terrorism, strengthening....Read More