Indian Navy Awards Tonbo Imaging ADITI 3.0 Contract for High Power Microwave System to Counter Drone Swarms

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Approves Transfer of DRDO Conventional Missile Tech to Indian Industry

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of DRDO-developed conventional missile system technologies to Indian defence industry for domestic production. This move aims to boost self-reliance, enhance MSME participation, and strengthen the defence industrial base under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

PM Modi's 2026 I-Day Address Prioritises Aatmanirbhar Defence, Drones, Hypersonic Tech

PM Modi's 2026 Independence Day address pivots to next-generation defence: drones, counter-drone systems, hypersonic technology, and cybersecurity under Mission Sudarshan Chakra. With India's defence exports reaching about 100 countries, the address signals a shift from being a market for imports to a global supplier — a key theme for Prelims and Mains.

₹1,943 Crore Deal: Indian Navy Leases 2 MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drones from US for 30 Months

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹1,943 crore contract to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from US firm General Atomics for 30 months, boosting Indian Navy's maritime surveillance capabilities across both eastern and western fronts. This expands the Navy's drone fleet to four units and bridges the gap until delivery of 31 MQ-9Bs ordered in 2024.

CISF Signs MoU with Drone Federation of India to Boost Counter-Drone Capabilities at 370 Vital Installations

CISF, the nodal agency for aerial threats at 370 vital installations (aviation, nuclear, space, oil refineries), has signed an MoU with the Drone Federation of India (DFI) to enhance counter-drone capabilities. This is crucial for aspirants as it highlights India's focus on securing critical infrastructure against emerging drone threats, with specific data points (3,000 personnel trained, 80 units using drones) that are exam-ready.

India-UK Sign IGA for Maritime Electric Propulsion for Navy LPDs, Procure LMM Missiles

India and UK are set to sign an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for developing maritime electric propulsion systems for four Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) for the Indian Navy. Additionally, a second IGA for procurement of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) for the Indian Army is imminent. This collaboration includes establishing India's first maritime Land-Based Testing Facility for Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) by GE Vernova and BHEL.

PM Modi Announces Saptadhara Reforms: AI Skilling for 1 Crore Youth, 100 GW Nuclear Target by 2047

On the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi unveiled a seven-point reform framework called 'Saptadhara' covering manufacturing, agriculture, tech, defence, green economy, and soft power. He announced AI skilling for 1 crore youth in mission mode, free online coaching via DPI, and warned against 'dimagi Naxals' – ideological Maoists influencing policymaking. This speech directly addresses GenZ employment anxieties and national security threats.

MoD Signs ₹1,577 Cr Contracts for Loiter Munitions Under 'Buy Indian' Category

The Ministry of Defence has awarded contracts worth ₹1,577 crore to TASL and NIBE for 84 loiter munition systems with 840 munitions, boosting the Indian Army's precision-strike capability up to 100 km. This procurement under the 'Buy Indian' category with 60% indigenous content is a major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

INS Nipun Commissioned: Indian Navy's 2nd Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel Enhances Submarine Rescue Capability

INS Nipun, the Indian Navy's second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, was commissioned at Mumbai. Built indigenously by HSL, it enhances India's submarine rescue, deep-sea diving, and salvage capabilities, marking a step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.