Indian Military's Strategic Shift: Integrating Anti-Drone Systems with Legacy Air Defence and Emphasising Swarm Drone Capability

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.

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.

HAL Partners with Adani Defence & BEML for 90 LCH Fuselage Structures

HAL has signed agreements with Adani Defence Systems and BEML to manufacture 90 fuselage structures for the Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). This marks the first integration of private industry into helicopter fuselage production, significantly boosting India's indigenous aerospace manufacturing capacity and supply chain.

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.

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.

INS Nipun Commissioned: 9,000-tonne Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel Boosts Navy's Submarine Rescue Capability

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class diving support vessel, significantly enhancing deep-sea diving, saturation diving, and submarine rescue capabilities. This 9,000-tonne ship, built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, strengthens the Western Naval Command and supports the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) for crew rescue up to 650 metres. For exam aspirants, this marks a key defence modernization and indigenization milestone.