Current Affairs - Defence

INS Androth, India’s second anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, was commissioned on 6 October 2025 at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. Part of the Arnala-class series and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, the ship incorporates over 80% indigenous content, reflecting India’s push for self-reliance in naval defence. Designed for coastal anti-submarine missions, maritime surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations, INS Androth enhances India’s underwater domain awareness and coastal security, contributing strategically to regional stability and the Indian Navy’s operational readiness in littoral waters.

The 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) is being conducted by the Indian Coast Guard off the Chennai coast in Tamil Nadu. This biennial exercise tests India’s preparedness and response capabilities for large-scale marine oil spills, involving multiple national and international stakeholders. Key objectives include evaluating inter-agency coordination, demonstrating technological innovations in pollution control, and strengthening maritime environmental governance. The exercise deploys pollution control vessels, aircraft, and specialised equipment, highlighting India’s commitment to safeguarding its 7,500 km coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone while enhancing global cooperation in marine environmental protection.

Exercise Konkan 2025 is a joint maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, held from 5 to 12 October off India’s western coast. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, enhance maritime security, and reinforce the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under Vision 2035. It involves complex drills, including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, with deployment of aircraft carriers, submarines, and other frontline naval assets from both nations. The UK’s participation underscores its strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and its commitment to regional stability.

Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR-25) was hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy and witnessed the Indian Navy demonstrating its advanced submarine rescue capabilities. This event was particularly significant as it marked the first time India’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) performed a dive outside the Indian Ocean Region. Conducted aboard INS Nistar by the Submarine Rescue Unit (East), the exercise involved multiple successful rescue trials, showcasing India’s operational proficiency and strengthening regional naval cooperation. Singapore’s role as host highlights its strategic position in fostering maritime partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.

Exercise ‘Drone Kavach’ was conducted by the Spear Corps of the Indian Army in the forward areas of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh from September 25 to 28, 2025. The four-day exercise focused on next-generation drone warfare and counter-drone technologies, involving the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). It tested tactical maneuvers, target acquisition, and neutralization techniques, enhancing operational readiness in sensitive border regions. The exercise underscores the Army’s commitment to modernization, technology integration, and preparedness for multi-domain battlefield scenarios, while also reflecting the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh in national defence and security.