Current Affairs - Defence

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron, comprising INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi, made a port call at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Thailand. This visit is significant as it coincides with the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation and highlights India’s efforts to enhance maritime engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. The port call involved professional interactions, joint naval exercises, sports events, and yoga sessions with the Royal Thai Navy. Such engagements strengthen bilateral naval cooperation and align with India’s MAHASAGAR vision, reinforcing collaborative maritime security and regional partnerships ahead of India assuming the IONS Chair in 2026.

Ravi Shankar Chhabi, a 2007-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on central deputation. This key appointment, approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs, allows him to strengthen national-level internal security leadership. Prior to this, he served as DIG (Public Grievances) at the Uttar Pradesh DGP Headquarters, gaining experience in citizen-centric policing and administrative reforms. His diverse operational roles, including district policing, women's safety initiatives, prison administration, and election duties, equip him to handle strategic responsibilities in India’s premier paramilitary force.

Uttarakhand has partnered with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to strengthen healthcare delivery in remote and strategically important border areas through the Swasth Seema Abhiyan. The initiative focuses on providing integrated primary healthcare services to 108 border villages across Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts. Under the agreement, ITBP will deploy trained medical and paramedical staff, use telemedicine facilities, and manage medical supplies, while the state government will ensure equipment support and emergency evacuation. The programme aims to improve health outcomes, build trust among border communities, and support long-term development and stability in frontier regions.

Mumbai served as the venue for the joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances response drill conducted by the Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard. The exercise was held onboard the pollution response vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari and focused on improving preparedness against chemical spills at sea. It aimed to strengthen operational coordination, interoperability, and emergency response capabilities between the two nations. The drill also reflected the growing maritime cooperation between India and Japan, underlining their shared commitment to environmental protection, maritime safety, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Nagpur emerged as a key centre for defence manufacturing with the inauguration of a fully automated 30 mm ammunition facility at Solar Defence & Aerospace. The event highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening indigenous defence production and promoting self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Defence Minister stressed the goal of increasing private sector participation to over 50 percent to transform India into a global defence manufacturing hub. The occasion also reflected India’s changing defence posture, symbolized by the export of Pinaka rocket systems, signalling a shift from arms import dependence to export capability.