Indian Defence Review

The silent heroes of Indian Army

What motivates a soldier to plunge headlong into extreme danger, staking his very life for the sake of regimental pride and honour, while defending the nation? He is buoyed by the knowledge and belief that he can count on his regimental medical officer (RMO) to take care of him, should he sustain injuries. The very...

Drones in Conflict

The ISIS used drones extensively in Iraq-Syria for reconnaissance, surveillance and dropping explosives and mines, inflicting casualties and caution on attacking forces. As early as 2015, Iraqi security forces had reported ISIS using drones in the fight for Ramadi in Iraq’s western Anbar province. Drones loaded with...

India waits for the US-Russia rapprochement

Ever since India became independent in 1947, the structure of international relations has had a profound impact on India’s security and foreign policy. The relations between three big powers, the US, Russia and China have shaped India’s foreign policy choices. In the bipolar era of international politics during the...

India waits for the US-Russia rapprochement

India must support Iran not clerics regime

The Iranian nuclear deal painstakingly scripted by Obama for all practices is, off. The deal came into effect on 18 October 2015 and was implemented on 16 January 2016. The deal as part of Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) involving P 5+1 countries stipulated that Iran would reduce its nuclear stockpile from...

IS Strikes South Asia: Are India and China Next?

After the IS caliphate was decimated, USA and multinational forces including some groups like Kurds supporting them announced victory over Daesh. It was however well anticipated that despite the caliphate being decimated, Daesh will get dispersed itself into smaller fragments and try to merge themselves in the areas...

The silent heroes of Indian Army

Drones in Conflict

INS ‘Vishal’ – next aircraft carrier

Reports in media indicate UK is in talks with the Indian government on building a new state-of-the-art aircraft carrier on the lines of Britain’s HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ as part of ongoing ‘Make in India’ negotiations. The report says that talks are underway for the Indian Navy to ‘buy’ detailed plans for...

Re-emergence of ISIS: Threat to India

Ever since the rout of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also referred to as Islamic State (IS), a debate has raged in the strategic circles regarding its future. IS not very long ago was the richest and most dreaded global jihadi terror organisation in occupation of vast swaths of real estate, oil fields,...

In Search of a Trigger this Summer

Come summer and coinciding with the “Durbar” move, it has almost become a routine that the Valley is set on fire by the elements inimical to the return of normalcy and peace in Kashmir. Continuation of Kashmir as a conflict zone with disturbed law and order situation suits many vested interests for whom continued...

Beyond Defence Deals: The Alchemy of Elections

There is a consensus that the NDA government (2014-2019) has followed broadly the same path of economic liberalisation as the UPA government during (2004-2014). To be fair to the NDA, they have not whittled down the scope of employment generating programs like MNREGA, which has been the biggest social sector initiative...

Eric Beranger appointed as CEO of MBDA

Eric Beranger is to be MBDA’s new Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1 June 2019, replacing Antoine Bouvier. Over the past 20 years Eric has worked in a number of senior positions in Airbus Defence and Space, and most lately led Global Communications Company OneWeb. Speaking of the news, Eric Beranger said:...

INS Vela: The Fourth Scorpene Class Submarine

Vela, the fourth Scorpene class submarine being constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched on 06 May 2019, by Mrs Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS, Secretary Defence Production, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Vice Admiral AK Saxena, CWP&A was also present...

India’s Defence Forces: A 5 Years Review

Though present dispensation has utilized the available meager resources quiet diligently-achieving far more in much less. Lest we lose sight, it would be very much in context to mention about the presentation made by Vice Chief, Lt Gen Sharad Chand to Parliamentary Committee last year. In which, he had expressed an...

Jammu and Kashmir: Security policy of the incoming government

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA government is poised to begin its second consecutive term in office with a...

Post Balakot: Building Nation’s Nuclear Resilience

February 26, 2019 Indian Air Force hit Terrorist training camps at Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunwa region....

General Elections: Unsavoury incidents tarnishing image of Armed Forces

Exercising their voting rights has emerged as yet another challenge that the soldiers of the nation face in their day to day existence. One remembers that during army service one did not get to vote at all since the process of getting voter cards made and then getting the ballot papers was simply not tenable. The Constitution gives soldiers freedom to vote as general voters in the place of...

China-Nepal love affair

The deepening of ties between Kathmandu and Beijing is a serious setback for New Delhi. China scored one more goal but it’s difficult to say how far this story will continue. In politics, there is little difference between love and sycophancy — the case of Nepal is...

Jammu and Kashmir is safe and secure assures Army Commander Northern Command

“Indian Army is a very potent, responsive and accountable element of national power. It remains committed to be able to take on any challenge as far as external threats are concerned and similarly take on any internal disturbances when called upon to do so. So, as far as the...

A Truce that was not to be

One of the strangest characters who appeared on the political scene after India’s Independence was VK Krishna Menon. PK Banerjee, the Indian chargé d’affaire in Beijing in 1962, who often encountered the arrogant politician, wrote in his memoirs: “Krishna Menon’s appearance...

India’s Foreign Policy- Post May 23 2019- Three Scenarios

India’s geopolitical significance rose to unprecedented heights in global strategic calculus under the assertive foreign policy initiatives and formulations of Prime Minister Modi during period 2014-19 coupled with international recognition of India’s pragmatic economic foreign investor-friendly policies. India’s foreign policy bars therefore stand set high not only for possible and favoured return of PM Modi as Prime Minister yet again...