Highlights: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday issued a strong warning to Pakistan, stating that the "dangerous game" of terrorism it has pursued against India since Independence is now over.
Speaking to naval personnel aboard the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the coast of Goa, Singh said India is fully prepared to adopt measures against terrorism that Pakistan cannot even think of. In a landmark moment, the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune saw its first cohort of 17 women cadets graduate on Friday, alongside more than 300 male cadets. This marks the successful completion of the NDA’s inaugural co-educational batch.
The cadets passed through the symbolic ‘Antim Pag’ at the Khetrpal Parade Ground, a key ceremonial tradition at the tri-service training academy, often referred to as the cradle of military leadership.
These women cadets were admitted to the NDA's 148th course in 2022 after a Supreme Court directive in 2021 led the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to open applications to female candidates.
India plays a pivotal role in supporting United Nations peacekeeping missions, including efforts to promote accountability for crimes committed against peacekeepers, according to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. Lacroix made the remarks at a press briefing on Thursday, held in observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
He also reflected on his visit to New Delhi earlier this year, where he attended the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers hosted by India on 24–25 February.