Page 3 - Indian Army

Op Sindoor guided by strength of principles, technology, says Army chief

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said India fought with the combined strength of principles and technology during Operation Sindoor and did not target civilians or military installations in Pakistan. Speaking to reporters in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district, Gen Dwivedi asserted that India only destroyed terrorist infrastructure in the neighbouring country. In response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. "Operation Sindoor was successful because we fought with the combined strength of our principles and technology. We made it a point that no innocent civilians in Pakistan suffered. We only targeted terrorists and their bosses," the Army chief said. All citizens should work for nation building to achieve the target of Viksit Bhara

Warfare rapidly becoming non-kinetic, non-contact: Army Chief Gen Dwivedi

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Friday said warfare is increasingly becoming "non-kinetic and non-contact" and therefore demands a response that requires military strength, intellectual prowess and moral preparedness. In his address at an event held here at Manekshaw Centre to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he also said that youths need to have a role in various fields, including think-tanks, laboratories and the battlefield. Union minister Kiren Rijiju also addressed the gathering of army officials, students and defence experts at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue: Young Leaders Forum hosted by the Army and defence think-tank Centre for Land Warfare Studies. In his keynote address, the Army chief emphasised the evolving nature of warfare and the responses needed in this scenario. He said, "Warfare is increasingly becoming non-kinetic and non-contact," and, therefore, the response demands military strength, intellectual prowess and moral preparedness.

Northern army commander witnesses 'AstraShakti' exercise underway in Ladakh

Northern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, on Thursday witnessed 'Exercise AstraShakti' in the icy heights of the high-altitude areas of the Union Territory of Ladakh, officials said. The AstraShakti exercise is currently underway as a validation of long-range precision artillery firepower, swarm drones, counter-unmanned aerial surveillance systems, commando operations, and synergy with the ITBP in the icy expanse and high-altitude areas of Ladakh. "Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander Northern Command, witnessed Exercise AstraShakti a thunderous validation of long-range precision artillery firepower, swarm drones, counter-UAS systems, commando ops, and synergy with the ITBP in the icy expanse and high-altitude areas of Ladakh, the Northern Command said in a post on X. The theatre-level integrated firing embodied seamless synergy, surveillance fusion, force preservation, and multi-domain dominance, it added. "It symbolised the readiness, innovation, and indomitable

India, China agree to maintain peace, stability along LAC in eastern Ladakh

The Indian and Chinese militaries held a fresh round of high-level military talks focusing on maintaining peace and security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The Chinese defence ministry stated this on Wednesday. It said the 23rd round of Corps Commander-level talks were held on the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on the Indian side of the frontier on October 25. "The two sides engaged in active and in-depth communication on the management of the western section of the China-India border," it said in a readout. There is no official word from Indian officials on the meeting. The Chinese defence ministry said the two sides decided to maintain communication and dialogue as decided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "They agreed to continue communication and dialogue through military and diplomatic channels under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and jointly safeguard peace a

Olympian Neeraj Chopra conferred honorary Lt Colonel rank in Indian Army

Neeraj Chopra's association with the Indian Army began in August 2016 when he was inducted as a Naib Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles regiment

Centre approves procurement proposals worth ₹79,000 crore for armed forces

The Defence Acquisition Council has cleared procurement proposals, including purchases of missiles, ships, torpedoes, and advanced surveillance systems, to boost India's defence capability

Indian Army to deploy first Bhairav battalion on Nov 1: DG Infantry

While highlighting the role of the Bhairav Battalion, the DG mentioned that the Indian Army is also raising Ashni (fire) platoons in its infantry battalions, responsible for drone operations

Army's northern command sets new level of readiness in multi-domain warfare

A tri-service multi-domain exercise was conducted under the aegis of the Army's northern command headquarters, with new lessons, improved reflexes, and the setting of new benchmarks in preparedness for next-generation conflicts, a defence spokesperson said here on Saturday. The exercise, over four days, challenged commanders, staff, and troops with futuristic threats in cyber, space, electromagnetic, and cognitive domains, he said. Central Armed Police Forces, sister services, central government agencies, and private sector players participated jointly, underscoring the importance of an integrated and whole-of-nation approach to the continuously evolving security landscape, the spokesperson added. He said the participation of indigenous defence industry players set a new benchmark for achieving jointness, aatmanirbarta (self-reliance), and innovation. During the exercise, troops deployed in the forward areas practised in situations like cyber intrusion, spectrum saturation, electro

COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi meets Ethiopian general to boost defence ties

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi interacted with General Alemshet Degife Balcha, Chief of Land Force & Military Advisor of Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the UNTCC Conclave and held discussions on enhancing defence cooperation along with capacity-building.In a post on X on Friday, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army stated that the meeting between the leaders reflected the shared commitment to fostering stronger defence ties and enhancing cooperation in training, peacekeeping and defence capacity-building."On the sidelines of #UNTCC2025, #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS, interacted with General Alemshet Degife Balcha, Chief of Land Force & Military Advisor, Ethiopia. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in training, peacekeeping and defence capacity-building. The meeting reflected the shared commitment of both nations towards fostering stronger defence ties and promoting regional peace and ...

3 soldiers injured as terrorists open fire on Army camp in Assam's Tinsukia

Three Army personnel were injured when unidentified terrorists fired at the security force's camp in Kakopathar area in Assam's Tinsukia district early on Friday, a defence spokesperson said. The Army and the police have launched a search operation in the area to arrest the terrorists, he said. Around 12.30 am, unidentified terrorists fired at the Kakopathar Company location from a moving vehicle. The troops on duty retaliated immediately and effectively took caution to avoid collateral damage to civilian houses in the vicinity, the Army spokesperson said. He said the terrorists fled the spot after carrying out speculative firing using automatic weapons due to retaliation by the army. No major injuries were sustained other than minor abrasions to three personnel. The area has been sanitised and joint searches in coordination with the police are being carried out, the spokesperson added. The area is close to the interstate boundary between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Army sets up new NGV logistics hub in Leh to boost high-altitude readiness

A new generation vehicle logistics hub for the armed forces has come up in Leh, with satellite hubs planned in important border areas, including Kargil, Tangtse, and Nyoma, along the India-Pakistan and the India-China borders in Ladakh. General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, inaugurated the dedicated NGV logistics hub on Thursday, with a defence spokesperson terming the facility a major leap towards enhancing high-altitude operational readiness. This strategic initiative aims to overcome the unique logistics and maintenance challenges of operating modern NGVs in high-altitude areas that can remain inaccessible for up to six months during winters due to extreme terrain and weather conditions, he said. The new facility comprises a centralised and integrated logistics and equipment sustenance system, thereby improving turnaround time, spare availability, and long-term operational sustainability, the spokesperson added. "To anchor this effort

COAS General Dwivedi meets Vietnamese army dy chief to boost defence ties

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations Training and Coordination Conference (UNTCC) in New Delhi

COAS highlights challenges in global peacekeeping amid rising conflicts

Flagging the concern over the global order, General Dwivedi noted that shifting power dynamics are harming the consensus in the United Nations, leading to a lack of cohesive action

War is fought by entire nation, not just armed forces: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Monday asserted 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan in May created a "new matrix of decision and timing in warfare" and insisted a war is not fought by the armed forces alone, but by the entire nation. He said political leaders, diplomats and soldiers all play their respective roles at the time of a war. After Operation Sindoor, which saw Indian armed forces target terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK with precision air strikes, a new normal has emerged -- talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand -- and the country cannot tolerate even the threat of a nuclear attack, General Chauhan affirmed. "Operation Sindoor created a new matrix of decision and timing in warfare. Many challenges still lie ahead for the armed forces. No war is fought by the armed forces alone; the whole nation fights it. Leaders, diplomats and soldiers know their roles," he said addressing students at the 128th Foundation Day celebrations of Scindia School in ...

J&K LG pays tribute to two soldiers martyred during counter-terror ops

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday paid tributes to two soldiers who lost their lives battling extreme weather conditions during counter-terror operations at Kokernag in Anantnag district. The L-G visited the Srinagar-based headquarters of the Army's Chinar Corps at the Badami Bagh Cantonment, and laid floral wreaths on the coffins as a mark of tribute to the fallen soldiers. An official spokesman said Sinha paid homage to Army bravehearts Lance Havildar Palash Ghosh and Lance Naik Sujay Ghosh, who laid down their lives for the nation. The two soldiers made the supreme sacrifice while conducting counter-terror operations in the Kishtwar Range of Kokernag, battling extreme weather conditions. I salute the supreme sacrifice of our Army bravehearts Lance Havildar Palash Ghosh and Lance Naik Sujay Ghosh. The nation shall remain forever grateful for the exemplary valour and selfless service of our soldiers. We stand in solidarity with the families of our marty

Army to revamp fitness norms with new tests for all ranks by 2026

Aiming to bolster combat readiness within its ranks, the Army has decided to recast its physical fitness norms with new prospective guidelines for its personnel -- from Agniveers to topmost officers -- who will have to undergo and clear combined physical tests twice a year, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. So far, officers and men up to the age of 50 had to clear two separate physical tests -- the battle physical efficiency test (BPET) and the physical proficiency test (PPT) every year. And, this meant that the senior-most officers were exempt by age factor. However, as per the revised norms that will come into effect from April 1, 2026, the age limit for the new tests has been raised to 60, they said. The new guidelines, thus, once in place, will apply to everyone from Agniveers to three-star army commanders. In the army, the two tests for individuals will be replaced by combined physical tests, to be held with a half-yearly frequency. "Physical fitness is paramo

Security tightened in J&K's Rajouri after encounter with terrorists

Following the encounter, joint teams from the Police, Army, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area