General Dwivedi had handpicked Baldev Singh and assigned him specialist duties in the Battalion’s signal platoon
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s comrade-in-arms Baldev Singh, a soldier of his battalion, who died in line of duty while he was posted at Siachen Glacier was today given an emotional farewell.
Naib Subedar Baldev Singh passed away yesterday. The Army Chief was at the Shraddhanjali Sthal, Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt, to lay a wreath on his body today, making it not merely a ceremonial gesture, but a heartfelt farewell.
The body of the soldier has been sent to his native place Sirsa, Haryana, for the last rites. The family of the deceased soldier includes mother Rachna Kaur, brother Hardev Singh, wife Gurvinder Kaur and two children — Upraj Singh (13) and Manreet Kaur (8).
Baldev Singh was enrolled into the of 18th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (18 JAK RIF) in 2002 during Operation Rakshak in Kashmir Valley. He first came in contact with General Dwivedi in October 2003, when the latter was a Colonel and commanding his battalion. General Dwivedi handpicked Singh and assigned him specialist duties in the Battalion’s signal platoon.
In the Indian Army, command of battalion is done by an officer when he/she is at the level of Colonel – or about 36-38 years of age. General Dwivedi is now almost 61 year of age.
Being in the signals platoon, responsible for all communication of the battalion, Baldev Singh often accompanied his Commanding Officer (General Dwivedi) to numerous operations.
Last year he was promoted as Naib Subedar, and like all senior officers, General Dwivedi kept in touch with his battalion.
The Indian Army said it stands in steadfast solidarity with the bereaved family during this hour of grief.
Message as received from HQs Trh Cmd 👇🏼👇🏼
Jaihind Sir
Reporting Unusual Incident Involving Officers in Bengaluru Area.
For info pls..
A man was arrested in connection with an incident in which a 40-year-old IAF officer was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a group of Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning. The police…
A man was arrested in connection with an incident in which a 40-year-old IAF officer was allegedly assaulted and verbally abused by a group of Kannada-speaking individuals who chased him on a bike in Bengaluru early Monday morning. The police have termed it a case of road rage.
The accused, Vikas Kumar, works as a team head at a software company’s call centre, they added. According to the police, both parties attacked each other.
Purported videos showed the IAF officer, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose, roughing up the accused and creating a scene in public. The officer was seen arguing with Kumar and hitting him, even as his wife tried to stop him.
The incident occurred while the officer was on his way to the airport with his wife, who is also an IAF officer.
Based on a complaint by the officer’s wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, a case was registered.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Devaraj D said: “This is a case of road rage. An altercation took place, and both sides attacked each other. The accused has been taken into custody.” CCTV footage and videos recorded by bystanders suggested that the conflict could have been avoided, he added.
SAT APR 19. 2025 MISSISSAGUA ,ON, CANADA.
ONTARIO VETERANS ASSOCIATION HONOURING ALL VETERANS ABOVE 90 YEARS OF AGE WITH A GIFT–SEIKO KENTIC WRIST WATCH DURING THE MEET. I WAS ALSO AMONG THREE LUCKY ONES TO RECIVE THE GIFT FROM THE ONTARIO VETERANS ASSOC (OVA) CHAIRMAN BRIG NAWAB SINGH HEER , VETERAN.
THANKS OVA.
Attended a lec conducted by Brig Akhil Kr Singh, c/o AHQ Pay Commission Cell yesterday at Southern Star Auditorium
Some highlights
Notification for 8th CPC Committe likely by next week.
Report submission likely between Jun to Sep 2026. May be implemented by Govt by Jan 2027 with impl from Jan 2026.
Fitment factor based in present inflation and CPI matrix likely to be 1.91 (min pay 34k approx). For more fitment factor inflation should rise upto Dec 2025.
Similar fitment factor of 1.91 for MSP and Allces.
Channel of Projection of Agenda Points by Services to 8th CPC
APCC/NPCC/AFPCC ▶ Tri Services Committe▶Principal Staff Cimmittee▶COSC▶DMA▶8th Pay Commission Committee
Some Key Issues likely to be taken Up before the 8th CPC
• Auto credit of Luggage claim and CEA based on Part 2 order. No claim reqmt.
• Enhancement of Lve accumulation limit betn 400 to 500 days as agreeable by triservices
• Air Travel On LTC for JCOs
• AC CHT for all offrs
• Assured Pension for SS offrs in line with civil counterparts akin to NPS/UPS
• MSP for JCO to be more than or equal to MNS
• X1 and X2 group to be merged for JCO/ORs. Addl cadres to be upgraded from Y to X
• Allces to be in line with Gp A services based on geographical loc
• Best beneficial Auto pay fixation without opting for it by the employee
• Concessional air travel through Form D
• Mental Stress factor to be incl in a separate allce or in R&H allce even if indl posted in peace stn but committed in activities causing stress like flood relief ops, cas evac ops, HADR ops etc.
• Cadre review after every five years akin to civilians
• Assured prom for select Col to Brig
• Same retirement age for offrs across all three services.
Dear Brig Varma,
Thank you for forwarding the update on 8th CPC from Brig Akhil Kumar Singh, the horse’s mouth of Deputy Chairman of Army Pay Commission Cell, who briefed the officers in Souther Comd HQ on 20 Apr 2025..
The Army Pay Cell is generally headed by a Maj Gen of EME.
Deputy is a Brigadier and he has two Colonels in the team and many support staff of JCOs /OR generally from clerical cadre. They operate from Sena Bhavan.
I and Col Ajit Singh Rana met the 7th CPC chairman Maj Gen (Later Lt Gen & DG EME) Kapil Agarwal and his Deputy Brig JK Rao from Engrs in 2016.
Though Tri Services Pay Commission cell makes a lot of demands on the 8th CPC, most of them are whittled down citing financial crunch.
If our Take Home Pension is 15% in Jan 2026 in 8th CPC is more than what is our Take Home Pension in Dec 2025, we should consider ourselves lucky.
Do not forget higher the Fitment Factor, higher is the pension and the Hon’ble Finance Minister will put her hand into our pockets and take away 15 to 20% as Income tax as most of us are in the highest income tax bracket. I suspect the IT rates in Fin Yr 2026-27 (to be announced on 01 Feb 2026) will be much higher than in Fin yr 2025-26. We will cough out more income Tax in Fin Yr 2026-27.
I have always maintained the demand of Central Govt Employee Unions for Fitment Factor of 2.86 from 8th CPC is far fetched. I quoted the remarks of Mr Subhash Chandra Garg, IAS (Retd), former Finance Secretary, who oversaw the 7th CPC. He said Fitment Factor of 2.86 of the Central Govt Employee Unions is like asking for the moon. His estimate is Fitment Factor is likely to be in the rage of 1.94 to 2.10.
Whatever may be the recommendation of the 8th CPC, finally it is the babus of Min of Fin who have the last laugh on 8th CPC.
I took Fitment Factor of 8th CPC in all my estimates as 1.94, 2.00 and 2.11.
I do agree it is better to peg our expectations around Fitment Factor of 1.91 as indicated by Dy Chairman of Army Pay Commission Cell.
The Fitment Factor is mostly dependent upon the DR in Jan 2026 before the implementaton of 8th CPC.
Unfortunately, the DR is dropping to very low figure of 1 or 2% every six months due to reduction in food inflation. DR in the period of Jan to Jun is only 55%. In that case the DR in Jul to Dec 2025 can be 1 or 2% more i.e. 1.56 to 1.57 (from 1.55 of Jan to Jun 2025) and in the period of Jan to Mar 2026 may be 1.58 to 1.59. I do not visualise DR going upto even 60 %.
On the other hand, the DR in Jan 2016 before implementation of 7th CPC was 125%. We are not in Jan 2026 to be likely to be even 50% of that now. That means the protected pay was 2.25 (1 + 1.25) in Jan 2016. The 7th CPC has to recommend Fitment factor close to 2.25 i.e. 2.57. The real increase in pay was only 14.20% from what was drawn in Dec 2015.
The Govt of India, in my view seeing the likely reaction of Govt employees may go for Fitment Factor at 2.00 or even may be 2.10.
What we have to understand the Central Govt Employees drawn allowances like HRA, City Compensatory Allce, Children Edn Allowance and host of other allowances including CGHS free medical care. So the Finance Ministry babus add and recommend to 8th CPC to keep the Fitment Factor around 1.91 as assessed by the Dy Chairman of Army Pay Cell.
We have to consider another factor.
The people have lost the ability to spend due to all round inflation. Many of the companies are showing negative profits as people do not have money buy new things. That forced the Hon’ble Finance Minister to reduce the Income Tax rates much lesser than what was in Fin Yr 2024-26. Her expectatioin is if she puts in more money into pockets of people they are likely to spend with that extra money saved due to reduced IT.
I have seen officers will save Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per month in Fin yr 2025-26. This will tempt them to spend more and Govt of India will collect good GST on our spends.
Bad economics at times is good Politics.
The demand of merger of DA when it crosses 50% with basic pay is a good suggestion. It was placed before 7th CPC too but was not accepted by the 7th CPC.
Demand of periodicity of CPC be 5 years (in stead of 10 years) like in may State Govts if accepted is good.
The minimum pay of lowest grade employee is Rs 18,000 in 7th CPC on Jan 2016 based on the DR of 125% in Jan 2016 before implementation of 7th CPC. The same in 8th CPC is dependent upon the DR in Dec 2025 and estimated in Jan to Mar 2026 before implementation of 8th CPC.
My estimate is the 8th CPC will take minimum 15 months to 18 months to submit their recommendation. The Youtube videos made by Hony Lts / Hony Capt is 200 days. Not possible for any CPC to give its recommendations in such a short time.
Most of the time the 8th CPC will spend in hearing the representation of hundreds of Central Govt Employee Unions and even State Govt officials.
Then examination of each demand and seeing the viability needs a lot of time as any suggestion means more money.
The Secretary Expenditure in Min of Fin is the Ex- Officio of the 8th CPC who keeps advising the CPC how much to give in and how much to reject. It is all money Honey as the Americans say.
In my estimate the earliest the 8th CPC may submit report is Apr 2025 + 15 months = Jul 2026. The Govt of India takes minimum three to six months. We are not likely in my estimate to see the Circular from Min of Def /PCDA (Pensions) to come before Oct 2026 to Dec 2026.
Generally the arrears of 8th CPC are paid as per judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of IESM Vs UOI is all family pensioners and those above 70 years will get he entire arrears in one go. Those who are younger will get in three instalments with gap between instlments being three months.
I have made some back of envelope calculations on the likely increase in pension in 8th CPC. The same is attached.
As a Brigadier with your basic pension being Rs 1,16,550 pm, my guess is you will get Rs 18,200 to Rs 19,600 over what you are likely to get in Dec 2025. This with very low DR of 1% increase in Jul to Dec 2025 and in Jan to Mar 2026 and with very low fitment factor of 1.91.
But my gut feeling is the Fitment Factor is likely to be 2.00.
warm regards,
Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)
75695 13350
A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates to participate in Exercise Desert Flag-10, a premier multinational air combat exercise hosted by the UAE Air Force.
The IAF is fielding its MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter aircraft for this exercise, which is scheduled to take place from April 21 to May 8, 2025. Exercise Desert Flag-10 brings together air forces from Australia, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the UAE, making it a significant platform for international military collaboration.
The primary aim of Desert Flag-10 is to undertake complex and diverse fighter engagements, facilitating the exchange of operational knowledge and best practices among some of the world’s most capable air forces.
This environment allows participating nations to enhance their air combat skills, improve interoperability, and strengthen mutual understanding. The exercise is designed to foster operational coordination and tactical exchange, ultimately contributing to greater military cooperation and joint response capabilities in the face of evolving global security challenges.
India’s participation in Desert Flag-10 underscores its commitment to strengthening defence ties and interoperability with friendly nations in the region and beyond. The IAF’s involvement not only highlights India’s growing profile in multinational defence initiatives but also serves as a testament to the country’s dedication to contributing to regional and global security frameworks.
The India-UAE defence relationship has seen steady growth, characterized by regular high-level exchanges, functional collaborations, and military education initiatives. Both countries hold an Annual Defence Dialogue and have established mechanisms such as the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) and Naval Staff Talks to identify and expand areas of cooperation.
The posting of a permanent resident Defence Adviser in the UAE since March 2013 has further strengthened bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in defence training and regular exchange programmes. Recent years have witnessed positive developments in defence, security, and energy cooperation, bolstered by high-level visits and sustained diplomatic engagement.
The IAF’s participation in Exercise Desert Flag-10 not only enhances its operational capabilities but also reinforces India’s strategic partnerships and defence diplomacy in the region. This engagement is a clear indicator of India’s proactive approach to fostering international military collaboration and readiness.
The chopper made an emergency landing around 11 am on the outskirts of Changa village near Rangmati Dam, about 22 km from the Jamnagar Air Force Station
A helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing near a dam in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district on Monday, police said.
While it was not immediately known how many personnel were on board, Superintendent of Police Premsukh Delu confirmed that no one was injured.
According to the local police, the chopper made an emergency landing around 11 am on the outskirts of Changa village near Rangmati Dam, about 22 km from the Jamnagar Air Force Station.
Delu said, “The IAF helicopter made an emergency landing due to some issues near Rangmati Dam. No one was injured in the incident.”
IAF officials rushed to the spot and started an investigation, police told reporters. The IAF has not issued any official statement as yet
Delegation of leaders, councillors urges Guv to roll back hike
Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra and Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla have claimed that the residents will soon get relief over the increased property tax rates.
The leaders made this claim after holding a meeting with Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria at the Raj Bhawan today. The delegation comprising Malhotra, Mayor, all BJP councillors and other senior leaders of the party raised the issue of steep hike in the property tax rates at the meeting.
Malhotra said they requested the Governor to roll back the property tax hike. The Governor has given a positive response and they are expecting that an announcement would be made within two or three days, he said, adding that the delegation was sure that the residents will get relief.
The delegation underlined that the property tax hike had led to public outrage and put an unjustified financial burden on the residents.
The hike was previously rejected in the Municipal Corporation’s General House meeting on February 17 amid strong opposition by the elected councillors.
Despite the agenda having been rejected in the House, the Chandigarh Administration went ahead with the tax revision, ignoring the democratic process and elected representatives. The BJP leaders stated that such unilateral actions were unacceptable and had created resentment among the residents.
The delegation submitted a memorandum to the UT Administrator urging him to withdraw the hike.
Malhotra said the BJP was committed to safeguarding the interests of the residents. The hike does not align with the current needs and circumstances of the city’s population. Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla stated that the issue had been raised multiple times within the Municipal Corporation, and today, the party formally put up its concern before the Administrator.
City BJP vice-presidents Ramveer Bhatti and Raj Kishore were also part of the delegation. The leaders claim that Kataria assured them that the matter would be given a serious consideration.
Meanwhile, Malhotra criticised the stand of the Congress on the issue. He said, “A healthy democracy welcomes criticism. But, it should be free from political motives and more focused on working for the public welfare. He said the Congress seems to be solely focused on holding protests, rather than engaging in a developmental dialogue.”
Kataria invites ex-Mayors to discuss MC issues
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Katraia has invited former Mayors (past 10 years) of Chandigarh to hold discussions over MC issues on Tuesday. Sources said the Governor was likely to seek their suggestions on how to improve the financial condition of the civic body. The meeting is being held at a time when all councillors are opposing the three-fold increase in the property tax rates.
Eight Naxals, including top Naxal leader Vivek, aka Prayag Majhi, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites, were killed in an encounter with a joint team of the Jharkhand Police and the CRPF in…
Eight Naxals, including top Naxal leader Vivek, aka Prayag Majhi, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites, were killed in an encounter with a joint team of the Jharkhand Police and the CRPF in the foothills of Lugu hill in Bokaro district of the tribal state on Monday morning.
Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the efforts of the police. “Today security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, eight Maoists were neutralised,” the Home Minister said in a post on X, adding, “Applaud our security forces.”
Among the eight Naxals neutralised in the operation, were three high-profile individuals with bounties of Rs 1 crore, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
