Monthly Archives: August 2018

These rifles use a larger cartridge than the 5.56 mm INSAS rifles that were also developed by DRDO about three decades ago

The Border Security Force (BSF) is evaluating a new larger calibre indigenous assault rifle developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), that could replace the existing INSAS rifles as the standard issue weapon.

The border guarding force has asked for 10 Ugram 7.62 mm rifles, along with ammunition, for trials. These rifles use a larger cartridge than the 5.56 mm INSAS rifles that were also developed by DRDO about three decades ago.

The move by the BSF to go in for a larger calibre rifle mirrors a similar move by the Army, which is adopting the Russian origin AK-203 as well as the SIG-716 rifles, which fire the 7,62 mm round.

Larger calibre rounds offer a higher kill probability and also longer range, with the emphasis being on ‘shoot to kill’ rather than on ‘shoot to injure’. This is a departure from the existing philosophy that hinges on the premise that an incapacitated soldier would tie down more soldiers to assist or evacuate him.

Before the induction of INSAS, the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) used the semi-automatic 7.62 mm self-loading rifle and prior to it the 7.62 mm bolt action rifle, the design of which dated back to the pre-World War 2 era. Both these rifles packed a powerful punch.

Developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and a Hyderabad-based firm Dvipa Armour India Private Limited, the Ugram rifle is claimed to be fully indigenous, which if successful, would make it a cost-effective option. It has been designed to meet the Indian Army’s requirements for an assault rifle to replace INSAS.

Besides the armed forces, all CAPFs as well as state police forces widely use INSAS. The combined strength of the armed forces is about 14 lakh and that of CAPFs about 10 lakh, which gives an indication of the number of rifles that could be procured.

The new rifle, unveiled in 2024, will be evaluated for its accuracy, reliability and ruggedness under field conditions. It has an effective range of 500 meters and weighs less than four kgs.

@1The Indian Army is providing food, water, and other relief materials to people affected by flash floods in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir. 

@2BRO battles frequent snowfall to reopen Manali-Leh highway

@3US Military Academy team visits IMA under cadet exchange programme

@4–6 Naxalites killed in encounter with security forces in Jharkhand’s Bokaro

@5 Galwan, Siachen get mobile link as Army boosts Ladakh infra

@6– 6 soldiers injured in road accident in Udhampur  

@7 BSF troops recover three Pak drones, drugs from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur areas

@8 Property tax hike: Federation launches signature drive:

@9 Why India is caught in a Chinese web between Pakistan & Bangladesh

@10 Judiciary vs executive: 2 nations, 1 tense story

@11 Apt response to Pakistan Army Chief,Gen Asim Munir by Indian Army’s Ex Deputy Chief,Lt Gen ZU Shah

@12

The Indian Army is providing food, water, and other relief materials to people affected by flash floods in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir. The floods were triggered by heavy rainfall, landslides, and a hailstorm, impacting National Highway 44 and causing damage to buildings and vehicles. Army personnel are actively involved in rescue operations and distributing aid to stranded individuals. 

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has made considerable progress in clearing snow along the Manali-Leh highway, reaching up to Zingzingbar beyond Darcha in Lahaul and Spiti district. However, frequent snowfall and harsh weather conditions are delaying complete restoration of this…

Dipender Manta

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has made considerable progress in clearing snow along the Manali-Leh highway, reaching up to Zingzingbar beyond Darcha in Lahaul and Spiti district. However, frequent snowfall and harsh weather conditions are delaying complete restoration of this crucial route, which connects Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh.

Traditionally, the Manali-Leh highway is opened to traffic by late April, with last year’s reopening recorded on April 23. This year, however, BRO officials anticipate delay owing to prolonged winter conditions and fresh snowfall that continue to hamper snow-clearing efforts.

The 70 Road Construction Company (RCC) unit of the BRO has deployed 12 heavy machines and is pushing forward aggressively from the Darcha side. They have managed to clear snow up to Zingzingbar — a location roughly 12 kilometres short of the formidable 15,910-foot-high Baralacha La. From this point, nearly 57 kilometres of snow-covered road still remains to be cleared before reaching Sarchu, a vital milestone en route Ladakh.

“Due to heavy snow accumulation and ongoing snowfall, daytime temperatures in the region remain well below zero, complicating operations,” said a BRO official. The freezing conditions are not only slowing down machinery but also posing a serious challenge to the personnel engaged in snow-clearing efforts.

On the Ladakh side, Project Himank — another BRO unit — is working from the Sarchu onwards to ensure connectivity from both ends of the highway. This coordinated approach aims to expedite the reopening of this strategically significant route.

Snow clearance along the Manali-Leh highway typically begins in March, starting from Jispa and progressing through Darcha towards Sarchu. This year, however, massive snow walls beyond Darcha and frequent fresh snowfalls have delayed the process.

The Manali-Leh road serves not just as a lifeline for military logistics but is also a major artery for local transportation and tourism. With continued efforts from both the 70 RCC and Project Himank teams, officials remain optimistic about reopening the route in the coming weeks depending on the weather conditions.

Besides fostering strategic ties, the exchange programme enables cadets to learn about each other’s military systems, structural hierarchy, training methods and philosophies

As part of Indo-US defence cooperation, a delegation from the United States Military Academy (USMA) visited the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, under a week-long cadet exchange programme.

A three-member team comprising one officer and two cadets from USMA engaged in various training events at the IMA and were given a glimpse of the modern training infrastructure and facilities at the Indian Army’s premier pre-commission training institution.

Established in 1802, USMA is located at West Point in New York and is the oldest of the five American service academies that educates and trains cadets for service as commissioned officers in the US Army.Unlike the IMA, which conducts an 18-month training programme for direct entry cadets and a 12-month course for those who come through the National Defence Academy, the USMA offers a four-year course after which the cadets are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree.

The IMA was established in 1932 during the British era and besides Indian cadets, it also trains cadets from friendly foreign countries. Over the years, more than 30 countries have sent their cadets to the IMA.

Besides fostering strategic ties, the exchange programme enables cadets to learn about each other’s military systems, structural hierarchy, training methods and philosophies. It also gives cadets an insight into different cultures, traditions and ways of life and helps build cross-cultural bonds and friendships.

Besides cadet exchange at service training academies, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) also has an annual youth exchange programme, under which members of youth organisations of several countries, including the US, visit each other. The NCC hosts foreign cadets every year during the national Republic Day camp in New Delhi.

Two INSAS rifles, a self-loading rifle and a pistol seized

Six Naxals were killed in an encounter with CoBRA commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police in Bokaro district of Jharkhand on Monday morning, officials said.

The troops of 209 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) conducted the operation in which six Naxals were killed and two INSAS rifles, a self-loading rifle (SLR)and a pistol were seized, the officials said.

The exchange of fire, which started around 5.30 am in Lugu Hills of the Lalpania area of the district, is still going on, they said.

No injuries have been reported among the security personnel, they said.

The CoBRA is the special jungle warfare unit of the CRPF.

In a step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering remote communities, the Army has facilitated mobile connectivity across the remote and high-altitude areas of Ladakh, including forward locations in Eastern Ladakh, Western Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier. “For the…

In a step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering remote communities, the Army has facilitated mobile connectivity across the remote and high-altitude areas of Ladakh, including forward locations in Eastern Ladakh, Western Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier.

“For the first time ever, troops deployed in some of the world’s most inhospitable terrains—such as Daulat Beg Oldi, Galwan, Demchok, Chumar, Batalik, Dras, and the Siachen Glacier—now have access to reliable 4G and 5G mobile connectivity. This initiative has proved to be a major morale booster for soldiers serving in isolated winter cut-off posts at altitudes above 18,000 feet, allowing them to stay connected with their families and loved ones,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said in a statement.

He informed that the pioneering effort has been made possible through a collaborative approach under the Whole-of-Government framework, wherein the Indian Army— leveraging its robust optical fibre cable infrastructure — has partnered with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the administration of Ladakh. The Fire and Fury Corps has played a leading role in enabling this synergy, resulting in the installation of multiple mobile towers on Army infrastructure, including four key towers in Ladakh and Kargil districts alone.

“The impact of this initiative extends far beyond troop welfare. It is a significant nation-building endeavour that is transforming the socio-economic fabric of remote border villages. By integrating ‘first villages’ into the national digital network, this effort is bridging the digital divide, boosting local economies, promoting border tourism, enhancing medical aid and emergency services, enabling educational access, strengthening local commerce, preserving cultural heritage and arresting migration from border villages” the spokesperson said.

A particularly historic milestone was the successful installation of a 5G mobile tower on the Siachen Glacier—the highest battlefield in the world—showcasing India’s technological prowess and resolve.

The accident occurs near Chopra market in the town when a bus carrying the soldiers was on its way to a nearby campPTI

Six Army personnel were injured as their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a roadside ditch in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Sunday, officials said.

The accident occurred near Chopra market in the town, 65 km from Jammu, when a bus carrying the soldiers was on its way to a nearby camp, the officials said.

They said a rescue operation was immediately launched and the injured soldiers were rushed to hospital.

Continuing its campaign against narco-drones, vigilant BSF troops today recovered three Pakistani drones and a consignment of narcotics from the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. A search operation by BSF troops, conducted on the basis of specific…

Continuing its campaign against narco-drones, vigilant BSF troops today recovered three Pakistani drones and a consignment of narcotics from the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur.

A search operation by BSF troops, conducted on the basis of specific information, culminated in the recovery of one DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone in damaged condition at about 11:50 am from a harvested field adjacent to village Rajatal in Amritsar.

In another instance, based on the disclosure of a smuggler apprehended last week, a joint search by the BSF in collaboration with Punjab Police led to the recovery of a packet containing suspected heroin (gross weight 545 gram) today at about 3:05 pm, from a harvested field adjacent to village Dal in Tarn Taran district.

Yet another DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone was recovered by the BSF troops at about 3:30 pm today, on the basis of specific inputs, from a field adjacent to village Gatti Rajoke in Ferozepur district.

The third DJI Mavic-3 Classic drone was recovered today at about 6 pm from a farming field adjacent to village Daoke in Amritsar district.All these drones are presumed to have crashed due to technical counter-measures deployed on the border.

The Chandigarh Residents Associations Welfare Federation (CRAWFED) today launched a signature campaign against the three-fold hike in property tax rates. A decision to launch the campaign was taken in the executive committee meeting of the federation held in the Sector…

The Chandigarh Residents Associations Welfare Federation (CRAWFED) today launched a signature campaign against the three-fold hike in property tax rates.

A decision to launch the campaign was taken in the executive committee meeting of the federation held in the Sector 21 Community Centre. The federation has more than 86 Residents Welfare Associations of the city. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), was the chief guest on the occasion.

Hitesh Puri, president of CRAWFED, requested Sandhu to help residents by getting the property tax hike notification annulled. He said 80%of population of the city was salaried class or pensioners.

The federation submitted a memorandum to Sandhu appealing him to take up the matter with the relevant ministries and departments, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The federation raised various issues before Sandhu, which included regularisation of need-based changes in CHB flats, reservation in jobs and education for Chandigarh natives, arbitrary increase in taxes and penalties by the Chandigarh Administration, restrictions on the share-wise sale of residential properties due to heritage claims, non-payment of park maintenance funds to RWAs, and MC’s proposal to hike community centre booking charges.

Sandhu assured the members that he would take up their concerns at the highest levels and emphasised his commitment to the welfare of the city residents.

Arun Kumar Verma, Director of Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), also attended the meeting. He informed the gathering about the initiatives the company has; taken since taking the reins of the electricity distribution and retail supply operations in the city.

He said a comprehensive survey and assessment of all grid substations and 192 indoor substations was carried out. An infrastructure maintenance campaign was launched to fortify the power network ahead of the peak summers. He said a round-the-clock helpline, reachable at 924021666, has been fully operational since February 1.

The privatisation of the Electricity Department would not impact tariffs, as these would continue to be regulated by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission. The CPDL has slashed the time for releasing new power connections to just three days — provided no additional infrastructure is needed. The company has also replaced 2,541 defective meters, said Verma.