THE SPOKESPERSON

 A day before, India had conducted an airstrike on Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) camp in Pakistan’s Balakot after crossing the Line of Control (LoC) in a major “non-military pre-emptive action”.  On February 27, a large force of Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft consisting of advanced fourth-generation F-16 and JF-17 was detected heading towards the LoC at around 9.55am. Within minutes, Abhinandan, then a Wing Commander, scrambled to intercept the jets and scanned the low altitude airspace with the airborne intercept (AI) radar of his MiG-21 Bison.  Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemy’s tactics, Abhinandan scanned the low altitude airspace with his airborne intercept (AI) radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter interceptor aircraft," Abhinandan’s citation reads. He alerted the other formation pilots about this surprise threat and gathered his wingman in an offensive formation against the hostile Pa

 One of India's most-wanted designated terrorist has been killed in Pakistan. Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiyaz Alam, the top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed outside a shop in Rawalpindi on Monday evening. Peer was designated as a terrorist by the center in October last year for his role in sending terrorists and providing logistic support for infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. A resident of Babapora, Aloosa village in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, Peer was a hardcore terrorist commander who shifted his base to Pakistan two decades ago.He was considered to be a close confidant of Hizbul Chief Syed Salahuddin. According to Pakistani media reports, motorcycle-borne gunmen fired at Peer from point-blank on Monday evening. He was standing outside a shop in Rawalpindi when he was targeted.As per reports, Peer, who was the launching commander of Hizbul in Pakistan, was playing a key role in recruiting and sending infiltrators and arms and ammunition into Kashmir.

NEW DELHI/BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Germany will pursue a $5.2 billion deal with India to jointly build six conventional submarines in the country during Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Feb. 25-26 visit, two Indian and two German sources said. The naval project is the latest attempt by a Western military manufacturing power to wean New Delhi away from its dependance on Russia for military hardware. India is desperate to replace its ageing submarine fleet, with 11 of its 16 conventional submarines more than two decades old, and as it seeks to counter China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy also has two indigenous nuclear-powered submarines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government wants India to manufacture more weapons at home in collaboration with foreign partners after decades of being one of the world's largest arms importers. The submarine project, for which Germany’s ThyssenKrupp (TKAG.DE) Marine Systems (TKMS) is one of two international bidd

  Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 12 (ANI): The Indian Army on Sunday felicitated two Kashmiri girl students who collaborated in the making of AzaadiSAT satellite launched by the ISRO a few days back, officials said.  From 75 Government schools for girls across India, two girl students, Insha Bilal and Uswa Nazir, from Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Saloora in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir were also given this opportunity. The selected girls were from Classes 11 and 12. The mission was launched with the ambitious vision to encourage Government school students from economically weak backgrounds with a basic understanding and knowledge of space and tutor them to build a small experiment and launch it to the edge of space through “Orbital Satellite.”Space Kidz India (Indian Aerospace Startup) has developed basic and simple experiments that students can learn and assemble with the simultaneous support of their science teachers and SKI team’s onlin

  Lt Gen Manoj Pande Biography: Lieutenant General Manoj Pande has been appointed as the next chief of the Indian Army. He is the first engineer to hold the top military post. He will succeed General Manoj Mukund Naravane, whose tenure is scheduled to be complete on April 30, 2022. Let us read more about Lt Gen Manoj Pande. Lt Gen Manoj Pande Biography:  Lt. Gen. Manoj Pande has been appointed as the next chief of the Indian Army. He succeeded General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who retired on April 30, 2022. He is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The post has previously been occupied by infantry,  armoured , and  artillery  corps. The defence officials told news agency ANI that "The government has decided to appoint Lieutenant General Manoj Pande as the next chief of army staff." Recently, India's new Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande in an interview with ANI news agency said, "We are very clear that

 The Bangladesh Air Force was officially formed on 28 September 1971 consisting of the revolting Bengali officers and airmen of the Pakistan Air Force at Dimapur Airport in the Indian state of Nagaland[8] and it was launched formally by flying three repaired vintage aircraft on 8 October 1971. BAF's initial personnel were around a 1000 Bengali members of the Pakistan Air Force who were stationed in East Pakistan at the outbreak of the war and who deserted to the Bangladeshi side.[9] At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force BAF was formed with less than a hundred officers and around 900 airmen and warrant officers. These numbers were gradually strengthened by the slow but steady defection from among the around 3000 Bengali officers and airmen stationed and grounded in West Pakistan. By the first week of December a total of 700 Bengali officers and airmen had defected from the Western border. A significant number of BAF personnel participated in the Ground Warfare rol

  India has announced its first significant discovery of reserves of lithium, a rare element crucial for manufacturing electric vehicles. The government said on Thursday that 5.9m tonnes of the element had been discovered in Jammu and Kashmir. So far, India has depended on Australia and Argentina for lithium imports. Lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries that power numerous gadgets like smartphones and laptops, as well as electric cars. Experts say that the discovery could aid India's push to increase the number of private electric cars by 30% by 2030, as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions to tackle global warming.The Geological Survey of India found the lithium reserves in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, India's Ministry of Mines said. In 2021, much smaller deposits of lithium were found in the southern state of Karnataka. Earlier, the government had said that it was looking to improve its supply of rare metals needed

  Turkish assistance consisted of 50 MT of medical supplies including 5 oxygen generators, 680 oxygen cylinders, 50 ventilators and 50,000 boxes of anti-viral medicine. The consignments were sent on board two A400M military cargo aircraft. A statement from the Embassy of Turkey informed that Mr. Cavusoglu offered to send the assistance during the telephone conversation held on April 26. “The assistance and contribution of Indian people and the prominent Indian figures like the father of the Indian nation — Mahatma Gandhi who collected funds to support Turkey’s Liberation War between 1919-1923, and Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari who led the medical mission to Ottoman Empire and set up field hospitals to treat wounded Ottoman soldiers during the Balkan War in 1912 are still very much alive in the memories of Turkish people,” a press release from the Embassy of Turkey stated. The first batch of Indian relief material and personnel reached Türkiye in an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 Globem

While India is  known  for its diamond processing and cutting units, in terms of production, it is still far behind.     “Lab-grown diamonds (LGD) is a technology and innovation-driven emerging sector with high employment potential. These environment-friendly diamonds have optically and chemically the same properties as natural diamonds. To encourage indigenous production of LGD seeds and machines and to reduce import dependency, a research and development grant will be provided to one of the IITs for five years,” Sitharaman had said in her budget speech. This is indeed the right time to set up a diamond factory in India, given that diamonds have thermal and electrical properties making it superior to contemporary technologies like silicon, silicon carbide and gallium nitride,” professor V. Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, said in a press statement Thursday. Kamakoti added: “IIT Madras will work towards producing diamond wafers suitable for electronic applications. It is a hist

  Expenditure:   The government proposes to spend Rs 39,44,909 crore in 2022-23, which is an increase of 4.6% over the revised estimate of 2021-22.  In 2021-22, total expenditure is estimated to be 8.2% higher than budget estimate.   Receipts:   The receipts (other than borrowings) in 2022-23 are expected to be to Rs 22,83,713 crore, an increase of 4.8% over revised estimate of 2021-22.  In 2021-22, total receipts (other than borrowings) are estimated to be 10.2% higher than the budget estimates. GDP :  The government has estimated a nominal GDP growth rate of 11.1% in 2022-23 (i.e., real growth plus inflation).   Deficits:   Revenue deficit in 2022-23 is targeted at 3.8% of GDP, which is lower than the revised estimate of 4.7% in 2021-22.  Fiscal deficit in 2022-23 is targeted at 6.4% of GDP, lower than the revised estimate of 6.9% of GDP in 2021-22 (marginally higher than the budget estimate of 6.8% of GDP).  Interest expenditure at Rs 9,40,651 crore is estimat