Defence allocation-7.92% growth over last year estimates
The allocation for Defence in this year’s interim Budget stood at Rs. 3.18 lakh crore and Defence pensions at Rs. 1.12 lakh crore compared to last year’s allocation of Rs. 2.95 lakh crore excluding pensions.
Republic day awards
President Ramnath Kovind conferred the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour on former president Pranab Mukherjee, alongwith social activist Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous), and Assamese musician Bhupen Hazarika (posthumous).
Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)
A top intelligence official dismissed U.S.-based think tank’s report that contends that the Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) was exploiting the growing incidents of violence against Muslims in India and attacks in the name of “cow vigilantism” to recruit cadres.
Exercise Sea Vigil- Largest coastal security drill
Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, India conducted its largest coastal defence drill, Exercise Sea Vigil, to test its preparedness along the entire 7,516.6 km-long-coastline and exclusive economic zone of the country.
Operation Kabaddi
Recently, two former senior commanders have revealed in a new book- ‘Line on Fire: Ceasefire Violations and India-Pakistan Escalation Dynamics’ that Indian army planned Operation Kabaddi to end cross-LoC infiltration by capturing at least 25 selected Pakistani posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in September 2001.
Light Combat Helicopter
The indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter has crossed a milestone by successfully firing an air-to-air missile at a moving target.
Data interception
Petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the Home Ministry’s order authorising 10 Central agencies for the purposes of “interception, monitoring and decryption of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer”.
U.S.-Taliban talks
The Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, backed the U.S. talks with Taliban to bring stability in Afghanistan as long as there are no preconditions.
Section 66A of IT Act
There are over three years since SC struck down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act as unconstitutional.
Defence manufacturing rules eased
The government issued a notification simplifying the process for approval of manufacturing of a range of defence and aerospace equipment and components by private industry, by bringing them under the licensing authority of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).