News In Shorts

• It is an indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system.
• Developed by: DRDO in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• Capabilities: Highly mobile and agile with a range of around 30 km.
• Integration: Works alongside MR-SAM, Akash, Spyder, and Sudarshan S-400 systems.
• Deployment: To be stationed along western and northern borders once approved.

Indian Army initiated procurement of indigenously developed SAKSHAM (Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft and Hard Kill Assets Management) Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid System.

About SAKSHAM System

• It is a modular, high-end Command and Control (C2) system operating on the secure Army Data Network (ADN).
• It can detect, track, identify, and neutralise hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems in real time, ensuring comprehensive airspace security across the newly defined Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS).
  • TBS is a domain extending up to 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above ground level.
• Developed in collaboration with the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

After suspected Russian drone incursions in Denmark, the European Union has started efforts towards building a ‘drone wall’. 

About Drone Wall

• An artificial intelligence (AI)-based multilayered drone defence system called Eirshield, an anti-drone platform. 
• Designed to work on fast-flying unmanned targets carrying warheads.
• Provides early warning, real-time threat detection, and intelligence against drone incursions, GPS jamming, and other unconventional attacks.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA).

About SITAA 

• Aim: To strengthen India's digital identity ecosystem and combat emerging security threats such as deepfakes, spoofing, and presentation attacks.   
• Implementing Agency: UIDAI under Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
• Focus Areas: Biometric authentication, AI/ML solutions, data privacy, and advanced biometric security.

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Androth at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

About INS Androth

• It is the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) after INS Arnala.
• These are part of the 8 ASW-SWCs being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata.
• It is named after Androth, the northernmost island of the Lakshadweep group. 
• Capabilities: Maritime Surveillance, Search and Rescue, coastal and anti-submarine defence missions, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).

• Exercise Pacific Reach: It is biennial multinational submarine rescue exercise featuring participation from over 40 nations. 
  • Host: Singapore. 
• KONKAN-25 Exercise: Joint bilateral exercise between Indian Navy and United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. 
• AUSTRAHIND 2025: India-Australia joint annual military exercise. 
• Samudra Shakti Exercise: India-Indonesia joint bilateral maritime exercise.
• JAIMEX -2025: Biennial naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
• Exercise Ocean Sky: Multinational air exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force.
  • This is the first time a non-NATO country (India) is participating in this exercise.