On January 16, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Rs 2,960 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for supplying Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) to the Indian Navy.
MRSAM systems, already fitted on several Indian Naval Ships, will also be integrated into most future naval platforms. This contract is a significant step in enhancing India’s defence capabilities and promoting indigenization of military technology. Under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, BDL will supply the missiles with primarily local content, generating around 3.5 lakh man-days of employment in the defence sector, including MSMEs.Click here to read… [2]
On January 16, 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr. John Healey held a telephonic conversation, discussing ongoing defence cooperation and the need to sustain bilateral relations. They reviewed progress in niche defence technologies like Electric Propulsion and jet engines, expressing satisfaction over the recent Statement of Intent on Electric Propulsion. The Ministers also discussed the exchange of military instructors and, with the UK’s increased focus on the Indo-Pacific, agreed to explore joint efforts and enhanced maritime engagements in 2025.Click here to read… [3]
INSMumbai, an indigenously designed guided missile destroyer, is participating in the fourth edition of the Multinational Exercise LA PEROUSE, alongside maritime partners like the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Royal Navy, and US Navy. The exercise focuses on enhancing Maritime Situational Awareness through cooperation in maritime surveillance, interdiction operations, and air operations. It includes complex multi-domain drills such as surface warfare, anti-air warfare, air-defence, cross-deck landings, tactical manoeuvres, and constabulary missions like VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure).
The Indian Navy's participation in the exercise highlights strong synergy, coordination, and interoperability with like-minded navies, reinforcing commitment to a rules-based maritime order. It aligns with India's SAGAR vision to enhance maritime cooperation for a safer and more secure Indo-Pacific region.Click here to read… [4]
INSSarvekshak completed the final phase of a hydrographic survey of Mauritius, covering over 25,000 sq. nautical miles. At a reception ceremony, India's High Commissioner to Mauritius, Shri Anurag Srivastava, handed over the survey fair sheet, new nautical charts, and survey equipment to Mauritius' President, Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool. The new charts will aid Mauritius in developing maritime infrastructure, resource management, and coastal planning.
On January 20, 2025, INSSarvekshak organized a joint India-Mauritius yoga session with the ship’s crew, Mauritius National Coast Guard, and Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture. Capt Tribhuvan Singh also met Mauritius’ Housing Minister, Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed, to discuss the survey operations. The visit reaffirms the strong India-Mauritius partnership, aligned with India’s SAGAR vision.Click here to read… [5]
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a Rs 1,560.52 crore contract with the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), a unit of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), to supply 47 Tank-72 Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs) for the Indian Army.
BLTs are vital for launching bridges during military operations, enhancing the mobility and offensive strength of tank and armoured vehicle fleets. This contract, part of the Buy (Indian) initiative, supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Make-in-India campaign, bolstering the defence sector, economy, and employment opportunities.Click here to read… [6]
Admiral Muhammad Ali, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, is visiting India with President Prabowo Subianto's delegation for the Republic Day Parade 2025. During his visit, he met Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, to discuss enhancing maritime cooperation, including joint initiatives like Exercise Samudra Shakti, operational collaboration, and addressing shared maritime challenges like piracy and illegal activities at sea.
Admiral Muhammad Ali's visit includes engagements at key maritime establishments like the IFC-IOR and WESEE, focusing on regional collaboration and maritime domain awareness. He also visited BrahMos Aerospace to discuss strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. His interactions with the Indian Navy and defence stakeholders reflect a shared commitment to regional cooperation and ensuring a secure maritime environment.Click here to read… [7]
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indonesia Coast Guard (BAKAMLA) renewed their MoU on Maritime Safety and Security Cooperation for three more years during the 2nd High-Level Meeting in New Delhi on January 27, 2025. The meeting, led by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and BAKAMLA Chief Vice Admiral Irvansyah, was attended by an eight-member Indonesian delegation on an official visit from January 24-28, 2025.
Discussions at the 2nd High-Level Meeting focused on enhancing operational collaboration in Maritime Search and Rescue, Pollution Response, and Law Enforcement. Both sides emphasised sharing best practices and maintaining professional exchanges for a safer Indo-Pacific. To strengthen ties, ICG Ship Shaunak is deployed to Jakarta from January 27-30, 2025. The renewed MoU underscores India and Indonesia's commitment to a secure, cooperative maritime environment.Click here to read… [8]
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh urged Chartered Accountants (CAs) to evolve into strategic advisors, ethical guardians, and innovators to remain relevant in today’s technology-driven world. Speaking at the World Forum of Accountants in New Delhi on January 31, 2025, he emphasized the need for new skills like critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. He highlighted the shift from centralized organizations to startups and the rise of transnational trade, noting the complexities and information overload in modern corporate landscapes.
Shri Rajnath Singh praised their dedication to India's growth and encouraged CAs from friendly nations to collaborate with India, highlighting the country's openness to business and willingness to invest in a sustainable future. The three-day event, themed 'Accountability Meets Innovation (AI): For a Sustainable Planet', focuses on topics like the future of finance, sustainable development, AI in accounting, and climate change leadership.Click here to read… [9]
A major breakthrough in Large Area Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) has been achieved at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT Hyderabad. The LAAM system, based on Powder-based Directed Energy Deposition technology, demonstrates the fabrication of rocket components.
The indigenously designed machine, one of India's largest metal additive manufacturing systems, has a build volume of 1m x 1m x 3m. Using Laser and Blown-Powder Direct Energy Deposition technology with dual heads for thermal balancing and speed, it recently achieved a milestone by successfully fabricating a one-meter-high component, advancing the creation of large-sized parts through additive manufacturing. Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, highlighted LAAM’s potential to enable large-scale production of metal parts, fostering growth and innovation in additive manufacturing in India.Click here to read… [10]
On 28 January, Somali army conducted a CT operation and killed 16 al-Shabaab terrorists in the eastern part of Hiiraan region. The army intensified the operation and effectively captured several strategic locations, including Beera Yabaal, Buur Abooto, Eega Galmaay, Jidcilaan, and Cadow Gureey. The army said its ongoing operation aims to fully liberate Somalia from extremist groups and ensure lasting peace and security for Somali citizens. The Horn of Africa country has been affected with the main threats emanating from al-Shabaab and the Daesh Islamic State terror groups.Click here to read… [11]
Nigerian security forces carried out a series of CT operations and eliminated 70 Boko Haram terrorists in northeastern Borno State. “The operations took place from 16-25 January in the Tumbuktu area. Among the terrorists neutralised were three high-ranking leaders of the group. Also, 22 Nigerian soldiers attained martyrdom in the operations, with several others injured,” said the Director of Defense Media Operations— Maj. Gen. Edward Buba.Click here to read… [12]
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), on 28 January, carried out extensive search operation in three districts of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in a “Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT) linked killing of non-locals” case. The case relates to the killing of two civilians belonging to Chamyari in Amritsar (Punjab) by terrorists, who opened fired at them on the evening of 07 February 2024 at Shalla Kadal in the Shaheed Ganj area of Srinagar. Amritpal Singh had died on the spot while the other victim, Rohit Masi, was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries at a Srinagar hospital the following day.Click here to read… [13]
On 30 January, the NIA arrested two Over-Ground Workers (OGWs)—Dhanesh Ram Dhruw and Ramswarup Markam of the CPI (Maoist) in connection with Chhattisgarh Assembly Poll blast case. The duo was actively involved in providing logistics support to the perpetrators of the IED explosion, which took place on 17 November 2023 in village Badegobra of district Gariyaband, Chhattisgarh, during the state assembly polls.
As per NIA investigations, the attack was planned by CPI (Maoist) Central Committee Members Ganesh Uikey and Manoj, and Special Zonal Committee member Satyam Gawade, following the outfit’s call for boycott of the assembly polls in the state. The explosion was carried out by cadres of Gobra Dalam of CPI (Maoist) with the support of OGWs from Badegobra and Chhotegobra villages.Click here to read… [14]
On 29 January, 29 Maoists, including seven women, surrendered in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. “The Maoists belonging to Kutul Area Committee of Maoists surrendered before security forces in Narayanpur district, citing disappointment with the hollow Maoist ideology and growing internal differences within the banned outfit,” said district’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Prabhat Kumar.Click here to read… [15]
In a gunfight on 28 January, security forces killed two Maoists— Sanjay Ganjhu (Zonal Commander) and Anal Dal, in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. “A joint team of Jharkhand Police and 209 Cobra Battalion had an encounter with Maoists during which two, including one woman, were killed. Security personnel sustained a minor injury in his hand,” said Chaibasa’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashutosh Shekhar.Click here to read… [16]
On 30 January, the NIA Special Court, Guwahati, has sentenced two terror operatives in connection with Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) case of Assam. The court sentenced Mufti Suleiman Ali and Imran Hossen aka Imran Hossain with imprisonment and fine under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A] in the same case. The two terror operatives have been sentenced to six months of Simple Imprisonment (SI) and a fine of ₹500, with an additional 14 days of SI in case of non-payment, under Section 120(B) of the IPC. Additionally, they have been subjected to Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for the period already served, which amounts to 2 years, 8 months, and 21 days.Click here to read… [17]
The NIA, 25 January, arrested two absconders— i) Abdul Majeeth, ii) Shahul Hameed, in the 2019 Tamil Nadu Ramalingam murder case linked with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The duo had conspired with other accused persons near the Periyapalli mosque in Thirubhuvanam on 05 February 2019 to chop the hands of Ramalingam with the intent to create fear among the people and spread communal hatred.
In 2021, NIA had arrested one of the six absconders, identified as Rahman Sadiq. In November 2024, the agency had traced Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed to Poombarai area of Kodaikanal, Dindigul district, and arrested one harbourer, Mohammed Ali Jinah, who was the 19th accused identified in the case. Jinah was later remanded to judicial custody.Click here to read… [18]
On 25 January, the NIA carried out search operation at multiple locations in connection with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI)-linked “Chandigarh Grenade Attack” case. The NIA teams searched various locations connected with the banned terror outfit in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh.
The searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked to U.S.-based terrorist Harpreet Singh aka Happy Passian in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Bathinda and Ferozepur districts of Punjab, Lakhimpur Kheri district in U.P., Rudrapur district in Uttarakhand, and in Chandigarh. Incriminating materials including mobiles/digital devices and documents were seized during the searches.Click here to read… [19]
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Links:
[1] https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2025/february/27
[2] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093286
[3] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093407
[4] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2093998
[5] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2095401
[6] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2094857
[7] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096689
[8] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2097082
[9] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098015
[10] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098098
[11] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somali-army-kills-16-al-shabaab-terrorists/3465096
[12] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/nigerian-forces-neutralize-70-boko-haram-terrorists/3463273
[13] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1895_1_PR28012025.pdf
[14] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1897_1_PR300120252.pdf
[15] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhattisgarh/at-least-29-maoists-surrender-in-chhattisgarhs-narayanpur/article69154895.ece
[16] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jan/29/two-maoists-including-woman-killed-in-gunfight-with-security-forces-in-jharkhand-2
[17] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1896_1_PR30012025.pdf
[18] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1894_1_PR25012025.pdf
[19] https://nia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/PressReleaseNew/1892_1_PR22012025.pdf
[20] http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?title=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism (16-31 January 2025)&desc=&images=&u=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2025/february/27
[21] http://twitter.com/share?text=VIF News Digest : National Security- Defence Studies & Terrorism (16-31 January 2025)&url=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2025/february/27&via=Azure Power
[22] whatsapp://send?text=https://www.vifindia.org/defensenationalsecurityterrorism/2025/february/27
[23] https://www.vifindia.org/author/Anurag-Bisen
[24] https://www.vifindia.org/author/anurag-sharma