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Saturday, March 7, 2026
TopicMinistry of Defence

Topic: Ministry of Defence

‘Rs 50 lakh for 50 flights’—Lt Col sought bribes to get flight clearances for defence exports, says CBI

Chargesheet alleges Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma sent emails to DGCA, BCAS and MoCA, seeking blanket exemptions for exports. The emails were sent without approval from any authority.

MoD, IAF agree on some exemptions to HAL for Tejas Mk1A, but no compromise on ‘must-have’ capabilities

IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.

India’s draft DAP 2026 doesn’t address old problems of defence purchase process

Ministry of Defence is offering a three-week window for getting to the bottom of a document running into two volumes and 800-odd pages. It seems more of a formality.

Defence budget through the years: Big leap for 2026-27, but what numbers since 1999 reveal

ThePrint’s analysis of all budgets from 1999-2026 shows that the capex as total share of defence budget was the highest under UPA I & II. Multifold jump in pension outlays.

200 km+ range Astra missile, 120 km range Pinaka rockets on shopping list as MoD clears Rs 79,000 cr proposals

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council in its year-end meeting has accorded Acceptance of Necessity for various proposals of the three services.

India and Indonesia inch closer to BrahMos deal, defence ties to ramp up

Indonesia delegation led by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited BrahMos facility & met with top officials & undertook a detailed briefing on the missile system.

Govt inks deal with HAL for 97 new Tejas Mk1A; previous order’s deliveries likely to begin next yr

There were no plans to have Mk1A version. However, compromise was reached between HAL & IAF in 2015 since original plan for getting Mk2 would've been time-consuming affair.

India looks to ink deal for 114 Rafale as early as next year, some to come in fly-away condition

The Standard F4 plus version will come equipped with longer-range air-to-air missiles (two) and air-to-ground munitions than currently in service with India, ThePrint has learnt.

New Defence Procurement Manual out, first since 2009, with moves to cut red tape, ease pvt participation

The updated manual introduces reforms like guaranteed orders, lower financial penalties & simplified procurement for specialised equipment.

First-of-its kind tri-services conference Ran Samvad to take place in Army War College next week

Billed as the military’s own version of Raisina Dialogue, the event will spotlight on tech-driven warfighting, lessons from Operation Sindoor and release of three new doctrines.

On Camera

This isn’t an energy crisis— at least not yet

Current oil & gas prices, compared to previous crises, are within ranges that, in the past, had been considered normal.

Maharashtra Budget: Fadnavis hands farmers another loan waiver even as 6 lakh await benefits of 1st one

Other key promises in the budget include AI- and other technology-enabled services for farmers and continuation of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which will have the same outlay. 

Iranian naval ship Lavan with crew of 184 docked in Kochi same day US torpedoed IRIS Dena

IRIS Lavan was in the region for the International Fleet Review held last month and ‘sought urgent docking in Kochi citing technical issues,’ it is learnt.

Pakistan is fighting a two-front war. I saw it coming 15 yrs ago

The Pakistani political leadership is weak and devoid of any intellect. Its diplomacy is entirely India-China-US focused and suffers from a presumptive view of Afghanistan as a vassal.