Army ro set up R&D cell at IIT Gandhinagar

When: 27-Dec-2016

What: The Indian Army has entered into an agreement with the IIT-Gandhinagar (IITGN) to set up a research and development (R&D) cell on the campus.

Where: IIT-Gandhinagar Campus

Admiral Sunil Lanba Appointed Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba took over the ceremonial baton of the chairman of chiefs of staff committee (CoSC) from out-going IAF chief Air Marshal Arup Raha.

Lt. Gen. Vinod Vashish Takes Over as DG NCC

When: 23-Dec-2016

What: Lt. Gen Vinod Vashisht took over the reins of National Cadet Corps (NCC) as its Director General.

India successfully test fires AGNI-5

When: 26-Dec-2016

What: India successfully test fires nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-5.

Where: Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off Odisha Coast.

Long Range nuclear-capable subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay tested.

When: 21 December 216

What: India's cruise missile Nirbhay has failed again in its test flight.

Where: Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha

DRDO successfully flight tests Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon

When: 23 Dec 2016

What: The Defence and Research Development Organization (DRDO) successfully flight tested the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), from an Indain Air Force (IAF) aircraft.

Where: Chandipur, Odisha

Lt. Gen Bipin Rawat Appointed Chief of Indian Army

The Government of India on 17th Dec’16, appointed Lt. Gen Bipin Rawat as the new Army Chief. He succeeds General Dalbir Singh who is going to retire on 31st Dec’16.

Air Marshal B.S.Dhanoa Appointed Air Chief of IAF

The Government on 17th December 2016 appointed Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa as the new Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF) on 01 Jan 2016 succeeding Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.

India becomes world's fourth largest defence spender

News: Following a 13.1% increase in its 2016-17 defence budget, India has become the world's fourth largest spender.

India-Russia Naval Exercise

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When: 14 Dec 2016

What: Ninth edition of an annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy began.

Where: Visakhapatnam and Bay of Bengal

Laser walls on India - Pak border in Punjab by Dec 18

What: Indo-Pak international border in Punjab will be sealed with laser walls.

When: 18-Dec-2016

India, Indonesia sign three agreements to enhance strategic partnership

When: 12 Dec 2016

What: India and Indonesia signed three agreements to enhance strategic partnership.

IAF to get 'eye in the sky' to snoop on Pakistani and Chinese Airforce

What: Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft will be inducted in IAF.

When: 23-Dec-2016

Where: Chitradurga Range at Karnataka.

KONKAN 16 - Joint Maritime Exercise

When: 05-Dec-2016

What: Joint Maritime Exercise 'Konkan 16' between India and UK begins.

Where: Mumbai.

India inks Rs 5000 crore defence deal with US to buy 145 M777 howitzers.

When: 30-Nov-2016

What: India inks Rs 5,000 crore deal with US for 145 M777 howitzers.

Where: MCD, New Delhi

43rd Indian Navy Day

When: 04-Dec-2016

What: 43rd Indian Navy Day Celebration

Lt General A.K. Bhatt appointed as new DGMO

When: 26-Nov-2016

What: Lt. General A.K.Bhatt has been appointed as new Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) replacing Lt. General Ranbir Singh.

Indian Navy to get 12 new Dornier Do 228 surveillance aircraft

When: 23-Nov-2016

What: The Cabinet Committee on Security approves the purchase of 12 locally built Dornier Do 228 Aircraft for the Indian Navy.

190 Youths from Kashmir inducted in Indian Army

When: 26-Nov-2016

What: 190 youths from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir were inducted as soldiers in Indian Army after completing one-year training.

Where: Srinagar.

Indian Navy's Seventh Landing Craft Utility L-57 Launched by GRSE

When: 24-Nov-2016

What: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) launched Indian Navy's seventh landing craft utility (LCU) L-57.

Where: Kolkata, West Bengal

India - Israel $1.4 Billion Contracts

When: 16 Nov 2016

What: India signs $1.4 Bn Contracts with Israel

Where: New Delhi

Joint Declaration Between India and Switzerland

When: 22 - Nov - 2016

What: India and Switzerland sign Joint Declaration for Automatic Exchange of Information.

Where: New Delhi

India successfully Test-Fires Nuclear Capable Agni-I Ballistic Missile

When: 22-Nov-2016

What: India successfully test - fired its indigenously built nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile.

Where: Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odhisa.

India become Associate Member of CERN

When: 21-Nov-2016

What: India and the European Organisation for the Nuclear Research (CERN) signed an agreement to make India an associate member state of the research organisation.

Where: Mumbai

Prithvi-II nuclear capable missile successfully test fired

When: 21-Nov-2016

What: India successfully test fired nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile.

Where: Chandipur, Odisha

INS Chennai commissioned into Indian Navy

When: 21-Nov-2016

What: Kolkata - Class destroyer ship, INS Chennai, commissioned into Indian Navy's combat fleet by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Where: Mumbai, India

Indian Navy inducts 4 types of indegenously developed Sonars

To boost its underwater surveillence capability, the Indian Navy formally inducted 4 types of indigenously developed sonars on 18th Nov. The systems have been designed and developed by NPOL, a Kochi based laboratory of DRDO.

India and UK signs three Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APA)

In order to have a smooth tax regime between India and UK, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBT) signed three Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with the Competent Authority of United Kingdom (UK).

CRPF for first time deploys women commando for anti-naxal operation

For the very first time, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed a team of women commandos in anti-naxal operations in Jharkhand.

This team has 135 woman commandos belonging to the 232 battalion's Delta Company.

India's combat capable Rustom-II drone successfully completes Maiden Test Flight

Giving a boost to India's development programme for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), DRDO successfully carried out the Maiden Flight of RUSTOM-II (TAPAS 201) on 15-Nov-2016.

The Maiden Test flight of Rustom-II took place from Aeronautical Test Range (ATR),  Chitradurga, Karnataka.

India rises to second place in Global Business Optimism Index

According to the largest Grant Thornton International Business Report , India was ranked second on the optimism index during the third quarter (July-September 2016).

Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum's week satrts in Lima, Peru

2016 APEC Economic leaders Week started on 14th November and will take place till 20th November, in the city of Lima, Peru.

APEC 2016 is organised to bring together leaders of world largest economies to discuss the future of international trade policies, growth and improvement of life conditions for three billion people.

36th edition of the India International Trade Fair

President of India Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 36th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati, Maidan, New Delhi.

150 companies from 27 countries participated in the Trade Fair with 'Digital India' theme and is organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

Israel President arrives in Mumbai on 6-day visit to India

Israel President, Reuven Rivlin arrived in Mumbai on 14th Nov on a six day visit to India to further strengthen bilateral ties.

"Israel and India are both countries of innovation and of inspiration. Countries that have ancient traditions, but have built a strong and thriving hi-tech economies, and now celebrate 25 years of diplomatic relations.

China wants India to sign pact on border conduct

To maintain peace along the border rather than clarification of Line of Actual Control, China prefers a pact with India on Code of Conduct at border.

Deputy Director General of the Asian Affairs at the Foreign Ministry Huang Xilain said both sides should try to reach an agreement on code of conduct as attempts to clarify mutual positions on the LAC. "Whatever we do in the border area it should be a buildingh block for the process of negotiations not stumbling block", he said.

Indian Navy requests US to acquire EMALS for its Aircraft Carriers

The Indian Navy took its first step towards acquiring Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for its carriers by sending a Letter of Request (LoR) to the Pentagon under Government - to - Government deals.

The LoR contains price and availability for 22 Guardians and three EMALS catapults and are now under consideration by the US department of Defence for clearance under the Foreign Ministry Sales, - Defence Magazine India Strategic.

The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a system under development by the United States Navy to launch carrier based aircraft from an aircraft catapult using a linear motor drive instead of the conventional steam piston drive.

India-China Joint Training Exercise

The India - China joint Training Exercise "Hand in Hand 2016" will be held in Pune from 15th to 27th November 2016. The aim of the joint training is to share expertise in drills and practice while tackling insurgency and terrorism and will be conducted in three phases:

Phase I: Familiarization with weapon and equipment
Phase II: Basic Training
Phase III: Conduct of Joint Exercises.

India, Bhutan signs agreement on Trade for better bilateral relation

To enhance the trade between India and Bhutan,the two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement which aims at cutting down on documentation and adding additional exist and entry points for Bhutan's trade with other countries.

This agreement was signed by Commerce and Industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman and H.E. Tengye Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, Minister of Economic Affairs, Bhutan.

India - Japan Civil Nuclear Deal

On 11 November 2016, India and Japan have signed a bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

"The Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy marks a historic step in our engagement to build a clean energy partnership," said PM Modi.

India is the first non-member of the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to have signed such a deal with Japan.

Kamala Harris becomes first ever Indian-American to win U.S. Senator Seat

Kamala Harris (California's Attorney General) won the US senate seat from the state and scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American to achieve the feat.

Kamala Harris is an American politician, lawyer and member of the Democratic party, serving as the Attorney General since 2011.

Ishaat Hussain appointed interim chairman of TCS

Tata Sons Ltd. announced appointment of Ishaat Hussain as the new chairman of India's biggest software service exporter, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, replacing Cyrus Mistry.

"Mistry has ceased to be the chairman of the board of directors of the company, and Hussain is the new chairman of the company. The company has further informed that Hussain shall hold office as chairman of the company until a new chairman is appointed,' the company said in a security filing.

China launches pulsar navigation satellite

On 10th Nov, China launched a navigation satellite carried by long March-11 rocket, the 239th flight mission by a long march carrier rocket series. It will conduct in-orbit experiment using pulsar detectors to demonstrate new technologies.

X-ray pulsar - based navigation and timing (XNAV) is a theoretical navigation technique whereby the periodic X-ray signals emitted from pulsars are used to determine the location of a spacecraft in deep space.

Government to open Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Kendra in every Constituency

To impart skill training to the people and make them employable, the government decided to open Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Kendra in every constituency.

The objective of this scheme is to encourage skill development for youth by providing monetary rewards for successful completion of approved training program.Specially, the scheme aims to:

• Encourage standardization in the certification process and initiate a process of creating a registry of skills
• Enable and mobilize a large number of Indian youth to take up skill training and become employable and earn their livelihood. Increase productivity of the existing workforce and align the training and certification to the needs of the country.
• Provide Monetary Awards for Skill Certification to boost employability and productivity of youth by incentivizing them for skill trainings.
• Reward candidates undergoing skill training by authorized institutions at an average monetary reward of Rs. 8,000 (Rupees Eight Thousand) per candidate.
• Benefit 24 lakh youth at an approximate total cost of Rs. 1,500 Crores.  

Corporation Bank inks pact with Indian Army

Corporation bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army, under which, the corporation bank will be providing free / concessional services to the Army.

As per the MoU, Corporation bank will provide the following services: Free Drafts, Cheque Books, Fund Transfer to any bank in India through RTGS/NEFT, Free ATM Cards, and Unlimited Transactions on all ATM's (including other banks).

India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise SAMPRITI-2016

The sixth edition of India-Bangladesh Joint Military Exercise "SAMPRITI-2016" is being conducted at Tangail, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 05 to 18 November 2016.

The main focus of the 14 days joint military exercise is to practice Counter-Terrorism and Disaster Management Operations and to achieve interoperability in joint operations.

Troops of both the armies would familiarize each other in various tactical drills and procedures.

SAMPRITI exercise is one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiative between India and Bangladesh, which was started in 2010, with its first edition at Jorhat, Assam.

DRDO inks MoU with IIT Delhi to establish JATC

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi to establish a 'Joint Advanced technology Centre (JAC) on 04 November 2016.

The objective of JATC is to undertake and facilitate multi-disciplinary directed basic and applied research in the joint identified research verticals.

As per the MoU, DRDO will support JATC in equipping it with advanced and unique research facilities to enable the faculty and scholors to conduct advanced research and transform the JATC as Centre of Excellence.