#India makes #Iranian Shahed-class copycat kamikaze #drone Kal

India's IG Defence has unveiled 'Project KAL', an indigenous long-range strike drone capable of carrying explosive payloads up to 1,000 km, aimed at boosting India's unmanned warfare capabilities. Project KAL is an indigenous initiative by IG Defence (founded in Odisha) to develop a long-range, one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the Indian armed forces. The project aims to create a "kamikaze" style drone designed for deep-penetration missions into hostile territory, specifically targeting high-value assets like radar installations and logistics hubs. 

Operational Range: Projected up to 1,000 km, allowing it to operate well beyond frontline areas.

Endurance: Approximately 3 to 5 hours, providing the ability to loiter over target zones for monitoring before striking.

Payload: Equipped to carry high-explosive payloads for precision strikes.

Strategic Comparison: It is frequently compared to the Iranian Shahed-class drones due to its emphasis on low-cost, long-range strike capabilities that can overwhelm enemy air defenses. 

Strategic Significance

Project KAL is a key component of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the defense sector. By developing these capabilities indigenously, India seeks to: 

Reduce Reliance: Minimize dependence on foreign imports for advanced unmanned systems.

Cost Efficiency: Deploy inexpensive drones in large numbers to force adversaries into using significantly more expensive interceptor missiles, creating a tactical "cost imbalance".

Modern Warfare: Address a critical gap in India's arsenal for conducting standoff attacks with reduced risk to personnel. 

In recent and ongoing conflicts, Iranian Shahed-class drones—particularly the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136—have become a central weapon for both Russia and Iran’s regional proxies to overwhelm advanced air defenses. Their primary role is that of a "loitering munition" or "kamikaze drone," designed to strike fixed targets at long ranges.

Russia has deployed Iranian-designed Shahed drones (rebranded as Geran-1 and Geran-2) on an industrial scale. In 2025 alone, Russia launched over 38,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine, with a record monthly peak of over 6,000 strikes in July 2025.They are often launched in massive "swarms" alongside cruise and ballistic missiles. This forces defenders to expend multi-million dollar interceptor missiles on drones costing as little as $20,000 to $80,000, effectively exhausting air defense stockpiles.

The Shahed-238 (Geran-3) and Geran-5 feature turbojet engines, allowing for higher speeds and making them harder to intercept than propeller models.

During Operation True Promise in April 2024 and the 12-Day War in June 2025, Iran launched over 1,000 drones directly from its territory at Israeli military and civilian targets.

Groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen continue to use the Shahed-101 and Shahed-136 against Israeli and merchant shipping targets. 

Recognizing the effectiveness of the design, the United States reverse-engineered captured Shahed-136 drones to create its own version, the LUCAS (Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System). As of December 2025, these "American Shaheds" have been deployed by U.S. Central Command for operations in the Middle East.

Is #CookingGas #LPG shortage likely to hit India?

90% of India's LPG passes through Hormuz.

Govenment of India has  invoked emergency provisions, asks refiners to boost LPG output amid Gulf crisis.

India normally imports two-thirds of its cooking gas, and almost all of it comes straight from the Middle East.

India now the world’s 3rd largest energy consumer.

Nearly 80–85% of India’s LPG imports move through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the most militarised and politically fragile choke points in the world. Every escalation in West Asia immediately threatens the cooking fuel of ordinary Indian households.

Emergency directives to refiners and state oil companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum may ensure short-term supply, but they also expose how fragile India’s energy planning remains. If a single maritime corridor can disrupt a basic household necessity, then the real crisis is structural, not temporary.

India invokes emergency powers to boost LPG production amid Middle East crisis. As the world's second-biggest LPG importer, India consumed 33.15 million metric tons last year, with imports making up two-thirds of consumption.

This moment raises uncomfortable questions:

• Why does a country aspiring to global leadership remain so dependent on imported LPG?

• Why were stronger domestic energy diversification strategies not prioritised earlier?

• Why must emergency powers be invoked whenever geopolitical tensions rise?

Buffer stocks and administrative orders may calm markets for now, but they do not change the underlying reality: energy security cannot rely on distant conflict zones.

Until India builds deeper self-reliance in energy production and alternatives, every geopolitical flare-up abroad will continue to land directly in the kitchens of its citizens

MIB suspends #News #TV ratings for 4 weeks to curb “sensationalism”

I&B Ministry has passed an order to halt TRP reporting by TV news channels for four weeks. The order has been issued in view of the “unwarranted sensationalism” in reporting the ongoing war in West Asia involving the U.S., Israel and Iran. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has asked the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to suspend publication of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for TV news channels for four weeks or until further direction. The order has been issued in view of the “unwarranted sensationalism” in reporting the ongoing war in West Asia involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

New #motorola edge 70 fusion is launched #India

Motorola has launched the “motorola edge 70 fusion”, bringing breakthrough camera innovation, immersive visuals, and next-gen on-device AI to the mid-premium smartphone segment. The device features the World’s 1st 50MP Sony-LYT 710 Camera with motoAI, delivering superior low-light clarity, blur-free shots, 100% True Colours and skin tones validated by Pantone™, and 4K video recording across all lenses. It sports an All-New Design with luxurious fabric finishes in Pantone™ curated colours, paired with India’s Only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour^ Quad-Curved Pantone™ Validated Display. Backed by a 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 68W TurboPower™ charging, powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4, and reinforced with IP68 + IP69 and MIL-STD-810H durability.

It is backed by a 4473mm² vapor chamber for improved cooling, up to 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 16 5G bands with Wi-Fi 6E, it ensures ultra-smooth performance and blazing-fast connectivity.

The motorola edge 70 fusion also comes with moto ai 2.0, delivering next-level intelligence. It brings Next Move contextual suggestions that understand what’s on your screen and offer the right actions in real time, along with creative tools like AI Image Studio, Sketch to Image, Style Sync, Text to Sticker, and avatar creation. Productivity is elevated with Catch Me Up 2.0, Pay Attention live transcriptions, AI Playlist Studio, Global Search, Auto Screenshot Blur, and seamless cross-device task flow via This On That. Features such as Remember This and Recall act as a smart memory vault, while Perplexity integration enables instant exploration, planning, and contextual recommendations. With the freedom to choose between motoAI, Copilot, Perplexity, and Google Gemini, users experience truly versatile, intelligent assistance.

The motorola edge 70 fusion meets ultimate military standards for durability, passing 16 tests of MIL-810H Military Grade Certified Protection. All while maintaining a sophisticated, elegant look and feel. It’s protected against extreme temperatures, including harsh winters as cold as -20°C or scorching summer days as high as 60°C, even the blazing temperatures inside a parked car. It also withstands up to 95% humidity. With the Highest level of water protection IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering superior protection against dust, dirt, sand, and high-pressure water, it’s designed to withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. T.M. Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola India, said, “At Motorola, we continue to challenge conventional boundaries by combining purposeful innovation with a deep understanding of how consumers live, create, and connect today. With the motorola edge 70 fusion, we have focused on delivering an exceptional camera performance, design excellence, intelligent experiences, and dependable power and performance in an ultra-refined form factor. This launch reflects our commitment to moving beyond specifications and creating technology that feels personal, expressive, and effortlessly powerful. It marks another important milestone in our journey to deliver premium, design-led and AI-driven experiences that elevate everyday life in a meaningful way.”

Change of #Governors in poll bound #WestBengal and #Tamilnadu & Article 155

There is no specific article in the Indian Constitution that mandates the President to consult the Chief Minister (CM) when appointing a Governor under Article 155.

Sarkaria Commission recommended this consultation as a convention to ensure cooperative federalism, a practice the Union government has acknowledged may be followed.

The Union government did informed the Rajya Sabha on a written reply to a question by CPI(M) leader John Brittas that the practice of appointing Governors in consultation with State Chief Minister may be followed as a matter of convention.

#US Treasury grants 30-day waiver allowing #India to buy #Russian oil

The US Treasury Department has established specific dates for its Russian oil waiver, allowing shipments loaded before March 5 to be delivered to India until April 4. This timeline provides operational clarity for Indian refiners while maintaining strategic pressure on Russian oil revenues through targeted sanctions relief.

The United States Treasury Department has provided specific timeline details for its waiver covering Russian crude oil deliveries to Indian refiners. The clarification establishes that Russian oil shipments loaded before March 5 can be delivered to India until April 4, providing clear operational parameters for the relief measure.

The Treasury Department has now specified exact dates for the waiver implementation, creating definitive boundaries for eligible shipments. Oil cargoes that were loaded before March 5 qualify for delivery under the waiver provisions, with all such deliveries required to be completed by April 4. This timeline provides Indian refiners with a structured framework for processing existing shipments.

The specific date parameters demonstrate the Treasury's targeted approach to managing Russian oil sanctions while addressing logistical realities. By establishing March 5 as the loading cutoff date and April 4 as the delivery deadline, the waiver creates a clear operational window for stranded cargoes without enabling new Russian oil transactions.

This timeline specification provides Indian energy companies with concrete deadlines for managing their Russian oil shipments. Refiners can now plan their operations around the April 4 delivery deadline while understanding that only shipments loaded before March 5 qualify for the waiver. The defined timeframe helps resolve immediate supply chain disruptions within established regulatory boundaries governing Russian oil transactions. This action acts as a "carve-out" for existing sanctions, allowing Indian refineries to process stranded oil from floating storage.

#Russia offers 9.5 mln barrels of oil to #India amid #Hormuz crisis

According to Reuters, Russia is prepared to divert crude oil shipments to India in response to disruptions in oil flows from the Middle East (especially through the Strait of Hormuz) due to escalating conflict in the region

India is vulnerable to supply shocks, with crude stocks covering only about 25 days of demand, while refiners hold similarly limited inventories of gasoil, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas.

Russia is willing to send more oil to India if it wants it, Alexander Novak has said.

“We are always ready. Our oil is in demand. If they buy it, we'll sell it,” he said.

Indian officials have recently shown renewed interest in Russian crude, despite earlier pressure from the US, he added. (Interfax)

#India & #Russia sign $238MN or Rs 5,083 cr. Deal For Air #Defence Systems

The contract is for Shtil air defence systems equipped with vertical-launch missiles.

The systems are intended to strengthen the Indian Navy’s air defence capabilities and enhance protection for warships against a wide range of aerial threats. The ministry said they will boost India’s multi-layered naval air defence and enable rapid and effective response in all weather conditions.

Ministry of Defence, on March 03, 2026, signed contracts worth a total of Rs 5,083 crore for the acquisition of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-III (Maritime Role) for the Indian Coast Guard and Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy. The contracts were inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New Delhi.

ALH Mk-III (MR)

The contract for ALH Mk-III (MR) along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, valued at Rs 2,901 crore, has been inked with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.

These twin-engine helicopters incorporate state-of-the-art features superior to the currently operated airborne platforms and are capable of undertaking a wide spectrum of maritime security missions from shore-based airfields as well as from ships at sea. The induction will significantly enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability for fulfilling the duties of safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore installations, and protection of fishermen & marine environment.

The project envisages supply of equipment from more than 200 MSMEs and is expected to generate approximately 65 lakh man-hours of employment. The contract reinforces the Government’s commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make-in-India initiative, while further strengthening the nation’s maritime security architecture.

Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles

The contract for the procurement of Surface-to-Air Vertical Launch - Shtil missiles and associated missile holding frames, valued at Rs 2,182 crore, has been signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russian Federation. The acquisition is intended to substantially enhance the air defence capabilities of frontline warships against a wide spectrum of aerial threats.

The system will reinforce the layered air defence architecture onboard the platforms of the Indian Navy by providing rapid-reaction, all-weather engagement capability and improved survivability in contested maritime environments. The contract further underscores the longstanding and time-tested defence partnership between India and Russia, founded on mutual trust and strategic alignment.

#Iranian Ship IRIS #Dena #torpedoed in #Indian Ocean

IRIS Dena was returning from the MILAN 2026 exercise held in Visakhapatnam.

US submarines have torpedoed Iranian Ship IRIS Dena in Indian Ocean. It had been invited by the Indian Navy to take part in the IFR/ Milan exercises and was returning home. 

The Iranian frigate IRS Dena was sunk by the US nevy close to Indian territory. It was returning from the MILAN 2026 exercise held in Visakhapatnam.

The IRIS Dena issued a distress call 40 nautical miles south of Sri Lanka. She is sinking. One hundred and fifty of her 180 crew are missing or wounded. Sri Lankan sailors, whose own warships participated in that same fleet review alongside the IRS Dena just days ago, are pulling Iranian sailors from the Indian Ocean.

Indian Refiners Looking to Step Up Russian Crude Purchases

If the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is extended or the conflict intensifies with attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Middle East Gulf (MEG) region, domestic refiners will have to manage supplies from “anywhere possible

As per news agency Bloomberg Government officials and state refiners met over the weekend to work on a contingency plan as the Iran-Israel war threatens oil supplies to India. Russian crude is being considered once again, despite the threat of potential punitive tariffs from the US, according to the news outlet.

Indian oil ministry officials are requesting the MEA to try and get concessions from Washington

Sources said that Indian public and private sector refiners are already procuring non-sanctioned Russian crude oil. However, if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is extended or the conflict intensifies with attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Middle East Gulf (MEG) region, domestic refiners will have to manage supplies from “anywhere possible”.

“In such a scenario, Russian crude at sea is among the best possible alternatives. Supplies from the US, South America and West Africa will take anywhere between 30 and 45 days, which can be an issue if this war extends further,” said a government source.