DEFENCE MINISTRY APPROVAL
Drones, guns, helicopters: DAC clears Rs 2.12 lakh crore defence buys
On October 26, the Defence Acquisition Council granted Acceptance of Necessity for various capital acquisition proposals. The total worth of these proposals is approximately Rs 2,12,000 crore for the armed forces. A significant portion, about 82%, will be sourced from the Indian industry to promote domestic procurement. The approved procurements encompass a diverse array of platforms and weapons for all three armed forces.
Defence Minister clears Rs 2.12 lakh crore defence proposals: What will the Army, Navy and Air Force get?
India's Defense Ministry has approved defense procurement proposals amounting to Rs 2.12 lakh crore for various services. Approximately 82% of the purchases will be sourced from domestic industry, promoting local manufacturing. The Indian Army will acquire advanced vehicles, guns, surveillance systems, and drones to enhance its capabilities. The Navy is set to receive innovative platforms for modern warfare, including an Active Offboard Decoy System.
Centre extends Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh's tenure by one year
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has received a one-year extension of his tenure until October 31, 2027. This decision was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet following an official order. Singh, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch, is from the Kerala cadre. His current retirement date was set for October 31, 2026, prior to this extension.
Tenants stayed in India without valid visas, landlord claimed he didn’t know; Madras HC upholds 2-year jail term and Rs 10,000 fine
Foreigner tenants arrested by police for staying without valid Indian visa; landlord says he didn’t knew this; Madras HC upheld Rs 10,000 fine and 2 years jail sentence for tenants under Foreigners Act
ITBP has raised drone platoons, building bunkers along LAC: ITBP DG
ITBP Director General (DG) Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor told his troops at a force base in Rajasthan's Alwar that countering China through "traditional" means of warfare was a thing of the past and hence they were investing in modernizing the force, its weapons, vehicles and border posts.
Stocks in news: Reliance Industries, Eternal, Alkem Labs, BEL, HPCL, Swiggy and GMDC
Indian markets witnessed a downturn on Wednesday, prompted by significant selling in banking stocks. After showing initial promise, the Nifty 50 index dropped by 77.60 points to close at 22,811.35. Reliance Industries celebrated a reaffirmation from ICRA concerning its non-convertible debenture program, valued at Rs 12,000 crore. Eternal also reported impressive year-on-year growth in Q2 revenue and net profits.
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France’s budget crunch: Four ways Lecornu could break the deadlock
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's government is preparing for a contentious budget season ahead of elections. The opposition parties are increasing their resistance to proposed deficit-cutting plans. Budget discussions in parliament have faced numerous delays and amendments, complicating passage. If the budget is not approved within 70 days, emergency legislation may be needed. The overall outcome could significantly impact investor confidence and the government's financial strategy.
US Commission chair warns China Coast Guard patrols East of Taiwan are 'Highly Destabilising'
China has increased its Coast Guard patrols near Taiwan, which raises concerns about regional stability and sovereignty claims. Randall Schriver noted the patrols represent a form of legal and political warfare aimed at Taipei. Taiwanese officials view these activities as preparation for a possible maritime blockade by China. The United States continues to support Taiwan, despite pending arms package approvals related to these tensions.
ET Exclusive: India weighs security checkpoint for Starlink, global satcom firms
The Indian government is in discussions to create a hardware device for monitoring satellite communications from foreign providers. This device aims to ensure national security by controlling internet traffic from companies like Starlink. Officials state that this security layer will prevent potential risks associated with untrusted transport carriers. Notably, Starlink has faced regulatory challenges for not complying with local infrastructure regulations.
France is on fire but something more dangerous burns below the unrest
France is engulfed in protests as the public gives vent to growing anger over soaring expenses and diminishing educational quality. Citizens are voicing their demands for improved services, yet the government grapples with managing an overwhelming public debt. Amid budget cuts proposed by President Macron's administration, increasing political challenges may hinder these efforts.
Inspection delays hitting deliveries, says military parts company Data Patterns
“The government’s push for indigenous content is creating significant opportunities across the ecosystem, but customer delays in inspecting finished products are holding up deliveries. We have also had these issues in the past, where products were ready, but the inspection team did not arrive because their own requirement to deliver had probably been delayed,” said chairman and managing director S Rangarajan.
From rocks to riches: India’s unfinished critical minerals story
India's manufacturing industry is significantly affected by its heavy reliance on imported critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. The recent supply disruptions from China have highlighted weaknesses in India's domestic capacity for refining these minerals. Efforts to enhance mineral processing and create integrated production facilities are underway to reduce import dependence.
Iran's new defence minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi threatens US
"People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us," newly appointed Iranian defence minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi told reporters shortly after securing parliament's vote of confidence. "If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage."
Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as Minister of Defence
Iran's parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the new defence minister after months of interim leadership. He replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who took on interim duties following the death of Aziz Nasirzadeh. Akhlaqi has extensive experience in Iran's defence industry, especially in aerospace and missile sectors, and is under US and EU sanctions. He aims to enhance military production and technology with greater cooperation from private companies.
Satellite network a 'technology of geopolitical control': Think tank for hard limits on Starlink
An Indian policy group has advised the government to enforce strict conditions on foreign satellite operators. The Kutniti Foundation argues that SpaceX's Starlink poses strategic risks to India's telecommunications sovereignty. The report emphasises the need for India to establish its own satellite constellation to ensure data security. It highlights concerns about potential foreign intelligence vulnerabilities linked to external operators.
ETSA champions show the great Indian dream is all home-brewed and visa-free: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
In a candid conversation with ET’s Deepshikha Sikarwar, he spoke about India’s trade deals, India-US relations, foreign investment, and how Indian businesses will benefit from the restrictions on the green card programme.
Asim Munir drags Pakistan into the Saudi- Houthi war under the Mecca pact without consulting the country's political leadership
Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir has agreed to deploy troops to Mecca pact ally Saudi Arabia in addition to 8,000 troops already in the Kingdom without consulting the country's political leadership. The decision comes after Pakistan intially refused to get involved in the fight against Houthis a position taken by the country's parliament in a unanimous vote in 2015.
Govt looks to widen coverage of Index of Services Production, invites feedback
MoSPI began compiling the ISP on a monthly basis for the formal services sector on a trial basis in July 2026. The exercise uses 2024-25 as the base year and was designed to provide a higher-frequency measure of services-sector performance.
Defence stocks: Time to change strategy in a bearish market? An ecosystem with down and upside potential of -39% to plus 37%
The current fall is both at the level of the indices and the broader market. And when the selling is this broad, almost every sector is affected. But they do not all feel it equally, and it is worth knowing why every sector behaves differently at different points of time. Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, is a comprehensive report that evaluates five key components of 4,000+ listed stocks – earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum – to generate standardised scores. The simple average of the above-mentioned five component ratings is normally distributed to reach an average score.
Omani co-pilot behind flydubai cockpit attack found with 'Free Palestine' leaflets, pro-Palestinian material: Israeli media
A Flydubai flight experienced a severe incident when the Omani co-pilot attacked the captain mid-flight. The flight faced a significant emergency descent, dropping 16,000 feet before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli authorities are investigating the assailant's potential Islamist radicalisation and connection to Tehran. Captain Smit Machchhar displayed remarkable bravery while preventing a possible catastrophe during the incident.
Taiwan bolsters defences against China as first batch of F-16V fighter jets to arrive
Taiwan is set to receive its first two F-16V fighter jets from a delayed US order for 66 aircraft, strengthening its air force amid rising Chinese military pressure. The $8 billion Lockheed Martin deal, approved in 2019, will expand Taiwan’s F-16 fleet beyond 200 jets. Delivery has faced software and other production-related delays, raising concerns over US arms commitments.
Nitin Gadkari says Rs 1,176 crore six-lane bridge will be built on NH-10 over Teesta river connecting North East, Sikkim and Siliguri corridor
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has approved Rs 1,176 crore for a six lane bridge over the Teesta river at Sevoke in Darjeeling, a project meant to tighten road links between Sikkim, the North East and the strategically sensitive Siliguri corridor.
NHAI to conduct special quality checks on 17 highway projects with bids 15% below estimate
NHAI to begin special quality inspections for 17 under-construction National Highways projects due to their substantial cost discounts. These inspections are in addition to regular quality checks intended to identify construction issues early. A second round of inspections will take place after six months to verify quality and progress. The selected projects encompass various states and include significant infrastructural developments.
China, US slash tariffs on USD 30 billion on imports: Chinese Commerce Ministry
In a significant development, China and the United States have finalized ten key outcomes during their recent economic and trade discussions. Among these, both nations agreed to implement reciprocal tariff reductions valued at USD 30 billion on each other's imports.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's 'stalemate' summit was a glitzy gift to China
US President Trump's recent meeting with Xi Jinping aimed to strengthen their personal relationship, but limited progress was achieved. Both leaders agreed on lowering tariffs on certain goods, with no specific timeline provided for implementation. The absence of a Chinese CEO delegation highlighted ongoing investment challenges amid mutual suspicions. China's trade has thrived despite US tariff threats, giving it leverage in negotiations.
PVR made a customer sit through 17 mins of extra advertisements before his movie began, ordered to pay Rs 75,000
A Hyderabad advocate who booked a late night movie ticket ended up filing a consumer case after PVR Cinemas ran advertisements well past the scheduled start time, delaying the film and pushing his return home by nearly an hour. The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has now ordered PVR INOX to pay him Rs 75,000 in total.
DRDO signs first deep-tech pact with Zero mK India for indigenous dilution refrigerator
DRDO has signed an agreement with Zero mK India for the development of a dilution refrigerator. This project will support quantum applications and enhance India's technological capabilities. The agreement is part of a larger Rs 500-crore initiative for deep-tech innovations. Monitoring will be conducted by the director of DRDO's Solid State Physics Laboratory and his team. This collaboration aims to reduce dependence on foreign cryogenic infrastructure for quantum technologies.
Bharat Dynamics shares rise 2% in a weak market after bagging Rs 811 crore order from Ministry of Defence
Bharat Dynamics shares gained 2% after the Defence Ministry awarded an Rs 810.79-crore contract for 160 SAT-SAAW weapons and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force, adding to the company’s order visibility amid rising defence spending.
Germany ready to sign submarine deal with India once New Delhi completes approvals: German envoy Jasper Wieck
Germany's Ambassador to India, Jasper Wieck, stated that a submarine partnership awaits Indian approvals. This partnership with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems focuses on technology transfer and production in India. The project aligns with broader India-Germany defence cooperation initiatives. Earlier agreements aimed to enhance joint training and development in defense sectors were also signed. Germany will proceed with the deal as soon as required approvals are completed by Indian authorities.
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