Director General of BrahMos Aerospace and DRDO, Dr. Jaiteerth E. Joshi, has stressed the critical need for a tri-sector collaboration between academia, defence research, and industry to develop engineering talent capable of meeting the demands of next-generation warfare. Speaking at the 25th Convocation Ceremony of the Indian Naval Academy (INA) in Kannur on May 30, Dr. Joshi emphasized that hands-on training and advanced education are essential for preparing naval engineers to perform independently in high-tech combat environments.

Highlighting the Navy’s unique operational conditions, Dr. Joshi said that naval engineers must be trained to handle technical responsibilities such as rectification, testing, and maintenance without shore-based support. He outlined an initiative to develop advanced training modules in partnership with DRDO’s Centres of Excellence at IITs, NITs, and institutions like the Defence Institute of Armament Technology, with close coordination from the INA.

Dr. Joshi lauded the INA’s academic collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University and called for further engagement with academic societies like the Indian Society for Non-Destructive Testing and the Institute of Electronics. These partnerships, he said, can facilitate tailored internships and domain-specific training, such as placing mechanical engineering cadets in missile and armament clusters and electronics graduates in electronic warfare units.

He described this vision as a structured model of collaboration: initial research (Technology Readiness Levels 1–3) led by academia, applied research (TRL 4–6) co-developed with industry, and advanced production (TRL 7–9) handled by private manufacturers. This model, he said, ensures accelerated innovation and readiness for deployment.

The DRDO, he noted, is actively investing in start-ups and encouraging student participation in defence projects as early as their third or fourth year of engineering. Many students are already undergoing training at DRDO labs, where they gain critical exposure to domain-specific technologies and work alongside defence personnel.

Dr. Joshi also acknowledged the unique insights brought in by service officers who join DRDO through secondment, post-retirement roles, or lateral entry. Their battlefield experience and understanding of frontline needs help refine the development of defence systems to be more practical and service-ready.

He expressed optimism about the reversal of India’s brain drain, attributing it to the nation’s rapid progress in aerospace, defence, nuclear, and automotive sectors. The combination of global economic uncertainty and India’s rising opportunities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission is encouraging talent to remain in the country.

India’s growing number of start-ups and unicorns and its trajectory toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy are signs of a changing industrial landscape, Dr. Joshi added.

Pakistan’s top military officer, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, has raised concerns about the possibility of a nuclear conflict with India, warning that “strategic miscalculation” in a crisis scenario can never be ruled out. His comments come just weeks after a major military standoff between the two nuclear-armed neighbours during Operation Sindoor.

In an interview with Reuters, General Mirza, who serves as the chairman of Pakistan’s joint chiefs of staff, said there was no move towards nuclear weapons during the recent conflict but admitted the potential for future escalation. “Nothing happened this time,” Mirza said. “But you can’t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.”

His remarks follow several statements by Pakistani leaders hinting at nuclear options in response to Indian military actions. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif had also warned of a possible nuclear confrontation amid heightened tensions.

India, however, has firmly dismissed these nuclear threats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated unequivocally that India will not be cowed by nuclear blackmail, while defence minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that India’s security decisions are guided by strategic priorities, not fear.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar, speaking to Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, stressed that India and Pakistan are still “very, very far away” from any real nuclear confrontation, even after recent clashes.

The comments from General Mirza also suggest a shift in Pakistan’s military posture, with the general noting that future escalations may not be confined to Jammu & Kashmir and could spread across the region.

The latest crisis, sparked by the Pahalgam terror attack, saw India launch Operation Sindoor—a series of precision strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation resulted in a four-day conflict before a ceasefire was reached.

While Pakistani leaders continue to evoke the spectre of nuclear war to draw international concern, India maintains a firm stance that it will act decisively against terrorism without being deterred by such threats.

Indian para-athletes made a powerful statement at the 2025 Asian Indoor Para Rowing Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, clinching 17 medals on Day 2 alone, including seven golds. Among the standout performances were Ms. Anita, daughter of Naib Subedar Dhanna Ram Khichar and Subedar Narayana K, who won gold in the Women’s and Men’s PR3 Physical Disability categories, respectively.

Their victories were celebrated by Surg Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS), who praised their determination and the institutions supporting their recovery. Both athletes underwent post-amputation rehabilitation at the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) in Pune, where they were equipped with the innovative ‘ALCRowingFoot’—a custom-engineered prosthetic designed to support the rigorous ankle movements required in rowing.

Ms. Anita, daughter of Hony Nb Sub Dhanna Ram Khichar (Retd.), made headlines by securing her second gold medal of the championship, having already won the PR3 PD 500 meters event. Sub Narayana K’s win added to India’s growing reputation in the international para-rowing arena.

India’s medal sweep continued with golds from Gursewak Singh and Gouri Nanda in the Under-19 mixed 2km pair event, Aditya Ravindra Kedari and Harpreet Kaur in the Masters’ mixed pair (30-39), Alan Joshy in the Men’s Under-19 500m, and Paspula Krishna Rao in the Men’s Masters 50-59 lightweight 500m.

The ALC, established in 1944 to rehabilitate injured military personnel, has become a global leader in prosthetic innovation. Its development of the ‘ALCRowingFoot’ demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to sports rehabilitation. Designed to meet the unique biomechanical demands of rowing, the prosthetic has proven instrumental in enabling para-athletes to compete—and succeed—on international platforms.

The PR3 classification allows athletes with physical or visual impairments to compete using their legs, trunk, and arms, promoting inclusivity while requiring a high level of physical function. The success of India’s PR3 athletes at the championship underscores the significance of specialized training and equipment in adaptive sports.

India’s achievements in Pattaya highlight a larger narrative of national commitment to para-sports and the integration of advanced medical and technical support. Institutions like the ALC, under the guidance of the DGAFMS, are redefining rehabilitation and competitive potential for para-athletes, placing India at the forefront of global adaptive sports excellence.

In a major push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed a Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) with NIBE Limited, a Pune-based private company. The agreement, inked by DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), enables NIBE Limited to produce the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system and its associated Battery Command Post (BCP).

The Pinaka system, developed indigenously by DRDO for the Indian Army, is a vital component of India’s artillery capabilities. It can fire salvos of rockets with a range of up to 45 km in its Mark-I Enhanced version, and up to 90 km in the Mark-II Extended Range variant. The Guided Pinaka, successfully tested in late 2024, features a Trajectory Correction System that significantly improves accuracy, making it a formidable asset in modern warfare.

This technology transfer marks a pivotal moment in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, which emphasizes indigenous defence production and reducing dependence on imports. The deal also signals a broader shift towards involving private players in the defence sector. NIBE Limited joins the ranks of private firms like Solar Industries, which had previously contributed to successful Pinaka trials in 2020. The DRDO’s engagement with industry partners is aimed at enhancing production efficiency and meeting the operational demands of the Indian armed forces more swiftly.

Officials noted that the production of the Pinaka system by NIBE Limited is expected to create new job opportunities and support economic development. With defence manufacturing already contributing around 80,000 private sector jobs, the inclusion of new firms is expected to further stimulate industrial growth. By building a diversified defence manufacturing ecosystem, India also strengthens its position as a potential exporter of reliable and cost-effective military systems.

The Pinaka system stands out for its cost-effectiveness, estimated at ₹2.3 crore per unit, making it considerably more affordable than comparable global systems like the US-made M270, which costs around ₹19.5 crore. With ongoing technological upgrades, including integration of UAV support and navigation enhancements such as the Sigma 30 system previously supplied by Sagem, the Pinaka platform continues to evolve.

Defence analysts view this latest agreement as a strategic milestone that underlines India’s capability to design, develop, and deploy advanced weaponry independently. As DRDO continues to deepen its collaboration with the private sector, India is steadily moving toward greater strategic autonomy and defence export readiness in an increasingly complex global security environment.