Recent Current Affairs related to Indian Army

Major Prabhat Mishra of the Indian Army (IA), belonging to the 22 Kumaon Regiment, has been honoured with the Birrer-Brookes Award for Outstanding Master of Military Arts and Science (MMAS) Thesis and the General Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Award.

He has also received the Golden Pen Award for scholarly excellence. It is to be noted that he is the first Indian officer to win both the awards simultaneously.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred gallantry awards during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026, held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. The awards included 7 Kirti Chakras (2 posthumous), 15 Vir Chakras (3 posthumous), and 29 Shaurya Chakras (1 posthumous).

Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar were awarded the Kirti Chakra posthumously. Rifleman Sunil Kumar, Sub Inspector (GD) Mohd Imteyaj, and Constable (GD) Deepak Chingakham were posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra, while Lance Dhadr (L/DFR) Baldev Chand was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously.

The Indian Army has successfully completed operational trials of the Divyastra Mk-1 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

The Divyastra Mk-1 is an advanced indigenous AI powered tactical loitering munition system developed by Hoverit. It is designed to strengthen Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities along the border regions of India.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers:

Day – May 29

Theme 2026 – “Invest in Peace”

Observed since – 2003

Commemorating – The 78th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping, which began in 1948 with the deployment of military observers to the Middle East under the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).

The Indian Army (IA) has launched ‘Q-FORCE’, an integrated digital application designed to streamline logistics and sustainment management by integrating multiple logistics and inventory platforms across diverse operational terrains.

Additionally, the IA has introduced ‘Kautilya’, an AI-powered command intelligence platform.

India successfully tested the 'Suryastra' Universal Rocket Launcher system at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on May 28, 2026.

Developed by Pune-based Nibe Limited in collaboration with Israel's Elbit Systems, the system is India's first indigenous universal multi-caliber rocket launcher. The system demonstrated exceptional precision during the trials, with its tactical and strategic variants hitting targets at ranges of 150 km and 300 km, respectively.

NIBE Ltd (NIBE Ltd) has successfully conducted trials of its Vayu Astra-1 Loitering Munition (LM), which features a 100-km operational range. The trials were conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan and Joshimath (Malari) in Uttarakhand under the No-Cost, No-Commitment (NCNC) model.

The Vayu Astra-1 is based on an Israeli-designed loitering munition system developed in collaboration with Elbit Systems. Under the NCNC model, NIBE Ltd managed the technology, conducted the demonstrations, and bore all operational and technical validation costs.

India has successfully conducted consecutive trials of the “Suryastra” Universal Rocket Launcher system from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The system is developed by Pune-based NIBE Ltd (NIBE) in collaboration with Elbit Systems, Israel.

The demonstration was carried out as part of a ₹293 crore Indian Army (IA) procurement order under the Emergency Procurement window. The Tactical Variant of the system has a range of 150 km and achieved a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1.5 m, while the Strategic Variant has a range of 300 km and achieved a CEP of 2 m.

Actor Ishaan Khatter has been conferred with an honorary membership of the 45 Cavalry Regiment of the Indian Armoured Corps. The honour is in recognition of his portrayal of Captain Balram Mehta in the film ‘Pippa’ and for demonstrating respect towards the ethos and legacy of the regiment.

The film ‘Pippa’, directed by Raja Krishna Menon and produced by RSVP Movies and Roy Kapur Films, is based on the book “The Burning Chaffees” authored by Balram Singh Mehta.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth ₹1,476 crore with Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) for the procurement of five Ground-Based Mobile Electronic Systems (GBMES) for the Indian Army (IA).

It is to be noted that the procurement is categorized under the Buy Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) framework, which mandates a minimum indigenous content of 72%.

The 2nd edition of the bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army (IA) and the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) named “CINBAX-II” has commenced at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre (Camp Basil) in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia.

The IA contingent comprises 120 personnel from the Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, while the RCA is represented by 160 personnel. Conducted under Chapter VII of the UN mandate, the exercise focuses on sub-conventional operations in jungle and semi-urban environments.

The DRDO has unveiled two variants (tracked and wheeled) of the next-generation Advanced Armoured Platforms named “Vikram VT-21” in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. Developed by the Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) to modernize the mechanized infantry of the Indian Army, the platforms are produced by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL).

The armament includes an indigenous 30 mm crewless turret with a 7.62 mm PKT gun and supports Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM). These amphibious platforms offer modular blast and ballistic protection (STANAG Level 4 and 5) and use hydro-jets for water traversal. It is to be noted that the current indigenous content is 65%, with a target to reach 90%.

The Indian Army has conducted an Advanced Surgical Eye Camp named ‘Op Netra 1.0’ at the 153 General Hospital in Leh, Ladakh. The camp, inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 14 Corps Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, served as a significant instance of civil-military cooperation.

A surgical team led by Brigadier (Dr) Sanjay Kumar Mishra performed 214 specialized procedures, while 950 patients from 7 districts across the Ladakh region were screened. Additionally, the hospital launched an indigenous platform named ‘Op Netra’ App to support the medical operation.

General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd), the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), has released a book titled “The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries”.

The book, published by Rupa Publications, investigates various military myths and historical mysteries.

General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army (IA), has been inducted into the International Hall of Fame (HoF) of the United States Army War College (USAWC) in Pennsylvania, USA.

He is the third IA Chief to receive this distinction, following the inductions of General VK Singh and General Bikram Singh.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has flagged off the second edition of the high-altitude endurance event named “Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0” in Badrinath, Uttarakhand.

The 113 km long expedition is a five-day event traversing the Char Dham corridor and covering the three sacred Kedars of Kalpeshwar, Rudranath, and Tungnath. The Indian Army is organising the challenge in strategic partnership with IconMetrix, with support from the Tourism Department of the Uttarakhand Government.

The Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army has inaugurated ‘Radio Sikkim Sundari’ (88.4 Frequency Modulation, FM) in East Sikkim near the India-China border. It is the first community radio station for a border village in the state.

The station is equipped with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and solar energy backups to ensure continuous operation. It also uses a dedicated encoder to facilitate digital streaming through a mobile application available on the Google Play Store.

The Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army has launched its first blue water sailing expedition named ‘Samudra Sahas’ from Marve, Mumbai. The event, inaugurated by NS Sarna (Commandant of the School of Artillery), commemorates the bicentenary (200 years) of the Regiment and honours the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The voyage covers 520 nautical miles along the Konkan Coast in four legs using 21-foot Seabird class boats. Led by Kshitij Nair and Prakash Funde, the team navigates 7 nautical miles off the coast with wind speeds ranging from 2-15 knots.

Sonam Wangchuk, a 1999 Kargil War hero fondly known as the “Lion of Ladakh”, passed away at the age of 61. He was a recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), the second-highest wartime gallantry award of India, in 1999.