In the Monthly Defence current affairs for July 2023, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article.

Monthly Defence Current Affairs July 2023

IN – FN Maritime Partnership Exercise                           

• Indian Naval ships INS Rana, a guided missile destroyer, and INS Sumedha, an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel undertook an MPX with French Navy ship FS Surcouf, in the Bay of Bengal on 30 June 2023.
• The French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate Surcouf visited Visakhapatnam from 26 – 29 June 2023 and participated in a variety of activities with Indian Navy ships which included professional and social interactions, sports fixtures and cross-deck visits.
• Earlier, this year, FS La Fayette, a frigate and FS Dixmude, a Mistral-class amphibious assault class ship had participated in an MPX with INS Sahyadri, a guided missile frigate from 10 – 11 March 2023.

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PM Modi Lauds Neeraj Chopra on Lausanne Diamond League Win

• Neeraj Chopra finished at the top spot in the Lausanne Diamond League with an 87.66m throw. Neeraj Chopra continued his sensational form at the Diamond League, clinching the top spot for the second time in the season in Lausanne on.
• Despite suffering from injuries after a strained muscle recently, Chopra’s comeback was sensational, as his fifth-round throw of 87.66m was enough to earn him the victory.
• Chopra had won the Lausanne event en route to the overall Diamond League trophy in 2022 as well and has continued to prove himself as arguably the best javelin athlete in the world since his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago. 

JIMEX 23                                     

• The seventh edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) hosted by the Indian Navy was conducted at/ off Visakhapatnam from 05 -10 July 2023. This edition marks the 11^th anniversary of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
• Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) units under the command of RAdm Nishiyama Takahiro, Commander Escort Flotilla One, and Indian Naval ships under the command of RAdm Gurcharan Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet are participating in the exercise.
• INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously built Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Kamorta, an indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette, fleet tanker INS Shakti, a submarine, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Dornier, ship-borne helicopters and fighter aircraft.
• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Said They Were Striking Terrorist Infrastructure In The Jenin Area. They Said That We Will Not Standby Idle While Terrorists Continue To Harm Civilians Using Jenin Camp As A Hideout, Adding That The Camp Was A Terrorist Stronghold.

EXERCISE – SALVEX 2023                                   

• The Seventh edition of the Indian Navy – US Navy (IN – USN) Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise, SALVEX was conducted from 26 Jun – 06 Jul 23 at Kochi. IN and USN have been participating in joint Salvage and EOD exercises since 2005.
• The exercise saw participation from both the navies which included the ships – INS Nireekshak and USNS Salvor in addition to Specialist Diving and EOD teams.
• Spanning over 10 days, the Diving teams of both countries shared experiences on Maritime Salvage and trained together in various facets of EOD Operations on land as well as at sea. SALVEX also saw the conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness and gaining from best practices mutually in Maritime Salvage and EOD operations.

Rajnath Singh Launches A Single Window NCC Integrated Software for Cadets  

• In a major step towards promoting digitisation and in sync with Digital India mission, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched an NCC Integrated Software in New Delhi on 07 July 2023.
• The NCC Integrated Software, developed in partnership with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo Informatics (BISAG), is a single window interactive software for Cadets, designed on the ‘Entry to Exit Model’.
• During this event, the NCC and State Bank of India also signed a MoU in the presence of Raksha Mantri to open zero balance accounts of all NCC Cadets with debit card, chequebook & passbook facility under SBI’s “Pahli Udaan” scheme. About 5 lakh cadets will benefit by this MoU every year.

US Plans To Send Controversial Cluster Munitions To Ukraine                

• The White House said it had postponed the decision for as long as it could because of the risk of civilian harm from such unexploded ordnance.
• Ukraine has been asking for the weapons for months amid an ammunition shortage.
• Cluster munitions – which are banned by more than 100 countries – are a class of weapons that contain multiple explosive bomblets called submunitions.
• The Biden administration’s latest weapons package for Ukraine is worth $800m (£626m). It includes Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, air defence missiles and anti-mine equipment.

Godrej Aerospace Eyes Share Of GE Engine Manufacturing                                             

• Godrej Aerospace said it will pitch to manufacture modules of GE 414 engines and become part of the supply chain to manufacture engines that will power the country’s next generation indigenous fighter jets.
• Under the deal announced during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the U.S. last month, the engines will be made jointly by GE and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited .
• The company is planning to invest 2.50 billion Indian rupees ($30.26 million) to build a facility in Khalapur in Maharashtra for advanced manufacturing and assembly and integration facilities, Godrej Aerospace said.

L&T, Navantia Sign Teaming Agreement For Project 75            

• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it has signed a teaming agreement with Spain-based Navantia for submission of a techno-commercial bid for the Indian Navy’s prestigious P75 (India) submarine programme.
• P75 (India) Submarine Project is expected to be valued at €4.8 billion (over Rs 43,500 crore) and is India‘s largest defence acquisition project.
• The Navy’s Project 75 (I) requires the Indian bidder to tie up with a foreign collaborator and execute the programme for delivery of six conventional submarines equipped with Air-Independent Propulsion while achieving targeted Indigenous Content. This would also be followed by a 30-year life-cycle sustenance contract of similar value.

Israeli, US Air Forces launch joint ‘Juniper Oak’ exercise                    

• The air forces of the US and Israel started a new round of their bilateral “Juniper Oak” training exercise on Sunday night, the Israel Defense Forces announced.
• The drill simulates aerial combat scenarios including attacks deep into enemy territory, achieving air superiority in space and cyber defence against a variety of threats.
• In March, the IAF participated in the two-week “Red Flag” training exercise with the USAF over the skies of the U.S. state of Nevada. The U.S. and Israeli air forces conduct daily drills involving nearly 100 aircraft.

India To Buy 26 More Rafale Jets, 3 Scorpene Submarines From France   

• India is planning to buy 26 more Rafale fighter jets and three Scorpene class conventional submarines from France. The proposals by the defence forces have been placed before the Defence Ministry and are likely to be announced during PM Modi’s visit to France this week, the agency said citing sources.
• As per the proposals, the Indian Navy will get 22 single-seated Rafale Marine aircraft along with four trainer aircraft, the report said, adding that the Navy had been pressing for acquiring these aircraft and submarines as they have been facing shortages in view of the security challenges around the country.
• The deals are estimated to be worth over Rs 90,000 crore but the final cost would be clear only after the contract negotiations are completed which will be held after the deal is announced, the report said.
• India has already got the delivery of 36 Rafales, for which it signed the deal in 2016. In 2016, India and France signed a Rs 59,000 crore deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets, equipped with the latest missiles and weapon systems besides multiple India-specific modifications.

IIT Kanpur develops AI-enabled ‘Suicide Drones’

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, has developed an indigenous version of the Kamikaze drone (a type of suicide drone). The suicide drone can carry a warhead of up to 6 kg for up to 100 km.
• Speaking about the development of the drone, Subramaniam Sadrala, Assistant Professor in the Aerospace Department of IIT Kanpur, said that the drones are equipped with stalled technology which enables them to escape radar identification.
• The development of the drone has been going on since last year under DRDO’s Young Scientist Laboratory (DYSL-CT) project, professor Sadrala added.
• In the next phase of development, the drones will undergo target destruction trials in the next six months.

MoU Signed To Promote Use Of Millets Among Indian Armed Forces                        

• A MoU was signed to promote the use of millets among the armed forces, besides ensuring the availability of nutritious food.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya here in the national capital. The MoU will also pave the way for the introduction of millet-based menus in mess, canteens and other food outlets under the defence ministry.
• India produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Brown top Millet and Kodo Millet.
• The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the proposal of India was supported by 72 countries.

MDL Given Go-ahead To Construct Three Scorpene Submarines            

• MDL has been given the green light to construct three additional Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy. This was the latest proposal among three others that were agreed upon during the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presiding over the proceedings.
• The term Buy (Indian) signifies the acquisition of products from Indian vendors that have been designed, developed, and manufactured domestically, with a minimum of 50% indigenous content.
• The decision to construct three more Scorpene submarines reflects India’s commitment to modernize its naval fleet and bolster national security. These submarines, known for their advanced technology and stealth capabilities, will augment the country’s maritime defense capabilities.

EX ‘OP SOUTHERN READINESS – 2023’             

• INS Sunayna was in Seychelles from 10-12 Jul 23 to participate in Op Southern Readiness 2023 conducted by Combined Maritime Forces. The visit was aimed at strengthening multilateral ties and enhancing cooperation through CMF exercise which is a multinational initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security, countering piracy to ensure safety and freedom of navigation in the region.
• During the visit, personnel of participating Navies from USA, Italy, UK, Seychelles Defence Forces & Marine Police, member nations of EUNAVFOR were engaged in wide range of professional interactions, subject matter expert exchanges and visits.

India, France Talks For Engines For Next-gen Indigenous Fighter Aircraft                        

• Amid plans to buy 26 Rafale aircraft and three additional submarines from France, India is also at an advanced stage of discussions with French firms for co-developing engines for fifth-generation fighter and Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH) being developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
• Discussions with the French firms are going on for co-developing high-powered engines for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft being designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation.
• The Indian aerospace public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is also in talks with French firms for the co-development of an engine for the Indian multirole helicopter being developed by HAL for multiple roles in the above 12-tonne class.

Safran & DRDO To Jointly Make Combat Aircraft Engine              

• In a significant decision, India and France on Friday decided to extend their ground-breaking defence cooperation in advanced aeronautical technologies by supporting the joint development of a combat aircraft engine.
• They also decided to support industrial cooperation for motorization of heavy-lift helicopters under the Indian Multi Role Helicopter [IMRH] programme with Safran Helicopter Engine.
• The two leaders adopted ‘Horizon 2047: 25th Anniversary of the India-France Strategic Partnership, Towards A Century of India-France Relations’.
• India had been in an advanced stage of discussions with French firms for co-developing engines for fifth-generation fighter and IMRH being developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Indian Army signs contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch with Tata Advanced Systems Limited 

• Continuing with the commitment towards the ‘Make in India’ initiative the Indian Army on Friday signed the contract for procurement of Tactical Access Switch with Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
• The officials also mentioned that the compact, modular and ruggedized networking device would provide faster switching capability and thus strengthen the tactical communication capability of the Indian Army.
• The surveillance equipment in the Army inventory has also been strengthened as the new Tata Rajak system has been inducted into the force which can observe or detect humans from more than 15 kms, and vehicles from more than 25 Kms.

Exercise “Nomadic Elephant – 2023”                 

• Indian Army contingent comprising of 43 personnel left for Mongolia. The contingent will participate in the 15^th edition of bilateral joint military exercise “NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23”.
• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 31 July 2023. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is an annual training event with Mongolia which is conducted alternatively in Mongolia and India, the last edition was held at Special Forces Training School, Bakloh in October 2019.
• Soldiers of the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 from and Indian Army soldiers from the JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY Regiment will be participating in the exercise. Indian Army contingent reached Ulaanbaatar on 16 July 23 by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft.
• The aim is to build positive military relations, exchange best practices, develop inter-operability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies. The primary theme of the exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate.
• The scope of this exercise involves Platoon level Field Training Exercise. During the exercise, Indian and Mongolian troops will engage in various training activities designed to enhance their skills and capabilities.
• These activities include endurance training, reflex firing, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training. Soldiers from both sides will learn from each other’s operational experience.
• India and Mongolia have a shared commitment to regional security and cooperation. Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT-23 will be yet another significant milestone in the defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Mongolian Army which will further foster bilateral relations between the two nations.

BDL Celebrates 54^th Formation Day- 16 July 2023

• BDL celebrates 54^th Formation Day, a new chapter begins ! BDL thanks its stakeholders for their dedication, hardwork & support extended over the years. BDL remains committed to continue its legacy of excellence & innovation to serve the Armed Forces.

Ashok Leyland bags orders worth Rs 800 crore from Indian Army            

• Mumbai, Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland said it has bagged orders worth Rs 800 crore from the Indian Army. The contracts awarded also include the procurement of the Field Artillery Tractor (FAT 4×4) and the Gun Towing Vehicle (GTV 6×6), Ashok Leyland said.
• The vehicles will be delivered over the next 12 months to meet the requirements of the Indian Army, the company said.
• The FAT 4×4 and GTV 6×6 are specialised vehicles employed by the artillery for towing light and medium guns, respectively, according to the company.
• Ashok Leyland is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturer, with their headquarters in Chennai. It is owned by the Hinduja Group. It was founded in 1948 as Ashok Motors which became Ashok Leyland in the year 1955.

Asian Athletics Championships 2023                                

• Indian athletes won a total of 27 medals – six gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze – at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023, which was held at the Suphachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, from July 12 to 16.
• In the overall Asian Athletics Championships 2023 medals table, India finished third, behind Japan and the People’s Republic of China. Japan won in 37 medals, including 16 golds, while China bagged 22 medals, including eight golds.
• Men’s shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, women’s hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker, women’s steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, men’s 1500m runner Ajay Kumar Saroj and the mixed 4x400m relay team of Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Kailash Mishra, Amoj Jacob and Subha Venkatesan accounted for India’s six gold medals at the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 in Bangkok.

Athlete	Event	Medal
Jyothi Yarraji	Women’s 100m hurdles	Gold
Abdulla Aboobacker	Men’s triple jump	Gold
Parul Chaudhary	Women’s 3000m steeplechase	Gold
Ajay Kumar Saroj	Men’s 1500m	Gold
Tajinderpal Singh Toor	Men’s shot put	Gold
Rajesh Ramesh, Aishwarya Mishra, Amoj Jacob, Subha Venkatesan	Mixed 4x400m relay team	Gold
Shaili Singh	Women’s long jump	Silver
Anil Sarvesh Kushare	Men’s high jump	Silver
Murali Sreeshankar	Men’s long jump	Silver
Swapna Barman	Heptathlon	Silver
Priyanka Goswami	Women’s 20km race walk	Silver
Chanda	Women’s 800m	Silver
Parul Chaudhary	Women’s 5000m	Silver
Krishan Kumar	Men’s 800m	Silver
Abha Khatua	Women’s shot put	Silver
DP Manu	Men’s javelin throw	Silver
Jyothi Yarraji	Women’s 200m	Silver
Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal, Mijo Chacko Kurian, Rajesh Ramesh	Men’s 4x400m relay	Silver
Abhishek Pal	Men’s 10000m	Bronze
Aishwarya Mishra	Women’s 400m	Bronze
Tejaswin Shankar	Men’s decathlon	Bronze
Santhosh Kumar	Men’s 400m hurdles	Bronze
Vikash Singh	Men’s 20km race walk	Bronze
Ankita	Women’s 5000m	Bronze
Manpreet Kaur	Women’s shot put	Bronze
Gulveer Singh	Men’s 5000m	Bronze
Rezoana Mallick Heena, Aishwarya Mishra, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Subha Venkatesan	Women’s 4x400m relay	Bronze

Asian Athletics Championships 2023 medals table
Rank	Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Japan	16	11	10	37
2	China	8	8	6	22
3	India	6	12	9	27
4	Sri Lanka	3	2	3	8
5	Qatar	2	1	1	4
6	Philippines	2	0	0	2
6	Singapore	2	0	0	2
8	Kazakhstan	1	2	1	4
8	Uzbekistan	1	2	1	4
10	Thailand	1	1	4	6
11	Chinese Taipei	1	1	0	2
12	South Korea	1	0	2	3
13	Vietnam	1	0	1	2
14	Iran	0	2	1	3
14	Saudi Arabia	0	2	1	3
16	Kuwait	0	1	2	3
17	Malaysia	0	0	1	1
17	Mongolia	0	0	1	1
17	Pakistan	0	0	1	1

DG Rakesh Pal appointed as 25^th DG of ICG   

• DG Rakesh Pal has been appointed as the 25^th Director General of the Indian Coast Guard. He is an alumnus of the Indian Naval Academy and joined Indian Coast Guard in January 1989. DG Rakesh Pal was conferred with Tatrakshak Medal in 2013 and President Tatrakshak Medal in 2018 for his illustrious service.
• He has undergone professional specialisation in Gunnery & Weapons Systems at Indian Naval School Dronacharya, Kochi, and an Electro-Optics Fire Control Solution course from the United Kingdom. The Officer holds the recognition of being the First Gunner of ICG.

C-295 Transport Planes India Factory For Main Parts To Go Live This Month                

• A production plant that will manufacture major components for India’s C-295 transport planes is going live in Hyderabad this month, in a significant milestone that marks the first time India will produce aircraft of this size.
• The first of the 56 military transporters ordered by the IAF will be delivered in September from a production line in Spain but work to make 40 of these aircraft in India kicks off this month.
• The IAF has also entered into a five-year Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) agreement with Airbus, making the company contractually obligated to ensure 85 per cent availability for the fleet at any point in time. This means that at any point in time, 85 percent of the fleet has to be operationally ready and not be in servicing or wait of spare parts.
• While the IAF has ordered 56 C-295 aircraft — each capable of carrying cargo up to 9 tonnes — Airbus officials confirmed that they, along with TATA, are in talks with the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for the procurement of up to 15 additional aircraft of which nine will be deployed for maritime surveillance.

US Announces 1.3 Billion USD Military Aid Package For Ukraine                     

• The US government on Wednesday announced a 1.3 billion USD military aid package for Ukraine — during its ongoing conflict with Russia — including air defence systems and attack drones.
• The package includes four more National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), medium-range air defence batteries that have helped Ukraine withstand ongoing Russian barrages of missiles and drones.
• The latest package will give Kyiv a total of 12 NASAMS from the US. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said last November that the NASAMS had a 100 per cent success rate in intercepting Russian attacks, CNN reported.
• The package also includes Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade attack drones, as well as counter-drone equipment.

Surat Diamond Bourse overtakes Pentagon as the world’s largest office building  

• For the longest time, the Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the US Army, has been the world’s largest office. However, the epithet has now passed to the newly constructed ‘Surat Diamond Bourse’ in Gujarat.
• Encompassing 4,500 offices for national and international traders, Surat Diamond Bourse aims to promote imports, exports, and trading of diamonds, gems, and jewellery from India.
• Famous across the state for its design, the bourse is built at a cost of about Rs 3000 crore and can accommodate 65,000 diamond professionals at a time bringing cutters, polishers, and traders under a single roof for the first time.

IAF Maintenance Command Develops Satellite-Based Real-Time Aircraft Tracking System     

• The Indian Air Force’s Maintenance Command has developed a satellite-based real time aircraft tracking system that can get information about the location of an aircraft, a senior official said.
• Talking to reporters, Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Maintenance Command located here, said the aircraft tracking system would be implemented once the final trial pending in the eastern sector gets over.
• The tracking system is satellite-based and can track the path of an aircraft, Air Marshal Pande said. The final trial of the aircraft tracking system is pending in the eastern sector and once it is completed then modification will be implemented in all the aircraft.

Argentina signs LoI with Hindustan Aeronautics 

• HAL and Argentina’s Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on productive cooperation and acquisition of Light and Medium Utility Helicopters for Argentinian armed forces.
• The Argentinian Defence Minister remarked that the day was interesting and a step on the road to an ever-growing and strong collaboration with HAL.
• Taiana also invited Minister Singh to the II Latin American Conference of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (ALCONU) that will take place in Argentina on September 12.
• In a press statement, Argentina’s Defence Minister said, “We are here to perfect and deepen the agreements we have and sign some others. One of them is a Memorandum of Understanding that is richer in content and concrete possibilities than the one currently in force.”

Air Force Day Parade And Flypast To Be Held At Prayagraj       

• The Indian Air Force will be celebrating its 91st anniversary on 08 October 2023. Keeping with the new tradition of hosting the Air Force Day celebrations in different parts of the country, this year’s Air Force Day parade and Air Display will be held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
• The ceremonial parade would be conducted at Air Force Station Bamrauli and the Air Display would be conducted over the Sangam area, in the vicinity of the Ordnance Depot Fort in Prayagraj. The scenic surroundings would add to the appeal of the stream of aircraft flying by in close formation.
• The Air Force Day Celebrations will actually commence more than a week before this with an Air Display near Bhojtal Lake at Bhopal Madhya Pradesh on 30 September 2023.
• The previous edition of the Air Force Day Parade was held at Chandigarh, with the flypast being conducted over Sukhna Lake there.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti As First Woman To Be Top Navy Officer In US History    

• US President Joe Biden has selected Admiral Lisa Franchetti for the job of Navy’s top officer, which confirmed would make her the first woman in the history of the US Navy to hold the position and also the first woman in the joint chiefs of Staff.
• Franchetti, who is currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations, was commissioned in 1985 and has served as the commander of US Naval Forces Korea, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff, according to her official biography.
• Notably, Franchetti marks another first for the Biden administration’s Defence Department, which has now had the first Black secretary of defence, the first female Army secretary, Christine Wormuth, and upon Brown’s confirmation would mark the first time the Pentagon’s two most senior leaders are Black men, CNN reported.

Visit Of ADM R Hari Kumar To Vietnam          

• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, on an official visit to Vietnam presided the Decommissioning followed by Handing Over Ceremony of the Indian Naval Ship Kirpan to Vietnam People’s Navy scheduled on 22 July 2023 at Cam Ranh, Vietnam.
• The transfer of an indigenously built in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam People’s Navy reflects India’s commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability & is in consonance with the GOI’s policies of ‘Act East’ and SAGAR.
• INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class Missile Corvette is being handed over to VPN in accordance with Hon’ble Raksha Mantri’s announcement of gifting an in-service missile corvette to Vietnam on 19 Jun 2023.
• On completing 32 years of illustrious service to the nation, Indian Naval Ship Kirpan has been Decommissioned from the Indian Navy and Handed Over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) at Cam Ranh, Vietnam.
• The Decommissioning and Handing Over Ceremony of INS Kirpan to VPN was presided over by Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Rear Adm Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, VPN.
• INS Kirpan, since commissioning in 1991, has been an integral part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet and has participated in many operations over the last 32 years. Manned by about 12 officers and 100 sailors, the ship is 90 meters long and 10.45 meters in width with a maximum displacement of 1450 tons.

Cmde.A Madhavarao(Retd) has assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Dynamics Ltd

• Cmde.A Madhavarao(Retd) has assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Dynamics Ltd.Prior to present appointment,he was Director(Technical) holding additional charge of Director(Production),BDL,with over three decades of illustrious career in Navy
• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It was established in 1970 in Hyderabad, Telangana, with the objective of manufacturing guided missiles and allied defence equipment. BDL has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities for guided missiles, torpedo launchers, countermeasures dispensing systems, and other defence equipment.

India Developing Its Own 400 Km Class Long-range SAM Air Defence System               

• In what could be a major boost for self-reliance in the defence sector, India is indigenously developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) defence system which would be able to strike down enemy aircraft and missiles at around 400 Km ranges.
• The proposal for developing a three-layered long-range surface-to-air missile system is at an advanced stage in the Defence Ministry and is expected to be taken up for clearance soon.
• The over USD 2.5 billion project will help India to be part of an elite group of militaries with indigenous capabilities to shoot down enemy assets in the air from such ranges, they said.
• The surface-to-air missile system development work has been taking place as India worked with Israel to develop the medium-range surface-to-air missile system MRSAM which can hit aerial targets at 70 plus km.

First Aadhaar Enrolment Centre For Indian Army         

• The first Permanent Aadhaar Enrolment Centre for Indian Army has been inaugurated in New Delhi, an official statement said on Wednesday. The PAEC will facilitate Aadhaar-related services for tri-services personnel (Defence and civil) and their dependents through their Field Post Offices in 48 identified locations in the country.
• All Command HQs, Corps HQs and selected FPOs are identified for the establishment of PAEC services.
• “Alok Sharma, Director General Postal Services and Lt Gen Rajinder Dewan, Quartermaster General jointly inaugurated the first Permanent Aadhaar Enrolment Centre (PAEC) for Army at 1 Central Base Post Office (CBPO), New Delhi on July 25, 2023,” an official release said.

Procurement Of Small Drones Under iDEX Scheme                

• The Indian Army had signed a contract for the procurement of an indigenously developed Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle developed through the iDEX channel.
• “The state-of-the-art airborne platform would enhance the surveillance, targeting, and tracking capabilities and carry out precision targeting of enemy targets”, the Indian Army said.
• The Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has put forth plans to acquire 750 units of the Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle, along with complete accessories. The RPAV serves as a potent situational awareness device, offering continuous surveillance capabilities both during the day and night.

BRICS NSA Meet       

• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in the 13^th BRICS NSA meeting in Johannesburg. He said that terrorism remains one of the key threats to national peace and security.
• The Saudi Arabian and UAE NSAs are special invitees at the BRCIS NSA meeting.
• While the NSA-level meeting is in the run-up to the summit on August 22-24, the meeting will be attended by special invitees like UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Arabia NSA Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban.
• The agenda of the BRICS NSA meeting is to discuss global issues like the Ukraine war, Indo-Pacific, religious radicalization and terrorism.
• National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met the Member of the Communist Party of China Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs’ Meeting in Johannesburg.
• During the meeting, NSA Doval conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

• The current DGMO of the Indian Army Is  
• Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar
• Lt Gen B.S Raju
• Lt Gen Manoj Pande
• Lt Gen Pratik Sharma

ANSWER: D

• IN – FN Maritime Partnership Exercise Conducted At 
• Chennai
• Visakhapatnam
• Mumbai
• Pune

ANSWER: B

• Which Two Forces Signed MoU For National Maritime Heritage Complex?     
• Indian Coast Guard & Indian Navy
• Indian Coast Guard & Indian Army
• BSF & Indian Navy
• None

ANSWER: A

• MISSION GAGANYAAN Will Launched By    
• ISRO
• JAXA
• SpaceX
• NASA

ANSWER: A

• Lausanne Diamond League 2023 Won By     
• Annu Rani
• Neeraj Chopra
• Shivpal Singh
• Arshad Nadeem

ANSWER: B

• India-UK Electric Propulsion Technical Workshop Held In     
• Chennai
• Visakhapatnam
• Mumbai
• New Delhi

ANSWER: D

• 132^nd Durand Cup Tournament To Be Organized In
• Pune
• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Noida

ANSWER: B

• Which Of The Following Is The Newly Member In The SCO?   
• Pakistan
• Iran
• Israel
• China

ANSWER: B

• __Edition of the JIMEX 23 Hosted By The Indian Navy.      
• 6^th
• 7^th
• 8^th
• 9^th

ANSWER: B

• Deputy National Security Advisor Of India Is  
• Vikram Misri
• Ajit Doval
• Rakesh Singh
• None

ANSWER: A

• First Medium Range Surface to Air Missile Regiment Being Raised In 
• Western Theatre
• Southern Theatre
• Northern Theatre
• Eastern Theatre

ANSWER: D

• Bastille Day Is Observed Every Year On    
• 12 July
• 13 July
• 14 July
• 15 July

ANSWER: C

• EXERCISE – SALVEX Conducted b/w India &    
• Qatar
• Oman
• UAE
• USA

ANSWER: D

• JIMEX Exercise 2023 Is Conducted At  
• Chennai
• Vishakhapatnam
• Mumbai
• New Delhi

ANSWER: B

• NCC Signs MoU With __To Open Zero Balance Accounts Of All Cadets. 
• BOB
• SBI
• ICICI
• HDFC

ANSWER: B

• MoD & HAL sign Rs 458 crore contract for two upgraded Dornier Aircraft for       
• IAF
• BSF
• ICG
• NSG

ANSWER: C

• US Plans To Send Controversial Cluster Munitions To__       
• Qatar
• Oman
• UAE
• Ukraine

ANSWER: D

• L&T Signs Pact With Spain Firm __To Build Navy Submarines.  
• Boeing
• Naina
• BHEL
• Navantia

ANSWER: D

• IAF Will Be Celebrating Its 91^st Anniversary In   
• Chennai
• Mumbai
• New Delhi
• Prayagraj

ANSWER: D

• Biden Chooses Admiral ___As First Woman To Be Top Navy Officer In US History.       
• Lisa Franchetti
• Ruena Jhon
• Lomisa Bendwick
• None

ANSWER: A

• Ex ‘Juniper Oak’’ Conducted b/w Israel &    
• Qatar
• Oman
• UAE
• USA

ANSWER: D

• BRICS NSA Meet 2023 Held At  
• Johannesburg
• Berlin
• Beijing
• Dublin

ANSWER: A

• First Aadhaar Enrolment Centre For Indian Army Via Army Postal Service Inaugurated In   
• Chennai
• J&K
• New Delhi
• Lucknow

ANSWER: C

• IMRH Stands For     
• Indian Multirole Helicopter
• Indian Multirole Helipad
• Indian Multimodal Helicopter
• None

ANSWER: A

• Which Exercise Conducted B/W India & Singapore?     
• SLINEX
• SITMEX
• SIMBEX
• Both B&C

ANSWER: D

• INS Kirpan Handed Over By India To__.     
• Qatar
• Vietnam
• UAE
• Maldives

ANSWER: B

• __ Has Assumed Charge As Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Dynamics Ltd.          
• Cmde.A Madhavarao(Retd)
• Ajay Bhalla
• R.D Singh
• None

ANSWER: A

• ___ Signs LoI With Hindustan Aeronautics To Acquire Light, Medium Utility Helicopters   
• Qatar
• Argentina
• UAE
• Maldives

ANSWER: B

• Asian Athletics Championships 2023 Held At    
• Thailand
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Bharat

ANSWER: A

• Abdulla Aboobacker Related With  
• Cricket
• Athlete
• Basketball
• Hockey

ANSWER: B

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