Monthly Defence Current Affairs September 2024

In Daily Defence Current Affairs for Monthly DCA September 2024, 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. Let us now see the Daily Defence Current Affairs.

Monthly Defence Current Affairs September 2024

DAC Approves 10 Capital Acquisition Proposals

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on September 03, 2024, accorded Acceptance of Necessity for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 1,44,716 crore.
• Of the total cost of AoNs, 99% is from indigenous sources under Buy (Indian) and Buy (lndian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories.
• For modernisation of the tank fleet of the Indian Army, the proposal for procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) has been cleared. The FRCV will be a futuristic Main Battle Tank with superior mobility, all terrain ability, multilayered protections, precision & lethal fires over and real-time situational awareness.
• The AoN was also accorded for procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars, which will detect & track aerial target and provide firing solution. The proposal has also been approved for Forward Repair Team (Tracked) which has suitable cross country mobility for carrying out in-situ repair during mechanised operations. This equipment is designed & developed by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited and is authorised for both mechanised Infantry Battalion and Armoured Regiment.
• Three AoNs have been accorded to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The procurement of Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol Vessels having high operational features in rough weather conditions and Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels with advanced technology and enhanced long-range operations, will enhance the capability of ICG to carry out surveillance, patrolling of maritime zone, search & rescue and disaster relief operations.

DRDO Hands Over Production Document of 30mm HEPF Shell

• DRDO has handed over the production document of 30mm High Explosive Preformed Fragmentation (HEPF) Shell to Director General of Naval Armament Inspection during a ceremony organised at Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pashan in Pune.
• This 30mm HEPF shell, developed by ARDE, the Pune-based laboratory of DRDO, will further enhance the combat capability of the Indian Navy against drones.
• The features of HEPF shell are similar to the in-service ammunition (HE/I Shell) so that it can be fired from existing AK-630 Naval gun. The HEPF shell yields better fragmentation lethality than HE/I shell, making it effective for neutralisation of drone swarms.

Exercise Varuna 2024

• The Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft has landed at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe, participated in the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy.
• This deployment comes 63 years after the Indian Navy’s Alize aircraft, operating from the erstwhile INS Vikrant, last flew at Hyeres Airbase, according to a statement released by the Indian Navy.
• The India-France bilateral naval Exercise Varuna conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4. The exercise include advanced tactical exercises underscoring the deepening synergy and interoperability between the navies of India and France.

Joint Commanders’ Conference to be held at Central Command HQs in Lucknow

• The Joint Commanders’ Conference, with the theme ‘Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat : Transforming the Armed Forces’, held at Headquarters, Central Command in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on September 04 & 05, 2024.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the defence preparedness and address the apex-level military leadership on 5th September. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan delivered the opening address on 4th September.The conference will factor in the prevailing volatility in the regional and global environments to deduce plausible operational & employment scenarios, and simultaneously undertake threat and resource matching to develop a robust concept for future wars.
• It will provide an opportunity for the Commanders to review modernisation plans of the Armed Forces and discuss ways to improve the nation’s defence capability through jointness & enhanced synergy among the three Services.

20^th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting

• ICG participated in the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting from September 03 to 04, 2024 at Incheon, South Korea.
• During the meeting, various issues of significance, such as maritime law enforcement, safety and security of life at sea, marine environment protection, illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons & humans and future cooperation were discussed.
• On the sidelines of the HACGAM, the 12^th annual bilateral meeting between ICG and the Korea Coast Guard was also held on September 04, 2024, under the provisions of the MoU signed between the two agencies in March 2006.
• The meeting focused on augmenting operational-level interaction and capacity building in the areas of maritime search & rescue, pollution response and law enforcement.
•  HACGAM primarily focuses on fostering cooperation between the Coast Guards of the member Asian states to ensure and promote safe, secure & clean seas in the region.
• It is an independent forum with 23-member Coast Guard Agencies and also two associate members in the form of Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Successful Launch of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile

• A successful launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, was carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha on September 06, 2024.
• The launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters. It was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
• Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles which was earlier known as Agni II prime. It has been developed by India’s DRDO and displayed a number of new technologies and significant improvement in missile technology.
• Launch platform: 8 × 8 transporter erector launcher/Rail Mobile Launcher
• Length: 20 metres (66 ft)
• Operational range: 4,000 km

Nibe Limited Announces Setting Up India’s First Earth Observation Satellite

• Nibe Space Pvt. Ltd. (NSPL), a subsidiary of Nibe Limited, a pioneering name in manufacturing critical systems for the defence sector, announced its ambitious vision to establish India’s first multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth Observation Satellite Constellation at an event in Mumbai.
• With an aim to strengthen India’s self-reliance in the strategically crucial defence-space sector, NSPL signed MoUs/agreements for a consortium of key Indian and global partners, including Larsen and Toubro, CENTUM, AgniKul, Skyroot, SpaceFields, SISIR, CYRAN, and Thales Alenia Space (as Technology Partner), through this landmark initiative.
• This constellation will offer high-resolution imagery, GSD <= 50 cms, high revisit times, and an end-to-end turnkey solution for national defence and strategic interests. NSPL will offer this constellation to the end user on a leased or user-definable exploitation model.

Dr D K Sunil Appointed CMD of HAL

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd announced the appointment of d Dr D K Sunil as the Chairman & Managing Director of the company. The move was based Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production, Government of India Letter.
• Sunil held additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director from September 1. His term begin from the date of assumption of charge till April 30, 2026, the date of his superannuation or until further orders of Ministry of Defence.
• Prior to taking over as Chairman & Managing Director, Sunil was holding the post of Director (Engineering and R&D) of the Company from September 29, 2022.
• Sunil joined HAL in 1987 as a Management Trainee and has 37 years of experience in varied roles in the company contributing significantly to design, production, quality enhancement, and customer support issues.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas -2024

• The 20^th edition of India-USA Joint Military Exercise YUDH ABHYAS-2024 concluded at Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 9^th to 22^nd September 2024.
• Exercise YUDH ABHYAS has been held annually since 2004, alternating between India and the USA.
• This edition marks a significant increase in the scope and complexity of the joint exercise in terms of troop strength and equipment. The Indian Army contingent comprising 600 personnel is being represented by a battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services.
• The US contingent comprising of similar strength represented by the troops of 1-24 Battalion of the Alaska based 11^th Airborne Division of the US Army.
• Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations in a sub conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-desert environment.
• Tactical drills to be rehearsed during the exercise include joint response to a terrorist action, joint planning and combined field training exercises that simulate real-world counter-terrorism missions.

Indian Army & IAF ink MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya

• To enhance the skills and capability building of their personnel, Indian Army and IAF signed a MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Vadodara in the presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on September 09, 2024.
• The MoU will enable the two Services to acquire higher expertise on logistics. It will ensure development of in-house expertise on various facets of logistics operations and contribute effectively towards the national development plans – PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and National Logistics Policy 2022.
• Prime Minister launched the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) on 13th October2021 for providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
• PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan provides a comprehensive database of the trunk & utility infrastructure, ongoing & future projects of various Infra structure and Economic Ministries/Departments of Central Government and States/UTs. This data is integrated with the GIS-enabled PM Gati Shakti platform, there by facilitating the integrated planning, designing, and monitoring of the Next Generation infrastructure projects on a single portal.
• Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agri zones etc. are being mapped for integrated infrastructure planning andmake Indian businesses more cost competitive. This will boost economic growth, attract foreign investments while de-risking investments by visualizing the connectivity, and enhance the country’s global competitiveness in export markets.
• While the development of integrated infrastructure development is addressed through the PM Gati Shakti NMP, efficiency in services (like processes, digital systems, and regulatory framework) and human resources is addressed by the National Logistics Policy, 2022 through its Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP). NMP and National Logistics Policy together provide a framework for creating a data-driven decision support mechanism for an efficient logistics ecosystem aimed at reducing logistics costs and enhancing logistics efficiency in the country.
• Government has launched a National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022, aiming to achieve ‘quick last-mile delivery’, end transport-related challenges.
• Logistics encompasses planning, coordinating, storing, and moving resources —people, raw materials, inventory, equipment, etc., from one location to another, from the production points to consumption, distribution, or other production points.
• The term “logistics” describes the total process of controlling the acquisition, storage, and delivery of resources to their intended location.
• It entails locating potential distributors and suppliers and evaluating the viability and accessibility of such parties.
• Logistics costs have to be cut by half to be near global benchmarks by 2030 by reducing the cost of logistics from 14-18% of GDP to global best practices of 8%.
• Countries like the US, South Korea, Singapore, and certain European nations have such a low logistics cost-to-GDP ratio.
• The current cost is 16% of GDP.
• Being the 5th largest economy in the world, India aims to be among the top 10 in the LPI (Logistics Performance Index) by 2030. It has to match the pace of South Korea.

MoD Signs Rs 26,000 Crore Contract With HAL

• In a major boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with HAL for 240 AL-31FP Aero Engines for Su-30MKI aircraft at a cost of over Rs 26,000 crore.
• These aeroengines will be manufactured by the Koraput Division of HAL and are expected to fulfil the need of the IAF to sustain the operational capability of the Su-30 fleet for the defence preparedness of the country.HAL would  supply 30 aero-engines per annum as per the contractual delivery schedule. The supply of all 240 engines would be completed over the period of next eight years.
• By the end of the delivery programme, HAL would enhance the indigenisation content up to 63% to achieve an average of over 54%.

Launch Of ‘Malpe And Mulki’

• Malpe and Mulki, fourth and fifth ships of the Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft project, being built by M/s Cochin Shipyard Ltd, for the Indian Navy, were launched on 09 Sep 24 at CSL, Kochi.
• The Mahe class ASW Shallow Watercrafts have been named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India and will look to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile minesweepers which were their namesake.
• The Mahe class of ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors, and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters as well as Low Intensity Maritime Operations and Mine Laying Operations.
• The ASW SWC ships can achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots with endurance of up to 1800 nautical miles.

Indian Navy Looking To Conclude 3 Mega Deals Worth Rs 1.25 Lakh Crore

• In a move towards boosting its surveillance and fighting capabilities, the Indian Navy is looking towards concluding three major defence deals this financial year, including the 31 MQ-9B drone deal, 3 additional Scorpene submarines and the 26 Rafale-M fighter aircraft project.
• The Indian Navy has also been provided full support by the government for its urgent modernisation requirements, as it has been provided the highest ever capital budget of Rs 61,000 crore this year.
• Under the defence contracts, the government pays around 15 percent in advance for the projects. The Navy will get 15 of these drones, while the other two services will get eight each for their requirements.
• The second project which is in priority is the deal for building three additional Scorpene submarines in collaboration with French Naval Group and Indian Mazagaon Dockyards Limited.
• The deal is making progress, with MDL having submitted its revised bids for building the submarines at a cost of around Rs 40,000 crores.
• The sources said that Indian government companies like Bharat Electronics Limited will have a significant share in the Rs 40,000 crore project.
• The third project that the Indian Navy would be looking to complete in 2024-25 fiscal is for buying 26 Rafale M marine fighter jets for the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier.
• The deal is being done as per the last deal of buying 36 Rafale fighters for the Indian Air Force, with only the agreed rate of inflation being taken into account for detecting the price for the Rs 50,000 crore deal.

Tata, Lockheed Martin Aim To Make C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft

• Leading aerospace manufacturer Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) will set up a maintenance hub for the C-130J Super Hercules tactical lift aircraft in India and offer production of the planes locally as well in response to an upcoming air force requirement.
• The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility will be the largest of its kind being set up by the private sector and will cater for the fleet of 12 aircraft currently in service with the IAF as well as other transporters operating in the region.The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The C-130J is the newest version of the C-130 Hercules, and the only model currently in production.
• Top speed: 670 km/h
• Engine type: Rolls-Royce AE 2100
• Manufacturers: Lockheed Martin, British Aerospace
• Range: 3,334 kmWingspan: 40 m
• Weight: 34,270 kg

Exercise AL NAJAH V 2024

• The Indian Army contingent departed today for the 5^th edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise AL NAJAH. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 13^th to 26^th September 2024 at Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.
• Exercise AL NAJAH has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising 60 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services. The Royal Army of Oman contingent also comprising of 60 personnel will be represented by the troops of Frontier Force.
• Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise will focus on operations in the Desert environment.

Third Edition of INDUS-X Summit

• The third edition of the INDUS-X Summit concluded in the United States, marking  a progress in the advancement of a joint defence innovation ecosystem in India and the USA.
• Held on 9-10 September 2024, the Summit was a landmark event jointly organised by the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and Stanford University.
• During the summit, a MoU was signed between iDEX and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) under the US Department of Defence, to increase co-operation in defence innovation and deepen collaboration to facilitate industry, research, and investment partnerships among the stakeholders.

2^nd Consecutive Flight Test of VLSRSAM

• DRDO and the Indian Navy have conducted back-to-back successful flight tests of the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VLSRSAM).
• The second consecutive test was conducted on September 13, 2024, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
• The missile intercepted a high-speed aerial target, flying at a very low altitude and simulating a sea-skimming threat, which showcased its precision and capability to neutralise targets.

EW CONFERENCE “SPECTRUM” 2024

• Base Repair Depot Najafgarh, New Delhi successfully conducted EW Conference “Spectrum” on 13 Sep 24. The theme of the conference was “EW: Trends, Technologies & Maintenance Challenges”.
• AOC-in-C brought out the importance of Electronic Warfare as one of the main pillars of Air Strategy and highlighted the need of developing and sustaining the EW systems indigenously with the participation of Indian academia, DPSUs and Indian Private Industries.
• Many Academicians, Scientists from IITs, DRDO, DPSUs and industrial partners from defence equipment manufacturing industries participated in the conference. Officers highlighted the work being done by the depot and the support that is needed from other agencies.

Vinetra Commissioned In Visakhapatnam

• The Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility (Vinetra) was commissioned on 13 Sep 24 by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, at INS Satavahana, Visakhapatnam.
• The facility, aims to enhance the escape capabilities of crew from a distressed Kalvari-class submarine, and has been indigenously designed and developed, keeping in line with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, highlighting India’s focus on self-reliance in defence capabilities.
• Constructed by M/s L&T Defence as a turnkey project, the Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility is equipped with a five-meter escape tower integrated with an adjacent diving basin.
• The facility “Vinetra” (विनेत्र), meaning “Trainer” represents a significant step forward in building confidence among submariners, ensuring that they are equipped with the skills and training necessary to escape in case of any underwater emergency.

IAF Pilot Sqn Ldr SS Bhatkare Develops AI-driven Aircraft Inspection System

• Indian Air Force MCC’s SU-30 MKI pilot Squadron Leader Bhatkare has developed an AI-driven aircraft inspection system. The newly developed facility will help in reducing the accidents that earlier used to happen due to human errors.
• An inspection of aircraft needs to be done to try to find out if there is any damage. Sometimes the pilot is tired, or because of human error, it can happen that they miss out on certain things. A camera system will be developed that can scan the entire service of aircraft. This will be able to reduce the accidents that happen because of human errors,” he said in the video posted by the MoD.

Operation Sadbhav

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that as a part of Operation Sadbhav, the government has dispatched humanitarian aid to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
• The IAF on Sunday deployed its C-17 Globemaster aircraft to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Vietnam (Hanoi) following the severe flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi.
• Typhoon Yagi, recognised as Asia’s most powerful storm of the year, has caused destruction across southern China and Southeast Asia over the past week, causing multiple deaths.

Western Command Celebrates 78^th Raising Day

• Western Command of the Indian Army celebrated its 78^th Raising Day on September 15.
  • Western Command has stopped all aggressions into Indian Territory and ensured decisive victories for India. It is for this reason that it is known as ‘The Guardian of the Heartland of India’ and carries its motto of ‘Ever Westwards’ with pride.
  • In the course of its journey, full of valour and ultimate sacrifices, the braves of the Command have earned 11 Param Vir Chakras, 01 Ashok Chakra and 143 Maha Vir Chakras.
  • The Command got renamed as Western Command on 20 January 1948 and was directly responsible for controlling the operations in Jammu & Kashmir. Before raising of Northern Command, Western Command Besides Western borders was responsible for the entire Northern Borders of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Hundreds of Pagers Exploded In Lebanon And Syria

• In what appears to be a sophisticated, remote attack, pagers used by hundreds of members of Hezbollah exploded almost simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria Tuesday, killing at least nine people – including an 8-year-old girl – and wounding thousands more.
• A pager, also known as a beeper or bleeper, is a wireless telecommunications device that receives and displays alphanumeric or voice messages. One-way pagers can only receive messages, while response pagers and two-way pagers can also acknowledge, reply to, and originate messages using an internal transmitter.
• A U.S. official said Israel briefed the U.S. on the operation – in which small amounts of explosive secreted in the pagers were detonated – on Tuesday after it was concluded. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the information publicly.
• The Iran-backed militant group blamed Israel for the deadly explosions, which targeted an extraordinary breadth of people and showed signs of being a long-planned operation. Details on how the attack was executed are largely uncertain and investigators have not immediately said how the pagers were detonated. The Israeli military has declined to comment.

India’s First Military-Grade Intelligence Satellite

• Private sector defence manufacturer Nibe Limited has set an ambitious seven-year plan to establish a constellation of military grade intelligence gathering satellites that will be manufactured and launched in India.
  • The company, which specialises in defence components and has contracts for subsystems in major projects like the Pinaka launcher, MRSAM and modular bridges, plans to launch a complement of 23 satellites at the earliest, taking it up to 40 in the longer term.
  • NSPL signed MoUs/agreements for a consortium of key Indian and global partners, including Larsen and Toubro, CENTUM, AgniKul, Skyroot, Space Fields, SISIR, CYRAN, and Thales Alenia Space (as Technology Partner), through this landmark initiative.
  • India’s first military grade geospatial satellite manufactured in the private sector has been successfully launched and placed in orbit, with full functionality expected to be achieved within a few months.
  • Built by Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) at its Vemagal facility in Karnataka, the TSAT-1A was onboard the Bandwagon-1 mission launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in Florida.

Squadron Leader Mohana Singh is First Woman Fighter Pilot in LCA Tejas

• Squadron Leader Mohana Singh has become the first woman fighter pilot to join the elite 18 ‘Flying Bullets’ squadron, operating India’s indigenously ‘Made in India’ LCA Tejas fighter jet’s squadron.
  • The officer was part of the recent exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti‘ in Jodhpur, where she was part of the historic flight by three Vice Chiefs of the three forces.
  • Sqn Ldr Mohana Singh was part of the first group of three women who became fighter pilots in the IAF.
  • Mohana Singh’s other two female compatriots, Sqn Ldr Bhawna Kanth and Sqn Ldr Avni Chaturvedi are now flying the Su-30 MKI fighter jets in the western desert.
  • Up until recently, she was flying the MiG-21s and was recently posted to the LCA squadron deployed in Naliya air base in the Gujarat sector along the border with Pakistan.

MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drone Leased From US Crashes Into Bay Of Bengal

• A High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft (HALE RPA) leased by the Indian Navy operating from INS Rajali, Arakkonam (near Chennai) encountered a technical failure at about 1400 hrs whilst on a routine surveillance mission which could not be reset in flight.
• The aircraft was navigated to a safe area over sea and carried out a controlled ditching at sea off Chennai. A detailed report has been sought from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
• The Navy had leased the two RPAs from the US-based GA in 2020 in the aftermath of the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh.
• GA will also establish a Comprehensive Global MRO facility in India to support India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities, a joint statement issued by India and the US earlier had said.
• A variant of the Predator B drones manufactured by US firm General Atomics, the navy leased two MQ-9Bs four years ago to boost its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in the vast Indian Ocean region (IOR), and has been operating them from naval air station Rajali in Tamil Nadu.
• The RPAs have helped the navy keep a close watch on the Indian Ocean at a time when it has stepped up surveillance in the region to check China’s ambitions. The two MQ-9Bs have clocked a combined 18,000 hours of flying.
• The incident comes at a time when India in negotiating the purchase of 31 MQ-9Bs from the US to boost the military’s strength in a deal worth almost $3.1 billion. The estimated cost includes weapons, sensors, ground control stations, ground data terminals, ground handling equipment, spares and logistics support. Fifteen UAVs will be for the navy, and eight each for the army and the Indian Air Force.

Indian Army Signs Mou With Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR)

• The Indian Army has signed a MoU with Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR) at Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), Delhi Cantt.
• This understanding marks a pivotal step in advancing the Indian Army’s rescue and survival operations in mountainous terrains. The MoU stipulates that TMR will collaborate with the Indian Army in conducting customised training programs for Army instructors, aimed at improving their ability to mentor troops in avalanche rescue and survival skills.
• This MoU builds on the initial agreement made with Northern Command in 2016, which established dedicated avalanche and rescue support by the TMR. Subsequent agreements with Eastern and Central Commands in 2021 and 2024 further expanded this collaboration.

ICG Inks MoU With Key Environmental Foundations

• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) signed a MoU with ‘The Habitats Trust’ and ‘HCL Foundation’ to strengthen efforts in marine conservation on September 19, 2024, at ICG Headquarters, New Delhi.
• The strategic partnership aims to implement critical conservation initiatives and as part of the collaboration, the key efforts will include:
• Ghost Net Removal: Addressing the problem of discarded fishing nets, which significantly harm marine ecosystems.
• Mapping and Classifying Ghost Gear Aggregation Areas: Enhancing knowledge about regions most affected by ghost gear to prioritize clean-up efforts effectively.
• Surveys in Ecologically Sensitive Regions: Monitoring and protecting biodiversity, focusing on vulnerable marine habitats.
• Community Involvement: Engaging coastal communities in conservation activities to promote stewardship of marine ecosystems.

FATF Report Points To ‘Threats To India From IS

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation report on India said that the “most significant” terrorism threats in the country appear to relate to Islamic State or Al-Qaeda-linked groups active in and around Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Referring to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), it said the “backlog of pending cases (money laundering) remains considerable, with a large number of accused persons awaiting conclusion of their trials”.
  • FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog set up in 1989 out of a G-7 meeting of developed nations in Paris.
  • The FATF Plenary is the decision making body of the FATF.
  • It meets three times per year.
  • As of today, it is a 39-member body representing most major financial centres in all parts of the globe.
  • Out of 39 members, there are two regional organisations: the European Commission, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Indonesia is the only observer country of FATF.
  • The FATF Secretariat is located at the OECD headquarters in Paris.

INS Vikrant Joins Western Naval Fleet

• The country’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant joined the western naval fleet, in a significant enhancement to maritime power in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy said.
• With this, the Indian Navy has two aircraft carriers – INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya – on its western front.
• INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier in service with Indian Navy. The carrier is India’s fourth carrier and the first to be built in India. It was constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala. The namesake Vikrant is a tribute to India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
• Length: 262 m
• Launched: 12 August 2013
• Builder: Cochin Shipyard
• Construction started: 28 February 2009
• Draft: 8.4 m
• Ship Class: Vikrant-class aircraft carrier

Air Marshal A. P Singh Appointed As Next IAF Chief

• Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh has been appointed the next Chief of the Air Staff. He is currently the Vice Chief of the IAF and will take over the top post on September 30 when the incumbent Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari retires on superannuation.
• “The government has appointed Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of September 30,” it said.
• Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari will retire from service on September 30. Born on October 27, 1964, Air Marshal Singh was commissioned into the fighter pilot stream of the Indian Air Force in December 1984.
• During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 40 years, he has served in a variety of command, staff, instructional and foreign appointments.

Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) 2024

• Indian Navy will be hosting the fifth edition of Goa Maritime Symposium at Naval War College, Goa from 23 – 24 Sep 24. Conceptualised and instituted by the Indian Navy in 2016, the GMS is a forum for fostering collaborative thinking, cooperation and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the IOR.
• The theme for the event is “Common Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region – Progressing Lines of Efforts to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and other Illegal Maritime Activities“.
• The symposium will see participation of Naval representatives from 12 Indian Ocean Littoral countries – Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Observers from Kenya and Tanzania will also attend the event.

92^ND IAF Anniversary

• Towards celebrating its 92^nd anniversary, the IAF is set to host an immaculate air show in the skies over Tamil Nadu, on 6^th October 2024.
• This year’s event is based on theme “Bhartiya Vayu Sena – Saksham, Sashakt, Atmanirbhar” (Potent, Powerful, and Self-Reliant), highlighting the lAF’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation’s airspace.
• The people of Chennai will witness a thrilling spectacle on the day, with 72 aircraft from the lAF displaying mesmerizing aerobatic manoeuvres and synchronized formation flying. The event will take place at the iconic Marina Beach, starting at 11 AM.
• The last such spectacle was carried out over Sangam area in Prayagraj on 08 October 23, which drew lakhs of spectators. Similar response is anticipated this time.

DRDO Transfers High-Altitude Sustenance Technologies

• The Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences a leading laboratory under the DRDO handed over critical high-altitude sustenance technologies to the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd during an orientation workshop on September 21, 2024, at PGCIL’s regional headquarters in Jammu.
  • This workshop was organised to prepare employees for high-altitude operations as part of the 5000 MW Pang-Kaithal High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project in Ladakh.
  • The Pang-Kaithal HVDC Project, located at an altitude of 15,760 feet, is a significant step towards energy security in the region of Ladakh and the wider integration of solar power into India’s national grid.

Exercise Eastern Bridge VII Concludes

• IAF has successfully completed Exercise Eastern Bridge VII with the RAFO at the RAFO airbase in Masirah. The IAF contingent has returned to India after participating in a comprehensive series of training missions, which featured the participation of MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft from IAF, F-16 and Hawk from RAFO.
  • This exercise significantly enhanced strategic relations with OMAN besides operational coordination and tactical skills between the two air forces.

International Coastal Cleanup Day 2024

• ICG in alignment with the Government’s ongoing ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, organised the International Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 (ICC-2024) across all coastal states and Union Territories on September 21, 2024.
  • A large contingent of NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, and school & college students also joined the effort, reflecting the growing commitment of India’s younger generation to safeguarding the environment.
  • The Indian Coast Guard has spearheaded this movement in India since 2006, fostering a sense of community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Quad Launches MAITRI Maritime Initiative

• India will host the inaugural symposium of the new regional maritime initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to train Quad partners “to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behaviour.”
  • The first MAITRI workshop will be hosted by India in 2025, said Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs.
  • The MAITRI initiative was among the major outcomes of the sixth summit level meeting of the Quad group of countries, PM Narendra Modi, US. President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Delaware.
  • These included the launch of a new coast guard exercise, a logistics network, expansion of maritime surveillance, and a project to combat cervical cancer.
  • The next Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be hosted by the US in 2025, and the Quad Leaders’ Summit will be hosted by India in 2025. “The Quad is here to stay,” the declaration said. In 2025, the Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference is also likely to be held in Mumbai.

DRDO & IIT Delhi Develop ABHED Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets

• DRDO along with researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets named ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat).
• The jackets have been developed at the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) at IIT, Delhi. These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.
• With minimum possible weight of 8.2 kgs and 9.5 kgs for different BIS Levels, these modular-design jackets having front & rear armours provide 360o protection.

Air Marshal SP Dharkar To Be The Next IAF Vice Chief

• Ace fighter pilot Air Marshal SP Dharkar has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff.
• He would be succeeding incumbent Air Marshal AP Singh, who has been designated as the next Chief of Air Staff.
• Dharkar– an experienced fighter pilot with over 3600 hours of flying. He is an alumnus of the RIMC Dehradun, NDA Pune, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Air War College, USA. Commissioned in June 1985, he is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader, and Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner and has also been an Air Force Examiner.

Indian Ocean Rim Association Seminar

• The second edition of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) seminar on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing was conducted at Naval War College, Goa on 25 Sep 24.
• The seminar reviewed the IUU fishing activities in the IOR its implications in the economic, environmental and security domain, and the legal voids in tackling these activities that could be pursued by the IORA member states.
• Delegates from 17 IORA countries including Australia, Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tanzania participated in the issue-based discussions to counter the ever-growing menace of IUU Fishing in IOR.
• The Indian Ocean Rim Association was established on 7 March 1997. The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995

Multiple Choice Questions of DCA

1. Where did the maiden Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) of 2024 took
   place?
   A. New Delhi
   B. Leh
   C. Lucknow
   D. Mumbai
   ANSWER: C
2. What is the theme of the Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) 2024?
   A. ‘Secure and Strong India: Naval Transformation’
   B. ‘Strengthening India: A New Armed Forces Era’
   C. ‘Sashakt and Surakshit Bharat: Transforming Armed Forces’
   D. ‘United and Vigilant India: Evolving Defence’
   ANSWER: C
3. Where did the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM)
   take place in 2024?
   A. Tokyo, Japan
   B. Incheon, South Korea
   C. Beijing, China
   D. New Delhi, India
   ANSWER: B
4. Which company announced plans to establish India’s first multi-sensor, allweather Earth Observation Satellite Constellation?
   A. Bharat Electronics Ltd.
   B. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
   C. Nibe Space Pvt. Ltd.
   D. Larsen & Toubro
   ANSWER: C
5. From where was the successful launch of the Agni-4 Intermediate Range
   Ballistic Missile conducted?
   A. Sriharikota
   B. Pokhran
   C. Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
   D. Wheeler Island
   ANSWER: C
6. Which Indian Navy ship recently visited Toulon, France and participated in the
   Exercise VARUNA?
   A. INS Vikramaditya
   B. INS Sahyadri
   C. INS Tabar
   D. INS Shivalik
   ANSWER: C
7. The MoD signed a contract with HAL for the supply of 240 AL-31FP Aero
   Engines for which aircraft?
   A. Mirage 2000
   B. Su-30MKI
   C. MiG-29
   D. Rafale
   ANSWER: B
8. Which division of HAL will manufacture the AL-31FP Aero Engines for the Su30MKI aircraft?
   A. Bengaluru Division
   B. Nashik Division
   C. Koraput Division
   D. Lucknow Division
   ANSWER: C
9. The Indian Army and IAF signed an MoU with which university to develop inhouse expertise in logistics operations?
   A. Delhi University
   B. Jawaharlal Nehru University
   C. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Vadodara
   D. Banaras Hindu University
   ANSWER: C
10. Where is the 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise YUDH
    ABHYAS-2024 being conducted?
    A. Pangong Lake, Ladakh
    B. Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan
    C. Fort Bragg, USA
    D. Auli, Uttarakhand
    ANSWER: B
11. Which of the following countries is NOT a member of the Gulf Cooperation
    Council (GCC)?
    A. Saudi Arabia
    B. Oman
    C. Iran
    D. Qatar
    ANSWER: C
12. What is the name of the 4th ship of the ASW Shallow Watercraft project being
    built for the Indian Navy?
    A. Mahe
    B. Malpe
    C. Mulki
    D. Minesweeper
    ANSWER: B
13. Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) plans to set up a maintenance hub for which
    aircraft in India?
    A. Su-30MKI
    B. C-130J Super Hercules
    C. Rafale-M
    D. MiG-29
    ANSWER: B
14. Which country announced joint naval and air drills with Russia, termed
    “Northern United-2024”?
    A. China
    B. Mongolia
    C. North Korea
    D. India
    ANSWER: A
15. What is the range of the Agni-4 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile?
    A. 4,000 km
    B. 3,000 km
    C. 2,000 km
    D. 1,000 km
    ANSWER: A
16. What will be the new name of the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Port
    Blair?
    A. Veer Savarkar Nagar
    B. Sri Vijaya Puram
    C. Subhaspur
    D. Chandrapur
    ANSWER: B
17. What was the theme of the EW Conference “Spectrum” conducted by Base Repair Depot Najafgarh?
    A. EW: Modern Warfare Techniques
    B. EW: Trends, Technologies & Maintenance Challenges
    C. EW: Future of Electronic Warfare
    D. EW: Innovations for Tomorrow
    ANSWER: B
18. Where were the back-to-back successful flight tests of the VLSRSAM
    conducted?
    A. Pokhran, Rajasthan
    B. Wheeler Island, Odisha
    C. Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur
    D. Visakhapatnam Naval Base
    ANSWER: C
19. Who developed the AI-driven aircraft inspection system for the Indian Air
    Force?
    A. Group Captain Rakesh Sharma
    B. Wing Commander Abhinav Choudhary
    C. Squadron Leader Bhatkare
    D. Flight Lieutenant P. Kumar
    ANSWER: C
20. Where was the Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility (Vinetra)
    commissioned?
    A. INS Satavahana, Visakhapatnam
    B. INS Shivaji, Lonavala
    C. INS Vikramaditya, Karwar
    D. INS Kalinga, Visakhapatnam
    ANSWER: A
21. Under which operation did India dispatch humanitarian aid to Myanmar,
    Vietnam, and Laos?
    A. Operation Surya
    B. Operation Sadbhav
    C. Operation Shakti
    D. Operation Maitri
    ANSWER: B
22. On which date did the Western Command of the Indian Army celebrate its
    78th Raising Day?
    A. September 10
    B. September 12
    C. September 15
    D. September 18
    ANSWER: C
23. What is the main objective of the Indian Army’s ‘drone-a-thon’ event held in
    Leh?
    A. To showcase new drone technologies for entertainment purposes
    B. To revolutionize operations and provide tactical superiority in difficult terrains
    C. To train civilians in drone operations
    D. To conduct aerial surveys of mountainous areas
    ANSWER: B
24. What is the primary function of a pager?
    A. To send voice messages
    B. To receive and display alphanumeric or voice messages
    C. To store multimedia files
    D. To make phone calls
    ANSWER: B
25. Who represented India at the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence conference in
    Hawaii in September 2024?
    A. General Bipin Rawat
    B. Lt Gen JP Mathew
    C. Admiral Karambir Singh
    D. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari
    ANSWER: B
26. Who became the first woman fighter pilot to join the elite 18 ‘Flying Bullets’
    squadron operating the LCA Tejas?
    A. Wing Commander Anjali Gupta
    B. Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth
    C. Squadron Leader Mohana Singh
    D. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh
    ANSWER: B
27. What type of aircraft had to carry out a controlled ditching at sea off Chennai
    after encountering a technical failure?
    A. Boeing P-8I
    B. MQ-9B High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft
    C. Sukhoi Su-30MKI
    D. C-130J Super Hercules
    ANSWER: B
28. Which organization signed a MoU with the Indian Army for mountain rescue
    operations?
    A. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
    B. Indian Red Cross Society
    C. Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR)
    D. Himalayan Rescue Association
    ANSWER: C
29. Which four countries form the diplomatic partnership known as the Quad?
    A. India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia
    B. Australia, India, Japan, and the United States
    C. United Kingdom, India, Australia, and Japan
    D. India, Russia, China, and the United States
    ANSWER: B
30. Which vessel will Lt Cdr Roopa and Lt Cdr Dilna use to circumnavigate the
    globe as part of Navika Sagar Parikrama II?
    A. INS Sudarshini
    B. INS Tarangini
    C. INSV Tarini
    D. INSV Mhadei
    ANSWER: C

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