Kargil Vijay Diwas: NALSA launches free legal aid services for soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families
NALSA's executive chairman, Justice Suryakant, launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojna on Saturday in a ceremony held in New Delhi.
He virtually inaugurated legal services clinics in Sainik Welfare Boards across states.
A legal services clinic at the headquarters of Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation, Hamirpur, was also inaugurated virtually, officials said.
Free legal aid will be provided to ex-servicemen, serving soldiers and their families in the legal services clinic established in Hamirpur.
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The Wire
4 days ago
- The Wire
Rudra, Bhairav, Shaktibaan: Army's Mythology-Infused Brigades Revive an Old War Plan in New Garb
Security Rahul Bedi Unveiled with fanfare and Sanskritised names, the Army's new frontline formations promise speed, autonomy and high-tech punch. Yet beneath the political symbolism and mythological flourish lies a rebranding of the long-stalled Integrated Battle Group concept – with many of its old doctrinal and logistical hurdles still unresolved. In this image released by @adgpi on X on July 28, 2025, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi during a visit at headquarters of Fire and Fury Corps and Siachen Brigade to review the operational preparedness of the formation, in Leh, Ladakh. Photo: X/@adgpi/PTI. Chandigarh: The Indian Army's (IAs) proposed frontline formations – Rudra, Bhairav and Shaktibaan – recently unveiled by Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and named after Hindu mythological figures, reflect more continuity with earlier, abandoned schemes than with any meaningful doctrinal shift. For beyond their Indic monikers, these formations amount to little more than a conceptual reboot of the old Integrated Battle Group (IBG) idea, first floated in 2019 by former Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India's first Chief of Defence Staff . Wrapped in symbolism, the all-arms offensive Rudra ('destruction') brigades – two of which already exist – comprising infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, and signals units , for rapid thrusts into enemy territory, were announced by Gen. Dwivedi on Kargil Vijay Diwas in Drass on July 26. According to official sources, each of the proposed Rudra brigades of around 3,000-odd personnel were envisaged as self-sufficient units, capable of autonomously launching high-intensity, short-duration warfare, along India's northern and western unsettled borders. Evoking aggression and spiritual symbolism, these Rudra formations were thus named to blend Hindu mythology with modern day military intent. What's new? Unveiled some 10 weeks after hostilities with Pakistan were paused under Operation Sindoor, the Bhairav ('ferocious') light commando battalions were also introduced by Gen. Dwivedi as shock-and-awe units, likely tailored for urban warfare and close-quarter combat. Also announced were Shaktibaan ('divine power') artillery formations, augmented by Divyastra ('precision') surveillance UAVs, drone batteries, and loitering munitions to enhance hi-tech lethality. The Bhairav units appear to be scaled-up versions of Ghatak platoons – 20 to 30-man assault teams within regular infantry battalions – tasked with reconnaissance and behind-the-lines operations. Yet, beyond their fierce branding, little has been disclosed about the Bhairav formations, leaving their structure, role and doctrine somewhat opaque. The proposed Shaktibaan brigades, equipped with precision artillery and assorted ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) unmanned aerial systems, were intended for rapid cross-border strikes. Significantly, they are expected to include cyber and electronic warfare units, marking a departure from legacy structures where artillery and ISR were traditionally considered 'support' elements. In Shaktibaan, these become the primary strike instruments in a digital-first battlespace. Also read: From 'Samudraraja' to 'Garuda Nayak', Imagining BJP's Vision of an 'Atmanirbhar', Sanskritised Military Furthermore, at Shaktibaan's core is the Divyastra unit – an integrated precision strike and drone warfare element, combining loitering munitions, swarm drones, and real-time targeting capability. Divyastra is designed for fast, disruptive attacks against enemy assets, including suppression of air defences and logistical hubs, all the while limiting troop exposure much like what transpired during Op Sindoor. IBGs Official sources said no fresh recruitments were planned for these aforementioned units. Instead, select units from the Army's existing pool of 250-odd single-arm brigades would be reorganised and repurposed into these broader, multi-arm structures, without expanding manpower. Gen. Dwivedi's unveiling of these 'Sanskritised' operational units marks a formal revival of the long-stalled IBGs originally conceived under the Army's 'Cold Start' doctrine. Designed for swift, limited offensives against Pakistan without triggering full-scale war, the doctrine gained traction after the 2001-2o02 Operation Parakram standoff, sparked by the terrorist attack on India's parliament building which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). IBGs, led by major general-rank officers, were envisioned as agile formations of 5,000-6,000 troops each, combining infantry, armour, air defence, logistics, and attack helicopters. Their goal was to compress the lag time between political decision and military action, enabling rapid punitive strikes under a nuclear overhang before the adversary could respond or escalate. The Army's revised 2018 Land Warfare Doctrine further refined the IBG concept, with Gen. Rawat advocating their deployment across both the Pakistani and Chinese fronts, but the project remained mired in doctrinal disagreements and bureaucratic inertia. Also Read: No Takers for Modi's Plan to 'Decolonise' Navy by Introducing Kurta-Pyjama in Dress Code One of its most contentious proposals was the scrapping of the brigadier rank – an idea that faced stiff resistance from within the Army. Gen. Rawat also sidestepped a more pressing issue: the chronic lack of funding needed to operationalise these ambitious formations. Strategic agility, it turned out, was easier to theorise than to finance. Despite these limitations, the IBGs were formally validated in 2019 after multiple field exercises. But implementation soon stalled, due to defence ministry sluggishness, logistical ambiguity and doctrinal friction among various Army commands. The broader shift envisioned by Cold Start theorists never took root – until it was resurrected last week, rebranded in mythological garb as Rudra. What of Rawat's proposal? Tellingly, these new brigades are to be led by brigadier-rank officers, whose status remains intact, reversing Rawat's controversial proposal. Rudra's nomenclature – like the other associated 'Sanskritised' formations and systems – also echoes the BJP government's broader drive to 'decolonise' Indian military traditions and assert a Hindutva-inflected national identity upon it. And, while the political packaging has changed, the underlying military structure remains unmistakably IBG in design. What differentiates Rudra from its predecessor remains vague. Army brass describes it as an 'upgrade', while making no reference to the shelved IBG framework. They also maintain that over time, the Rudra brigades are expected to absorb advanced technologies – real-time ISR from drones, networked artillery, battlefield surveillance and high-speed communications – to speed-up the offensive kill chain and improve tactical autonomy. Strategically too, these innovations are eventually expected to align with the under-implementation vision of Integrated Theatre Commands under CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan. Yet, many of the challenges that scuttled the IBGs persist: doctrinal discord between commands, fractured logistics systems, patchy communication interoperability and unresolved air support coordination. Procurement delays – both indigenous and imported – of platforms and associated equipment only exacerbate these challenges. So the question remains: will the IA finally deliver on its promise of nimble, autonomous, integrated formations along its unresolved borders. Or will these mythologically named units – anointed with a tilak – become yet another repackaged slogan wrapped in political symbolism, to be unveiled once more with fanfare at a future Kargil Vijay Diwas by another Army chief with yet a new allegorical name? The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Supreme court to look into legality of NOTA for voters in uncontested polls
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will look into whether the option of NOTA (None of the Above) vote could legally be given in constituencies where there is an 'uncontested' election with only one candidate.'The issue is that the invisible will of the people should be allowed to be exercised. If there is only one candidate and voters don't like him shouldn't they be allowed to vote? I believe this is a very interesting proposition,' observed the bench of Justice Suryakant, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N Kotishwar Singh on observation came from a petition filed by the NGO Vidhi Center for Legal Policy and the intervention plea filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which have challenged the polling process for 'uncontested' elections under section 53 (2) of the Representation of People Act. The petition had sought a declaration that the NOTA option should be available to voters in case there is only one contesting candidate for an election. The petition has argued that after the introduction of the NOTA option in polls since 2013, the 'Right to vote' of the electorate was being violated in situations where only one candidate contested the petitioners also submitted that while there was a sharp decline in uncontested seats in the Lok Sabha elections after 1989, there are several instances in State assembly elections when a candidate is elected unopposed. The figure is even higher at the level of Panchayat/Local body elections. During the brief hearing on Thursday, the bench noted that the averments by the petitioners seem to seek 'an extension of the NOTA principle.''If there is only one candidate and people still go and vote NOTA, then it shows there is so much resentment against the candidate,' suggested Justice government and the ECI, however, vehemently opposed the General R Venkataramani, during the hearing, informed the bench that, due to rare situations where an election is uncontested, 'this is an academic exercise.' The Attorney General also submitted that the court would have to 'see how far NOTA can be stretched.'Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, for the ECI, also argued that "if people are so unhappy with the candidate, they can field their own candidate." Dwivedi also submitted that Advocate Harsh Parasher, appearing for Vidhi Legal however, said that the matter affected the people's right to choose their representative.'This has happened in Vidhan Sabhas more than 290 times in the last few years. In Arunachal Pradesh, in the 2024 polls, 6 seats were uncontested,' said Parashar. The counsel also submitted that the rules should allow countermanding an election if the NOTA votes are polled in an "uncontested" election. "What will happen then?" asked bench then observed that if the NOTA is accepted and an election is countermanded, it is likely that political parties would field different candidates in the bypoll."I think all parties will field candidates. In India, we also have independent candidates. It's rare to have an uncontested election. That's why the AG says it's an academic exercise," noted Justice Prashant Bhushan, appearing for ADR, also pointed out that some states have brought in rules for Local Body elections that if NOTA votes are more than votes for a winning candidate, then the election is countermanded and a fresh election can be held. The ECI counsel, however, argued that the local body polls, held under the state rules, are legally different from the State Assembly and Lok Sabha polls that are held under the RP Act and ECI hearing has for now been adjourned to November 6 as the affidavit filed by the central government on Thursday was not available on the court record at the time of the Centre and the ECI, in their affidavits, have opposed the plea, submitting that Section 53 of the RP Act and Rule 11 of the Conduct of Elections Rules specifically lay down the process for an 'Uncontested Election.'advertisementIn its affidavit filed on Thursday, the central government argued that 'there is a difference between the 'Right to Vote' and the 'Freedom of Voting' under the Constitution,' which has been recognised by the Supreme Government has further argued that NOTA cannot be included as a 'candidate' in the election, as the law clearly defines the procedure depending on the number of candidates in the election. According to the Center's affidavit, 'NOTA is merely an opinion or expression,' and therefore cannot be substituted as a 'candidate' as per the procedure prescribed under Section 53(2).- EndsTune InMust Watch
The Print
6 days ago
- The Print
Legal aid clinic for soldiers, veterans inaugurated in Hamirpur under NALSA Scheme
Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, along with other judges, was also present on the occasion. The clinic was virtually inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who is also the Chief Patron of the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, during a function held in Shimla. Hamirpur (HP), August 7 (PTI) A legal services clinic was inaugurated at the District Sainik Welfare Office HERE on Thursday under the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025, launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to provide free legal aid to soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families. The ceremony was telecast live at the District Sainik Welfare Office in Hamirpur, where the legal services clinic was formally launched. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort under the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana-2025, which was launched by Supreme Court Judge and NALSA Executive Chairman Justice Suryakant during a regional conference in Srinagar on July 26, coinciding with Kargil Vijay Diwas. At that time, a legal aid clinic had also been established on the premises of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Corporation in Hamirpur. The clinic will offer free legal assistance through panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers to both serving and retired defence personnel and their families. PTI COR OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
