Latest news with #Shaurya
The Diplomat
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Hypersonic Arms in South Asia: Racing Toward Instability?
On July 16, India reportedly tested its most advanced hypersonic cruise missile under the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)'s classified Project Vishnu. Powered by an indigenous scramjet engine, media reports said the missile reached Mach 8 (around 11,000 km/h), demonstrated low-altitude maneuverability, and struck its target with precision. Designed for deployment from land, sea, and air platforms, the missile is dual-capable – able to carry conventional or nuclear payloads. While India has not officially confirmed the test, and some later reports denied a test had taken place, there is no doubt that India is moving toward development and testing of such a missile under Project Vishnu. India's hypersonic trajectory began with the Shaurya missile, tested in 2008 and 2020, which reached Mach 7.5 and laid the early groundwork for India's maneuverable strike systems. The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) followed in 2020, reaching Mach 5.9 at 30 km altitude. The upcoming BrahMos-II, developed with Russia, is expected to achieve Mach 8 over 1,000-1,500 km, with flight trials due by 2027. India is also developing hypersonic drones like the RHH-150, reportedly capable of Mach 10 and mid-flight directional agility, potentially transforming regional strike and surveillance dynamics. These hypersonic platforms are not just technological upgrades; they reflect a broader doctrinal evolution in Indian thinking. Precision strikes at blistering speed are increasingly central to India's response options under a time-constrained escalation window. During the recent India-Pakistan conflict, India reportedly targeted six major airbases inside Pakistan, including a surface-to-air missile (SAM) site near Mailer base. Drones were used to locate and attack air defense batteries ahead of time, an indication of India's evolving emphasis on suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and kill-chain integration. This operational logic mirrors Israel's recent campaign against Iran, where coordinated air, missile, and drone strikes systematically neutralized Iran's air defense networks before penetrating strikes were executed. Israel's experience in 1973, where it lost over 100 aircraft largely to SAMs, has shaped a doctrine of pre-emptive suppression. Indian defense officials appear to be embracing similar lessons. At a recent conference, India's defense attaché to Indonesia remarked that the Indian Air Force took losses in the conflict 'only because of the constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defenses…' He later added: 'After the loss, we changed our tactics and we went for the military installations… we first achieved suppression of enemy air defenses and then all our attacks could easily go through using BrahMos missiles.' These statements, when read alongside India's test and doctrinal posture, indicate a potential shift toward decapitation-style strikes – precise, rapid, and aimed at disabling Pakistan's retaliatory infrastructure before full mobilization. While India insists on maintaining escalation control, the technological velocity of hypersonic platforms may outpace political deliberation. Pakistan's geographic closeness to India compresses the available time for detection, target discrimination, and interception. Even with potential acquisitions like the Chinese HQ-19 missile defense system, Pakistan's capacity to neutralize fast, low-flying missiles across an extended border remains severely constrained. In the second phase of the recent crisis, India appeared to probe precisely this vulnerability. Islamabad has two primary options for responding to the threat, both perilous. The first is pre-emptive strike. India's deputy army chief recently revealed that during DGMO-level talks, Pakistan warned India to 'pull back' a launch vector, indicating Islamabad's real-time intelligence and vector tracking capabilities. Once Pakistan inducts stealth platforms like the J-35, it may be tempted to launch pre-emptive strikes targeting Indian aircraft or missile launchers pre-emptively. But such action would carry enormous political and military risk. The second option available to Pakistan is to exercise restraint and refrain from launching a pre-emptive strike, even in the face of credible signs of an impending Indian attack. However, this path carries serious risks of its own. India's hypersonic capabilities – particularly when paired with drones and precision-guided munitions – could severely degrade Pakistan's conventional response capability by targeting runways, radar networks, and air defense systems in the opening phase of conflict. Such strikes would not only impair Pakistan's ability to respond with conventional force but also disrupt command-and-control infrastructure critical to second-strike readiness. In this context, conventional deterrence begins to erode. The risks are further amplified by the fact that many of India's hypersonic systems are dual-capable. Most of these hypersonic missiles can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads, but their operational role remains undefined in India's public doctrine. This lack of transparency creates dangerous ambiguity. In a crisis, Pakistan would have no reliable way to discern whether an incoming hypersonic strike is intended to disable conventional forces or to deliver a strategic decapitation blow. Both of these factors – the erosion of conventional deterrence and the inability to distinguish between conventional and nuclear payloads under intense time pressure – heighten the risk of worst-case assumptions. In such a scenario, restraint becomes dangerous. Faced with a rapidly deteriorating battlefield and the possibility of strategic disarmament, Pakistan could shift toward a 'use-it-or-lose-it' mindset, increasing the likelihood of early nuclear use and inadvertent escalation. Escalation risk is further exacerbated by the absence of robust crisis communication mechanisms between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. As Pakistan's chairman of the Joint Chiefs observed, there is only a single operational hotline between India and Pakistan, with no supporting missile pre-notification regime or formal crisis control frameworks in place. In such an environment, strategic ambiguity, paired with the speed and opacity of hypersonic weapons, creates a dangerously unstable vacuum. The role of external powers is also under strain. During the latest crisis, the United States initially hesitated to intervene. Though it eventually played a backchannel role in securing a ceasefire, its involvement became politically toxic in India. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of 'surrendering to the U.S.,' prompting official denials of any foreign mediation. In future crises, such domestic political costs may deter Indian leaders from accepting U.S. involvement, weakening the last remaining circuit breaker in South Asia's escalation ladder. India's hypersonic capabilities are accelerating. Its doctrinal shift toward rapid precision strikes, backed by stealth, space-based ISR, and drones, suggests that the next India-Pakistan conflict may unfold more rapidly than ever before. But strategic speed, in a region without escalation buffers, is a double-edged sword. Without arms control mechanisms, missile restraint regimes, or institutionalized pathways to reduce tensions, South Asia risks sleepwalking into a conflict where no side can confidently predict outcomes – only costs.
India Today
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
5 Kay Kay Menon films to watch before Special Ops 2
7 Kay Kay Menon films to watch before Special Ops 2 July 16, 2025 Kay Kay Menon is currently gearing up for the release of his web series, Special Ops 2. Here are his 7 best films to stream ahead of the JioHotstar show. Vishal Bhardwaj's 2014 Kashmir-set adaptation of Shakespeare features Kay Kay Menon as Khurram Meer — Shahid Kapoor's cunning uncle, modeled on Claudius. Haider - Netflix In this patriotic film, Kay Kay plays Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh. The story follows the life of Captain Javed Khan, who is accused of killing his commanding officer, Major Rathod. Shaurya - Zee5 Kay Kay Menon stars alongside Amitabh Bachchan , playing the ambitious and volatile Vishnu Nagre, the elder son whose dramatic arc shakes the family's power dynamics. Sarkar - JioHotstar In this film, the lives of nine people living and working in the city of Mumbai change drastically when their fates intertwine with each other. Kay Kay plays Ranjeet Kapoor. Life in a... Metro - Netflix This film follows the lives of six newly-married couples who are on their honeymoon. They discover hidden facets and unravel secrets about their respective spouses on their four-day journey to Goa. Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. - Prime Video
News18
11-07-2025
- Business
- News18
The Forgotten 99.9%: Rethinking India's Sporting Future
India needs a Plan B — a structured, economically viable, culturally respected path for the 99.9% who give their youth to sport. Because the system's true success is not defined by a few elite podiums, but by how it values everyone who dared to try. It's within this broken backdrop that Shaurya Sports, founded by Akhil Ganju, steps in as a visionary force reimagining India's sporting ecosystem. Where most models chase the top 0.1% and abandon the rest, Shaurya flips the question: What if we created a system where passion doesn't go to waste? Where dedication pays off—even when the medals don't come? While India has long bet its future on the top 0.1%, a quiet transformation is underway. Across 12 states, Shaurya Sports is conducting semi-professional trials—open-format scouting events designed to identify raw, skilled, passionate players who may not be in national camps or elite academies, but possess serious talent and commitment. Each trial is backed by structured metrics: video analysis, AI-led skill benchmarking, speed and biomechanics assessments, and detailed player profiling. Already, over 30,000+ players have participated in these trials since launch, creating a talent reservoir that reflects India's overlooked sporting middle class—not school kids or national stars, but the vast segment in-between: serious players looking for a serious pathway. This effort feeds directly into the rapidly expanding universe of corporate cricket, a space now far bigger than casual weekend sport. Today, over 20,000 companies across India organize internal or inter-corporate tournaments every year. Shaurya's own flagship property – the Shaurya Corporate Premium League – with matches played in stadiums equipped with DRS, live streaming, fan engagement, and celebrity commentary. Teams from top-tier companies like EY, Accenture, Maruti, Pine Labs, Hero, and Honda have competed, drawing in tens of thousands of employees and families as active viewers. If measured as a standalone economy, corporate cricket in India is now conservatively valued at ₹300–₹400 crore annually—through spending on venues, travel, branding, jerseys, hospitality, video production, coaching, and talent acquisition. And it's still largely untapped. Shaurya's vision is to fuse these two engines: Semi-professional players who bring talent, energy, and ambition, and corporates who bring visibility, funding, networks, and long-term infrastructure In this mutually beneficial ecosystem, companies no longer field teams just to 'have fun"—they can scout real talent from Shaurya's trials, sponsor teams, and elevate serious cricketers into semi-professional careers. On the flip side, players who once faced dead-ends at age 20 now find structured opportunities: performance-based entry into high-stakes tournaments, stipends, visibility to sponsors, and eventually, career stability—whether as athletes, coaches, analysts, or league professionals. This isn't just a new tournament model. It's a new sports economy. Just as the IPL unlocked value at the elite level, Shaurya Sports is unlocking the semi-pro and corporate grassroots – where 99.9% of India's players actually live. The difference? This time, there's tech for transparency, AI for progress, corporates for scale, and a model for dignity. Every player tracked, every match analysed, every opportunity earned – not handed.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Villagers suspect adulterated ghee in dish': Over 70 fall ill after eating prasad in Madhya Pradesh; 15 hospitalised
BHOPAL: More than 70 people fell ill after consuming a sweet dish distributed as prasad during a religious ceremony in Bhind district. Incident was reported from Amlehdi village under Barohi police station area on Monday evening. Fifteen people were admitted to the district hospital. On receiving the report, Authorities rushed to the village late at night to provide medical assistance. The prasad was prepared using ghee purchased from a local grocery store. The ghee used for preparations reportedly lacked standard quality marks. Villagers suspect adulteration in the ghee used for making the dish. Radhakrishna Tomar, a resident of Amlehdi, had organized a puja for his 11-month-old son Shaurya around noon on Monday. About 10 kg of flour was used to make 'puas' distributed among the villagers as prasad. Within hours of eating the prasad, people began experiencing stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Officials say all patients are now stable and out of danger. Samples of the ghee, puas, and other food items have been sent for laboratory testing. A health camp will be conducted in the village for three days to monitor residents' health. Following the incident, the grocery shop owner reportedly shut down the shop and went into hiding. Authorities have promised strict action against those found responsible once the lab results are received. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
India Gazette
26-06-2025
- General
- India Gazette
NDRF to launch annual Mountaineering Program to boost disaster response in hills: DG Piyush Anand
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has decided to make its mountaineering program an annual exercise to strengthen rescue preparedness in high-altitude areas, the force's Director General Piyush Anand announced on Thursday. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the third NDRF Mountaineering Expedition, 'Shaurya', Anand said the move aimed to train rescuers to tackle disasters in India's mountainous regions, where such emergencies are becoming more frequent and severe. 'We have decided to launch this campaign (Mountaineering Program) annually... Natural disasters are common in the hilly states of India, and their frequency and severity are increasing,' Anand said. He highlighted the urgent need for operational readiness in terrains that are prone to landslides, avalanches, earthquakes, and flash floods. The mountaineering expeditions, he said, were crucial in ensuring that NDRF teams remain physically and mentally prepared for complex rescue missions at high altitudes. 'Our team must be prepared as first responders. This step is to improve our readiness,' he added. Referring to the most recent training expedition, the DG said it helped NDRF personnel gain hands-on experience in harsh conditions. 'This was our third expedition, so our rescuers understood that if we had to carry out a rescue operation in high-altitude areas tomorrow, we would be able to handle it without any issues,' he said. Meanwhile, on June 16, Union Home Minister Amit Shah applauded the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Forces (NDRF) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for bringing India closer to becoming a global leader in disaster management. Addressing the Conference held at the Relief Commissioners of States, Union Territories and Disaster Response Forces, Shah said 'It is a matter of joy for all of us that within 10 years, these three institutions, NDMA, NDRF and CDRI, have brought India closer to becoming a global leader in the field of disaster management. NDMA has done a great job in structuring policy matters, doing research work, delivering articles of various types of studies to the people, making many apps and overall coordination of policy has created its image in the entire country, has also earned fame and respect. SDRF has also played a huge role in the structure of I say that India is on the verge of becoming a global leader, then we have also gained a lot of fame and acceptance at the global level through the CDRI...' Shah said. He further stated that the last 10 years will be remembered as India's transitional period where achievements were made in the areas of capacity, speed, efficiency and accuracy. (ANI)
