New Delhi, Jan 14: The Indian Army Day parade to be held in Jaipur on Thursday will be the first time when the force will hold it outside the cantonment area.

The event will take place in the city at Mahal Road, Jagatpura, and will be showcasing a wide range of weapons, vehicles, drones and defence systems.

The parade will also mark the first public appearance of the Bhairav Battalion.

The unit has been raised as part of the Army’s recent restructuring, drawing operational lessons from global conflicts, including its own Operation Sindoor.

The Bhairav Battalion is positioned between the Para Special Forces and regular infantry units. The battalion was raised to meet modern warfare requirements to provide a quick and precise offensive solution against enemies’ threats to the nation.

This allows them to respond quickly across different terrains, including difficult and hostile areas.
Earlier, speaking to ANI, a commanding officer of 2 Bhairav Battalion said, “Modern warfare is changing at a very rapid pace. The conflicts of today are hybrid in nature, and one needs to be fully equipped with modern technology to be able to deal with the challenges… The Bhairav battalions have also been created as part of the force restructuring, which has been raised in line with the requirements of modern technology, new thought processes and the new operational requirements.”

The parade will also display the army’s artillery and rocket capabilities, with several missile and launcher systems on show.

These include the BrahMos cruise missile, which can strike targets up to 800 kilometres away from land, sea or underwater platforms, according to the Army.

The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher will also feature. It was recently tested with long-range guided rockets that have a range of up to 120 kilometres.

Other systems on display will include the upgraded BM-21 Grad multi-barrel rocket launcher and the SMERCH system, which can fire 12 rockets of 300 mm calibre to ranges of up to 90 kilometres. Artillery platforms such as the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System and the M777 ultra-light howitzer will also be part of the display. Other gun systems too will be featured during the parade.

Air defence capabilities on showcase will include the indigenous Akashteer system with its medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which proved their effectiveness in a high-threat environment during Operation Sindoor by shooting down a variety of Turkish and Chinese-origin drone systems operated by Pakistan and have since drawn global interest as combat-proven platforms.

The Igla man-portable air defence system will also be a part of the display.

The Universal Rocket Launcher System (URLS), also known as Suryastra, derived from the Israeli PULS, will also make an appearance during the parade.

The army parade this year will also display how the army is integrating manned and unmanned systems on the battlefield. Soldiers will be seen alongside unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and drones for roles such as reconnaissance, precision strikes and logistics support.

The now prevalent concept of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) shows how the use of unmanned platforms can increase operational effectiveness while reducing risk to troops.
Several kamikaze drones will also be displayed, including Mini Harpy, Harop, Peacekeeper, and Sky Striker. The Trinetra loitering munition system will also be on display.

Based on lessons learnt from Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has set plans to procure 850 kamikaze drones. These drones will be used by all three armed forces and the special forces.
The Bhairav units are expected to make extensive use of these systems, as the battalion is specifically trained for drone-enabled and multi-domain operations.

All operatives are trained to handle drones and use them in real combat situations, including targeting enemy bases and formations inside hostile territory.

The Army has created a pool of over one lakh personnel with such drone-operating capabilities.
For the first time, the Army will also showcase its new solar-powered MAPSS unmanned aerial vehicle system.

A medium-altitude drone will also be on display.

The robotic mules, also known as robo dogs, which have drawn attention in previous parades, will return this year as well.

The recently introduced Sapper Scout unmanned ground vehicle, AEGMA ES 500, Airawat 1000 and other UGVs used for logistical support will also be featured.

Advanced electronic warfare and communication systems will also be featured.

These include satellite communication vehicles, integrated drone identification systems, vehicle-mounted drone jammers, jammer stations known as Samyukta, the HimShakti electronic warfare system and Trishul tactical drone jammers.

These systems in use by the Army strengthen counter-drone capability and improve situational awareness.

An array of specialised vehicles will operate alongside soldiers during the parade. These include the new Electric All-Terrain Vehicle VEER and Advanced Light Strike Vehicles fitted with Milan anti-tank guided missiles. Other anti-tank mobile team vehicles will also be displayed to demonstrate the army’s progress in tactical mobility.

Other equipment on display will include 81 mm mortars, modular bridge systems, the Sherp all-terrain vehicle, the Kalyani M4 armoured vehicle, also known as Nandighosh, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicles and the T-90 Bhishma main battle tank, among others.

This year, the Army will also feature its latest Apache attack helicopters, among other rotary-wing aircraft. The final batch of three Apache helicopters arrived in December, completing the delivery of all six. These helicopters have been inducted into the Army’s 451 Army Aviation Squadron, which is based in Jodhpur.

The Apache is among the Army’s latest additions and plays a key role in specialised missions, including anti-armour operations. It is equipped with a wide range of weapon systems. One of its key features is the Longbow fire control radar, which provides 360-degree coverage.

The helicopter also has a nose-mounted sensor suite that supports target acquisition and night-vision operations.

The Indian Army operates the latest variant of the Apache attack helicopter. The homegrown Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand will also tag team with it.

The Indian Army is set to receive 90 of these indigenous attack helicopters.

Every year, January 15 is commemorated as ‘Army Day’ to remember the occasion when General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, in 1949 and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India.

New Delhi, Jan 14: Delhi’s air quality continued to remain a serious concern on Wednesday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 357 at 7 am, falling in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks a further deterioration compared to Tuesday, when the city’s AQI stood at 337.

Several areas across the national capital reported AQI levels well above 300, indicating persistently hazardous conditions for public health. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 366 at 7 am, while Bawana stood at 361. Jahangirpuri witnessed particularly alarming levels, with the AQI touching 420, placing it in the ‘severe’ category. RK Puram recorded an AQI of 407, Dwarka Sector 8 at 403, Punjabi Bagh at 366, Wazirpur at 386, and Chandni Chowk at 397, according to CPCB data.

As per AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

Furthermore, as per air quality data available at 7 am, Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 139, while Bengaluru stood at 88. Chennai’s AQI was recorded at 108, and Hyderabad reported a comparatively better air quality with an AQI of 81. Jaipur registered an AQI of 211, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, while Lucknow recorded 193. Mumbai’s AQI stood at 118, Patna at 136, and Pune at 149, indicating ‘moderate’ air quality levels in these cities.

In addition to deteriorating air quality, Delhi is experiencing an intense cold wave. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), early morning temperatures in the city dropped to around 3-4 degrees Celsius. According to the IMD forecast, similar cold conditions are likely to persist throughout the day.

A day earlier, Delhi woke up to a chilly morning, with temperatures dropping to around 4 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions, accompanied by dense fog in several parts of the city, continued to disrupt normal life, affecting visibility and adding to travel-related challenges.

Meanwhile, rehearsals for the 77th Republic Day parade are currently underway at Kartavya Path.

New Delhi, Jan 13: Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday that the situation along the frontier with China in eastern Ladakh remains “stable but needs constant monitoring” even as he warned Pakistan against any “misadventure” in the western sector.

The Army Chief said India’s “resolute” response under Operation Sindoor against cross-border terrorism provided strategic clarity and that his force had made forward mobilisation as part of preparations for ground offensives following the hostilities with Pakistan.

Gen Dwivedi, addressing a news conference ahead of the Army Day, said the troops were subsequently pulled back by the end of May, but asserted that “our eyes and ears are open” and “any misadventure” by the adversary will be dealt with effectively.

The Army Chief also mentioned “two turning points” during Operation Sindoor – one of them being the 22-minute strike on terror targets in the early hours of May 7, while the other being “certain directions” given to the Indian military on May 10 on what to do if the conflict escalated.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched a series of precision missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, eliminating at least 100 terrorists in response to the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians.

General Dwivedi said at least six terror camps are still active across the Line of Control and two across the International Border, even after Operation Sindoor, and India will act if any nefarious activities are carried out.

He said 100-150 terrorists are present in these camps.

The Chief of Army Staff also listed a series of measures the Army has initiated to bolster its combat prowess, which included raising new units such as Bhairav light commando battalions, Shaktibaan regiments, Divyaastra artillery regiments, and Ashni platoons.

He said the government has approved the long-pending proposal to set up Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), which will comprise a mix of infantry, artillery, air defence, tanks, and logistics units.

The IBGs are expected to revamp the Army’s war-fighting capabilities, particularly along the borders with China and Pakistan.

Gen Dwivedi, extensively delving into ‘Operation Sindoor’, said it remains “ongoing” and “any future misadventures will be resolutely responded to.”

“Through 22 minutes of initiation on May 7 and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure and puncturing long-standing nuclear rhetoric,” he said.

The Army successfully destroyed seven out of the nine targets and thereafter played a pivotal role in ensuring a calibrated response to Pakistan’s actions, he said.

On the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, Gen Dwivedi said it “remains stable but needs constant vigil.”

“Apex-level interactions, renewed contact and confidence-building measures are contributing to the gradual normalisation of the situation. This has also enabled grazing, hydrotherapy camps and other activities along the northern borders,” he said.

“With our continued strategic orientation on this front, our deployment along the LAC remains balanced and robust. Concurrently, capability development and infrastructure enhancement are progressing through a whole-of-government approach,” he said.

Gen Dwivedi, without elaborating, also indicated that India and China have carried out “troop readjustment” as part of larger goals to keep the LAC stable.

The Chief of Army Staff also asserted that the Shaksgam Valley belongs to India.

Pakistan illegally ceded 5180 sq km of Indian territory in the Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963 from areas illegally occupied by it.

“As far as the Shaksgam Valley is concerned, India considers the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China as illegal,” he said.

“We don’t approve of any activity in the valley. The Ministry of External Affairs has already stated this clearly. Therefore, the joint statement which has been issued in China, what I understand about the CPEC 2.0, we do not accept it, and we consider it an illegal action being carried out by the two nations,” he said.

India has been severely critical of the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through PoK.

Gen Dwivedi also said that the situation in J&K remains “sensitive but firmly under control.”

“In 2025, 29 terrorists were eliminated, of which 59 percent were Pakistan-origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack neutralised in Operation Mahadev,” he said.

“Active local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent – only two in 2025.”

The theme of “terrorism to tourism” is gradually taking shape, he said.

Expanding on the two turning points during Operation Sindoor, Gen Dwivedi said, “The first was the 22-minute strike on terrorist targets, which derailed the opposite side’s decision-making, and they took time to take that all in.

“Following this, there was confusion among them, and that led to mismanaged responses, which were met with our calibrated response.

“The second turning point was on the morning of May 10. The tri-forces were given certain directions about what to do if this war had escalated. They had understood it, and hence, they called our DGMO (Director General of Military Operations).

“They (Pakistan military) had complete information about which ship, which strike or pivot, which core unit, or which aircraft was moving where, all from satellites. When they connected these dots, they said that the time had come to stop the war.”