
We're combat-ready
In a statement released on X, the Navy said, "Indian Navy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike. Indian Navy stands Combat Ready Credible and Future Ready in safeguarding the nation's maritime interests Anytime Anywhere Anyhow."
The tests come against the backdrop of heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
On Thursday, Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer, INS Surat, also conducted a successful test firing of the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system in the Arabian Sea.
The MR-SAM, developed jointly with Israel, is highly effective against surface-to-surface missiles and aerial threats, boasting an interception range of around 70 kilometres. "Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities," the Navy said.
INS Surat, commissioned in January 2025, is the fourth and final Visakhapatnam-class stealth destroyer built under the P15B project.
With 75 percent indigenous content, it showcases India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing and its advanced capabilities in warship design and development. The warship is equipped with BrahMos and Barak-8 missiles, AI integration, advanced radar systems, and sophisticated network-centric warfare capabilities, marking a significant boost to India's multi-domain maritime strength.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
As Trump deploys nuclear submarines after Putin aide Medvedev's warning of war, here's a look at US and Russian navy submarine capabilities
In a sharp response to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, days after he made 'provocative statements' and threatened war between the US and Russia, President Donald Trump said Friday he's ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines 'based on the highly provocative statements' of the country's former president, Dmitry Medvedev. Currently, Medvedev is serving as deputy chairman of Russia's National Security Council. The US president, in a social media post, stated that based on the 'highly provocative statements' from Medvedev, he had "ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.' 'Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances,' the president further stated. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence others Project Management MBA Degree Healthcare Technology Finance healthcare Product Management Data Science Leadership Cybersecurity Management CXO MCA Operations Management Public Policy Data Science PGDM Design Thinking Digital Marketing Others Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Visualization Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making Analytics Strategy & Implementation Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Applied Business Analytics Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details 'Based on the highly provocative statements of the former president of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that. Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,' Trump said on Truth Social. Medvedev, in his post on X on Monday (July 28, 2025), said, 'Trump's playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10… He should remember 2 things.' '1. Russia isn't Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,' Medvedev wrote. 'Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don't go down the Sleepy Joe road!' Medvedev stated, referring to former President Joe Biden. As President Trump hits back at Russia over Medvedev's war threats, here's a look at US and Russian naval submarines: Live Events US Navy Submarines The United States submarine force consists of four operational classes: Ohio, Los Angeles, Seawolf, and Virginia, all of which are nuclear-powered, according to (Nuclear Threat Initiative website, The Ohio class includes 14 SSBNs that make up the sea-based part of the U.S. nuclear triad. Four more Ohio-class submarines have been converted to SSGNs, equipped for both strike missions and Special Forces deployment. The other three active classes—Virginia, Seawolf, and Los Angeles—consist of SSN attack submarines designed for targeting enemy ships, supporting operations ashore and carrier groups, and conducting surveillance. Total Submarines in Fleet: 71 Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs): 14 Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs): 53 Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN): 4 Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs): 0 Air-independent propulsion submarines (AIPs): 0 Russian Navy Submarines The Russian Navy operates one of the world's largest submarine fleets, with an estimated 64 vessels. Its 16 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) are a core part of Russia's strategic deterrent. Despite financial challenges after the Soviet Union's collapse, Russia has made major upgrades to its submarine force in recent years. Total Submarines in Fleet: 64 Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs): 16 Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs): 14 Nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGNs): 11 Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs): 23 After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia took up several projects to boost its submarine fleet. In 1993, Russia started the construction of a Yasen-class submarine, the Severodvinsk (K-885). The country, however, did not commission it until 2014. The Russian Navy is planning to replace both its SSNs and SSGNs with the multirole Project 885-M Yasen-class submarines. Russia launched its second Yasen-class submarine, the Kazan, in 2017. This vessel entered into service in the Northern Fleet in 2021. Russia signed a contract with the shipbuilding company Sevmash to build two Project 885-M Yasen-class nuclear-powered attack submarines in June 2019. The Borei-class (NATO: Dolgorukiy) SSBNs play a key role in Russia's post-Cold War strategic arsenal. Launched in 1996, the Borei-class is set to replace the aging Typhoon-class, Kalmar-class (NATO: Delta III), and Delfin-class (NATO: Delta IV) submarines, according to Russia launched its first Borei-A class submarine, Knyaz Vladimir, in 2017. It includes several upgrades over the original design. The Russian military declared Knyaz Vladimir fully operational in 2021, and it has since taken part in groundbreaking under-ice missions. In April 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed its plans to build two new Borei-K-class nuclear submarines. The first of these boats, the Knyaz Oleg, was laid down in July 2014-15, completed sea trials, and was commissioned to the Pacific Fleet in late 2021. The second submarine, Generalissimo Suvorov, was commissioned in late 2022. As of early 2023, reports indicate it is serving with Russia's Northern Fleet. These vessels are nearly identical to earlier Borei-class models but can launch long-range cruise missiles.

The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Here's why enrollments are falling in govt schools and how that can be fixed
Government schools in India offer numerous student-friendly benefits: free education, qualified and better-paid teachers, mid-day meals, free textbooks and uniforms, and low or zero fees. These should make them the natural first choice for most families, especially in rural and low-income communities. Yet, enrollment in government schools has been steadily declining, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas. Parents, even from modest backgrounds, are increasingly choosing private schools over public ones. Why is this happening despite the generous support extended to the public school system? The answer lies in a complex combination of perception, policy gaps, structural inequities, and, most importantly, an entrance exam system that unintentionally favours private institutions and urban students while leaving rural, government school students at a disadvantage. Government schools are often perceived as outdated, poorly managed, and meant for the underprivileged—regardless of their actual strengths. In contrast, private schools are viewed as disciplined, modern, and aspirational, even when many lack qualified faculty or sound infrastructure. This perception gap, amplified by advertising and peer influence, has convinced many parents to invest in private education, even when it stretches their household finances. The National Education Policy 2020 recommends mother tongue instruction until Grade 5, preferably Grade 8, to ensure better comprehension and conceptual clarity in the early years. Government schools generally adhere to this policy. However, many private schools advertise English-medium instruction from Class 1, often without qualified English teachers. Parents, hoping to secure early language advantage for their children, are easily persuaded. As a result, government schools are seen as less modern—even when they are following sound, evidence-based pedagogy. Without uniform enforcement of NEP across both public and private schools, this divide is bound to widen. Private schools, particularly those in cities and towns, market themselves as pathways to engineering and medical careers. Many introduce IIT or NEET-focused programmes from the primary school level, branding themselves as 'Techno Schools' or 'Junior Academies.' This premature focus on Maths and Science sidelines equally important subjects like languages, social studies, the arts, and ethical education. While this narrow approach may benefit students in competitive exams, it comes at the cost of emotional, civic, and holistic development. Government schools, by contrast, follow a more balanced curriculum, giving due importance to all subjects. Yet in a system where only STEM marks matter for college admissions, this comprehensive approach is undervalued. The national entrance exam structure reinforces this imbalance. Most entrance exams for engineering, medicine, and even some general degree programs test only Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Core subjects such as languages, history, geography, political science, and ethics are excluded entirely. This format is inherently biased toward private school students who are coached intensively in these few subjects, often from a very young age. Urban students benefit further from mock test series, foundation programmes, and English-medium content. Rural students attending government schools, however, study a broader syllabus aligned with national curricular frameworks. Their preparation, while more holistic, does not align with the narrowly focused demands of entrance tests. This systemic mismatch lowers their chances of success and further reinforces the notion that public schools are inadequate. The result is a social and academic injustice. Entrance exams, in their current form, help private schools thrive—by rewarding early coaching and selective learning. At the same time, they penalize children from public schools who have received a full, balanced education. In a country where nearly two-thirds of children rely on public education, this situation is neither fair nor sustainable. How the imbalance can be corrected To correct these imbalances, India must act decisively. Entrance exams must be reformed to test across all key school subjects, including languages, humanities, ethics, and reasoning. This would ensure that children are not penalized for receiving a broader education. NEP guidelines should be uniformly enforced in both private and public schools, particularly with regard to medium of instruction and curricular scope. Misleading early branding by private schools—such as IIT and NEET training from Class 1—should be regulated to protect the integrity of childhood education. Public school infrastructure must be upgraded to reflect the aspirations of a changing society. Teacher support, digital tools, and community participation through School Management Committees should be strengthened. Above all, success stories from government schools should be celebrated to rebuild public trust. Government schools remain the backbone of India's educational equity. But unless entrance exams, admission policies, and public messaging are aligned with the values and structure of public education, families will continue to shift away. It is time to change the narrative—from 'free and last-resort' to 'free and first-choice.' That can happen only when every subject is valued, every child is supported, and every school is given the opportunity to succeed. (The writer is Professor (retired), IIT Madras. He writes on education policy, curriculum reform and rural equity)


India Today
9 hours ago
- India Today
The Submarine Fleet Indian Navy Planned... But Never Got In Our Defence S3
India's 30-year submarine plan promised a world-class fleet. A mix of conventional diesel-powered submarines and both nuclear-powered attack and ballistic submarines. But decades later, delays, policy paralysis, and shifting priorities have left the Indian Navy with far fewer submarines than it planned for. In this episode, Dev Goswami and Sandeep Unnithan dive deep into the Navy's Project 75, 75I, and beyond -- exploring what went wrong, where things stand, and why building a submarine is far harder than it seems. From nuclear-powered ambitions to the delays in conventional fleets, this is the full story of India's undersea puzzle. Produced by Garvit Srivastava Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti