Army to use drone tech for border surveillance: Lt Gen A Sengupta
unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) and high-tech cameras while reserving troops primarily for ground operations in the near future. The announcement was made by
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta
, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-in-C), Central Command, on Tuesday during the inauguration of Surya Drona Tech 2025, a two-day defence technology event in Dehradun, jointly organised by the Army and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM). The event concludes on Wednesday.
"The use of drones in warfare is increasing, as is being witnessed in the Ukraine-Russia war," said Lt Gen Sengupta, adding, "The rise of this technology is unconventional but highly disruptive and effective for the defence forces. We, in the Army, are looking for high-altitude and rugged UAVs to protect our soldiers while proving their utility."
"All 26 passes along the LAC are currently under round-the-clock surveillance using modern technology. Efforts are on to ensure that in future, the boots on the ground would be utilised for operation while border surveillance is done only through technology," he added.
Calling the event an important milestone, Lt Gen Sengupta said, "We look forward to Uttarakhand becoming a hub for drone manufacturing in the country, and meet the requirements of the armed forces."
The event features 42 stalls by drone and defence tech manufacturers showcasing a wide array of products ranging from technology to secure meeting rooms that can detect and disable mobile phones without alerting users, systems capable of tracking foreign mobile activity in border areas to exoskeleton suits to assist troops in climbing hilly terrain.
Key highlights from the first day included live demonstrations of newly inducted robotic dogs referred to as multi-utility legged equipment (MULE) and UAVs designed for airlifting injured personnel during military operations.
Among those who attended the inaugural event were Uttarakhand governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), SIDM president Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, Commandant of Indian Military Academy (IMA), General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Uttar Bharat Area Lt Gen D G Misra, GOC Uttarakhand sub-area Maj Gen R Prem Raj, and other senior defence officers.
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First Post
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- First Post
How EU's new sanctions on Russia reveal West's colonial hangover
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It has merely imposed a price cap 15 per cent below the prevailing market rate, allowing itself to continue energy imports from Russia while pressuring others, like India, to stop refining or shipping that same oil. What does this imply? The EU wants to buy Russian oil, just not if it's touched by Indian hands. This is not a geopolitical strategy grounded in consistency or fairness. It reeks of hypocrisy. The Sham of Sanction Morality Since the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, Western capitals have scrambled to impose sanctions on Russia, penalising its banks, banning technology exports, freezing assets, and restricting energy exports. The intention was to cripple Russia's war machine by starving it of funds. However, as months passed, the West itself quietly resumed or continued many of these same transactions under different guises. India, like any rational state, saw an opportunity in discounted Russian crude. As Western buyers moved away (at least on paper), India ramped up its purchases, now exceeding one million barrels per day. This oil, heavily discounted, has helped New Delhi manage inflation, stabilise its energy supply, and ensure growth for 140 crore citizens. This pragmatism hasn't gone unnoticed in Washington and Brussels. But instead of acknowledging their own continued dependence on Russian energy, particularly natural gas, the West has targeted Indian refiners, shippers, and institutions. The new EU sanctions are not about hurting Russia anymore. They are about telling India how to behave. The underlying assumption is simple: the West sets the rules; the rest of the world must follow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Energy for Whom? Let's dissect the numbers. In 2022 alone, the EU paid over $120 billion to Russia for fossil fuels. This included oil, natural gas, and coal. Compare this with India's total bill: about $50 billion—less than half of Europe's. Who, then, is fuelling the Russian economy? Spain and Belgium were among the top LNG importers from Russia. Germany, after shutting down pipeline imports post-Ukraine invasion, began receiving Russian LNG via its ports. Italy has also continued to buy Russian-origin oil, sometimes routed through third countries. Even the United States, which claims moral superiority, continues importing vital commodities from Russia. Case in point: uranium. Nearly 20 per cent of the uranium used in American nuclear power plants still comes from Russia. So much for an embargo. When national interests are involved, moral grandstanding takes a back seat. India Pushes Back India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not taken this duplicity lying down. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded firmly: 'Securing the energy needs of our people is understandably an overriding priority for us.' That's the crux. In an energy-starved country with burgeoning demand, fuel isn't just an economic issue; it's a developmental necessity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, too, asserted that India is well-prepared to navigate sanctions, noting that India today buys oil from over 40 countries compared to just 27 in the past. Diversification, not dependency, has been India's guiding principle. Moreover, the MEA has expressed serious concern over reports of the United States planning a 500 per cent tariff on countries continuing to buy Russian oil, an undeclared threat aimed squarely at India. The very idea that a sovereign country could be penalised for making independent choices that benefit its people is absurd, but it reveals the West's real aim: control. Nato's Hypocrisy: The Case of Turkey If these sanctions were truly about punishing Russian partners, why is Turkey, another country buying Russian oil and even hosting the TurkStream gas pipeline, not under similar fire? Turkey, a NATO member, bought Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019. The US did impose minor sanctions on Turkish defence entities, but Ankara remains a Nato member and continues to transact with Moscow. The Western world makes exceptions for Turkey because of its strategic geography. India, by contrast, is expected to follow the West's orders or face consequences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sovereignty Is Not for Sale The EU's latest move sanctioning an Indian refinery and targeting Indian-flagged vessels isn't about stopping Russian oil. It's about sending a message to India: fall in line, or be punished. This is an affront to Indian sovereignty. The Vadinar refinery processes oil not just for India but for international clients, including European ones. 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Economic Times
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Time of India
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Shipowners and oil traders are staying away from Russia-backed Nayara Energy Ltd. as part of the fallout faced by the Indian refiner, after it was singled out in the latest round of European Union sanctions. At least one oil tanker , the Talara, u-turned and sailed away from Vadinar port on Sunday, according to Bloomberg ship-tracking data. The vessel was meant to pick up a cargo of fuel — likely diesel — from Nayara, shipbrokers said. The booking was cancelled following Friday's sanction, they said, and the cargo was not loaded. Another tanker, the Chang Hang Xing Yun, that was on its way to Vadinar this week, halted off the southwestern coast of India, ballasting, ship-tracking data and chartering fixtures show. The ship is now heading to the Arabian Gulf to pick up cargoes bound for southern Africa, after its previous plans to load products from Vadinar were cancelled yesterday, shipbrokers said. Shipbrokers added owners have become wary of dealings with Nayara this week, be it fuel exports or crude imports. Rosneft PJSC holds a 49.13% stake in the Indian processor. Global oil market observers are waiting to see if the hesitation among shipowners will spread beyond logistics to trading counterparties and even financiers. Indian refiners have been seeking more clarity from the EU in the past days on a variety of matters including Nayara's blacklist and a ban on the diesel supplies made from Russian crude. Owners from Greece to Norway control a significant portion of the world's shipping fleet, with companies likely to adhere to EU restrictions to some extent. Since the Ukraine war in 2022, however, Greek owners have played a crucial role in the Russian oil trade , particularly when barrels were below the price cap. Talara's diversion adds to the concerns surrounding Nayara, after it sought advance payment or letters of credit even before its fuel shipments are loaded. Traders said that the move could be indicative of concerns around payment difficulties after loading, among other possible financial complications. The request left market participants wondering how they could take part in future tenders from the refiner, as payments made 15-30 days after cargo loadings remain the industry norm. Nayara has said it is exploring legal and other options to protect its interests, while Rosneft has called the EU sanctions 'unjustified and illegal.'
