• 02 Dec 2025

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh Appointed DG (Inspection & Safety)

Why in News? 

Air Marshal Tejbir Singh took charge as Director General (Inspection and Safety) at Air Headquarters on 1st December 2025.

Key Points 

• Career Span: He brings 37 years of distinguished service, holding key command and staff roles including Air Attaché to Bangladesh, Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College, and Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Transport & Helicopters). 
• Education: He is an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. 
• Operational Expertise: With over 7,000 flying hours, he pioneered the induction of the C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ aircraft and established the first Special Operations Squadron for joint missions. 
• Command Roles: He has commanded two major flying bases, a premier training base and a frontline airbase in the Northern sector, and most recently led training transformation as Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters Training Command. 
• Honours & Succession: A recipient of the Vayu Sena Medal (2010) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2018), he succeeds Air Marshal Makarand Bhaskar Ranade, who retired on 30th November 2025 after 39 years of service. 

India to Acquire Satellite-Linked Heron Mk II UAVs

Why in News? 

India has placed fresh emergency procurement orders for additional satellite-linked Heron Mk II Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) following lessons from Operation Sindoor.

Key Points 

• Tri-Service Induction: The Army and Air Force are expanding their existing Heron Mk II fleets, while the Navy is inducting the platform for the first time. 
  • The Indian Navy will shift from older Israeli Searcher UAVs to the more advanced Heron Mk II platform for maritime surveillance. 
• Operational Deployment: The Indian Army has already positioned Heron Mk II drones at forward bases in the northern sector for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance duties. 
• Combat Value: UAVs like the Heron Mk II are crucial for detecting, tracking and neutralising high-value threats, including advanced air defence systems. 
• Emergency Limits: Under emergency procurement rules, systems worth up to ₹300 crore can be acquired without lengthy procedures. 
• Indigenisation Push: Israeli defence industries are collaborating with Indian public and private companies to localise production, training, maintenance and system integration in line with “Make in India”.

Heron Mk II  

• High Performance: Heron Mk II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV capable of carrying nearly 500 kg of payload and flying continuously for over 24 hours. 
• Advanced Sensors: It provides all-weather intelligence through Synthetic Aperture Radar, electro-optical systems and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) sensors. 
• Remote Operations: Encrypted satellite communication and fully automated take-off/landing enable beyond-line-of-sight missions, flexible planning and deployment across varied operational theatres. 

Vivek Chaturvedi Appointed as CBIC Chief

Why in News?

Vivek Chaturvedi, a 1990-batch IRS (Customs & Indirect Taxes) officer, has been appointed Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. 

• He will succeed Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, who superannuated on 30th November 2025. 

Key Points 

• He has over three decades of experience in customs administration, intelligence, vigilance, data analytics, and risk management. 
• He currently serves as a Member (Tax Policy & Legal) on CBIC, and previously joined the Board after succeeding Vivek Ranjan. 
• He also brings international exposure from his stint as First Secretary in Brussels (2007–2011) with the Ministry of External Affairs, considered valuable for shaping next-generation customs reforms. 
• As Chairman, he becomes a key figure in preparations for the 2026–27 Union Budget, especially for indirect taxes, amid GST rate changes and the need to maintain revenue buoyancy. 
• He is expected to lead the next phase of customs modernisation, focusing on digitisation, faster clearances, tighter compliance, and a more technology-driven GST and customs ecosystem. 

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs 

• Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (erstwhile Central Board of Excise & Customs) is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.  
• It deals with the tasks of formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of Customs, Central Excise duties, Central Goods & Services Tax and IGST, prevention of smuggling and administration of matters relating to Customs, Central Excise, Central Goods & Services Tax, IGST and Narcotics to the extent under CBIC's purview.  
• The Board is the administrative authority for its subordinate organisations, including Custom Houses, Central Excise and Central GST Commissionerates and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory. 

Rajnath Singh Reviews Defence Innovations at DMSRDE

Why in News? 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited DRDO’s Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE) laboratory in Kanpur on November 30, 2025, to review ongoing defence materials research. 

• During the visit, he paid floral tribute to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at the campus and was received by DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V. Kamat. 

Key Points 

• About: During the visit, he received a detailed presentation on the lab’s vision, mission, major projects, and technology focus areas from the Director of DMSRDE. 
  • The Minister praised key developed products, including Level-6 Bullet Proof Jackets, Naphthyl Fuel for BrahMos, high-pressure polymeric membranes, silicon carbide fibre, CBRN protective suits, and other stealth technologies. 
• Technologies: The lab showcased advancements in ceramics, stealth and camouflage materials, nanomaterials, coatings, polymers, fuels, lubricants, technical textiles, and personal protection systems. 
• Self-Reliance: He lauded the lab for extensive technology transfers over the last two years, urging greater export focus and enhanced MSME–industry engagement through the Defence Technology and Test Centre (DTTC), Lucknow, to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) 

• About: DRDO was established in 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP), and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).  
  • DRDO is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.  
  • DRDO initially had 10 laboratories; it currently operates 41 laboratories and 5 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs).  
• Philosophy: The guiding principle of DRDO is "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" (Strength lies in science), driving the nation in both peace and war.  
• Mission: Achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems while equipping the Indian armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment, as per the requirements of the three Services.  
• Technology Clusters of DRDO: A 2007 committee led by Dr P. Rama Rao reviewed DRDO, resulting in the creation of seven technology-based clusters, each headed by a Director General. 

53rd Foundation Day of ALIMCO

Why in News? 

The Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) marked its 53rd Foundation Day by unveiling a new corporate logo and launching two mobility solutions — a 3-Wheeler Electric Vehicle (EV) Scooter and a Clip-on Motorised Wheelchair. 

• ALIMCO announced collaborations with over 80 start-ups, technology transfer initiatives, and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)–assisted and smart digital assistive technologies to deliver high-quality, affordable aids nationwide. 

Key Points 

• Status: Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) is a Schedule ‘C’ Miniratna Category II Central Public Sector Enterprise registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, operating under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. 
• Ownership: It is a 100% Government-owned Central Public Sector Enterprise. 
• Objective: ALIMCO’s core purpose is to benefit persons with disabilities by manufacturing rehabilitation aids and ensuring widespread availability, supply, and distribution of artificial limbs and assistive devices across the country. 
• Non-Profit Focus: Operating without a profit motive, its primary aim is to provide high-quality aids and appliances at reasonable prices to the maximum number of persons with disabilities. 
• Outreach Expansion: To widen coverage under the Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme, ALIMCO has begun establishing Pradhanmantri Divyasha Kendra (PMDK) at National Institutes and regional centres under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. 
• Uniqueness: ALIMCO is the only manufacturing organisation in India producing a complete range of assistive devices under one roof for all categories of disabilities. 

VPN Services Suspended in Poonch and Rajouri

Why in News? 

Authorities have suspended all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division for two months. 

Key Points 

• Official Orders: Authorities issued formal orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) after a sharp rise in suspicious VPN usage. 
  • The administration warned that adversaries could misuse VPN services to create fear or exploit the prevailing security situation. 
• Location Sensitivity: Both districts lie close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Pir Panjal valley, increasing the importance of digital monitoring. 
• Public Advisory: Authorities stated that the suspension aims to enhance surveillance and safeguard public safety, urging residents to cooperate to maintain law and order. 

Virtual Private Network (VPN) 

• About: A VPN is a technology that establishes a secure and private connection between a user's device and the internet. VPNs encrypt the internet traffic and disguise the user’s online identity.  
  • VPNs can bypass geo-restrictions and censorship. By connecting to a VPN server in a different location, users can access content and websites that may be restricted or blocked in their region. 
  • VPNs encrypt traffic, hide IP addresses and bypass firewalls, making sensitive data vulnerable to cyber attacks and obstructing surveillance. 
• Regulation: In 2022, the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology introduced regulations mandating VPN providers, data centres, virtual service networks, and cloud providers to record users' personal details for five years.  
• They must also log usage patterns, and service purposes, and report cybersecurity incidents to CERT-In within six hours.