Defence & Security Current Affairs — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sat, 15 Aug 2026
Red Fort ceremony on 80th Independence Day: 21-gun salute from indigenous guns, Mi-17 petal shower and 5,000 special guests
The 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026, coordinated by the Indian Army, featured a 21-gun salute from indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns, an IAF Mi-17 petal shower and about 5,000 special guests including Olympiad medallists and PM Vishwakarma artisans.
NIELIT launches CYBER KUSHTI 2026 national cybersecurity and AI hackathon
The National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launched CYBER KUSHTI 2026, a national cybersecurity and AI hackathon, on 15 August 2026.
Fri, 31 Jul 2026
Army chief launches indigenous Xtreme Weather Grade diesel that works down to minus 42°C
On 31 July 2026 Army chief Gen Dhiraj Seth launched the indigenous Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) Diesel, developed by the Indian Army with Oil Marketing Companies, which stays effective down to minus 42°C.
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja appointed next Director General Armed Forces Medical Services
On 31 July 2026 the government appointed Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja as the next DGAFMS; he takes over on 31 August 2026 when Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin retires.
Former Army chief Gen Vishwa Nath Sharma passes away at 96
Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen Vishwa Nath Sharma, Army chief from 1988 to 1990 and younger brother of first Param Vir Chakra awardee Maj Som Nath Sharma, died on 31 July 2026 aged 96.
Thu, 30 Jul 2026
Rajnath Singh felicitates crew of IASV Triveni after first all-women tri-services circumnavigation 'Samudra Pradakshina'
On 30 July 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitated nine women officers who completed 'Samudra Pradakshina', the first-ever tri-service all-women circumnavigation on IASV Triveni, a 314-day voyage of about 25,500 nautical miles.
Second indigenous Diving Support Vessel 'Nipun' delivered to Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam
On 30 July 2026 'Nipun', the second Diving Support Vessel built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, was delivered to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam with nearly 75% indigenous content.
Wed, 29 Jul 2026
Tue, 28 Jul 2026
Mon, 27 Jul 2026
Sun, 26 Jul 2026
Sat, 25 Jul 2026
Coast Guard rescues 170 people in floods in Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and South Gujarat
The Indian Coast Guard said on 25 July 2026 it had rescued 170 stranded persons through 11 rescue operations since midnight of 22 July in flood-hit areas of Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and South Gujarat.
INS Sudarshini leaves Boston after SAIL 250 events under Lokayan 26
Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini departed Boston, USA on 25 July 2026 as part of its ongoing Lokayan 26 voyage, after representing India at the SAIL 250 celebrations and the International Naval Review 250.
Thu, 23 Jul 2026
DRDO conducts maiden flight-test of 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
DRDO successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the 'Kusha' Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on 23 July 2026, intercepting an electronic target that simulated a high-speed, high-altitude aerial threat.
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 concludes at Kochi
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement conducted by the Indian Navy with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), concluded at Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 23 July 2026.
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Samudra Pradakshina: first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation completed
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 22 July 2026 virtually flagged in 'Samudra Pradakshina', the first-ever Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, as nine women officers aboard IASV Triveni returned to Mumbai after a 314-day voyage of nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans.
INS Malvan, second Mahe-class anti-submarine shallow water craft, commissioned at Karwar
INS Malvan, the second of the indigenously designed and built Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Karwar on 22 July 2026 in a ceremony presided over by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh.
First indigenous expendable turbojet engine of 350 kg thrust class delivered to DRDO
India's first indigenous Expendable Turbo Jet Engine of the 350 kg thrust class, designed by DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), was realised and delivered to GTRE by industry partner Azad Engineering, Hyderabad, on 22 July 2026.
DRDO signs two contracts for AEW&C Mk-II programme
DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) on 22 July 2026 signed contracts with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) to convert six A321 aircraft and with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies as Development-cum-Production Partner for mission systems, under the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Mk-II programme.
Mon, 20 Jul 2026
IAF joins Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at RAAF Base Darwin with Rafale jets
The Indian Air Force began participating in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin on 20 July 2026, fielding Rafale fighters; the exercise runs till 7 August 2026.
CBN's Operation Vajra stops diversion of 12 crore Tramadol tablets
The Central Bureau of Narcotics seized 12 crore high-strength Tramadol tablets (about 30 tonnes) from a Delhi warehouse under 'Operation Vajra', it said on 20 July 2026, preventing their suspected diversion to Libya.
Sat, 18 Jul 2026
Tue, 14 Jul 2026
Mon, 13 Jul 2026
DRI busts wildlife trafficking networks, seizes 440 animals and ivory
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said on 13 July 2026 that pan-India operations seized over 440 endangered or protected animals and about 15 kg of ivory, including about 11 kg of elephant ivory near Sujangarh, Rajasthan, with 33 arrests.
8th India–Japan Defence Policy Dialogue held in Tokyo
India and Japan held their 8th Defence Policy Dialogue in Tokyo on 13 July 2026, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Japan's Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Kano Koji.
CBN busts mephedrone lab in Pune under 'Operation Vajra'
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) Madhya Pradesh Unit dismantled a high-tech mephedrone (MD) manufacturing laboratory in Pune and arrested two masterminds from Ujjain and Jodhpur under 'Operation Vajra', it said on 13 July 2026.
INS Sudarshini joins Grand Parade of Sails at Sail Boston 2026
Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini took part in the Grand Parade of Sails marking the start of Sail Boston 2026 on 12 July 2026, during her Lokayan 26 expedition.