Topic-1: EOS-09: Earth Observation Satellite
GS- 3: Defence Technology, Indigenisation of Defence
The context:
on May 18, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a PSLV rocket in its XL configuration. It was carrying a satellite called EOS-09, which it planned to deposit into a sun-synchronous polar orbit (SSPO) around the earth. The mission was designated C61. But a few minutes after liftoff, the rocket suffered a problem in its third stage and the PSLV-C61 mission ended in a failure.
About the EOS-09 earth-observation:
EOS-09 is an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS), designed to enhance India’s surveillance and imaging capabilities, especially under all-weather and day-night conditions.
Technical Features of EOS-09
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- EOS-09 is equipped with a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
- The SAR technology enables the satellite to capture high-resolution images of Earth’s surface, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
- This makes the satellite crucial for disaster monitoring, flood mapping, agriculture assessment, border surveillance, and urban planning.
- The satellite adds to India’s remote sensing infrastructure, critical for environmental monitoring, national security, and climate resilience.
Key Features:
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- Launch Mass: 1696.24 kg
- SAR Payload for day/night and all-weather capabilities
- Mission Life: 5 years
About ISRO’s PSLV-C61:
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- What it is: The PSLV-C61 was the 63rd flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 27th in the PSLV-XL configuration.
- Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- Mission Objective: To launch EOS-09, an Earth Observation Satellite, into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO).
- Vehicle Features:
- Height: 44.5 m, Lift-off Mass: 321 tonnes
- Four-stage launch vehicle with six solid strap-on boosters
- Stages: Alternating solid and liquid propulsion
- Stage 3 Failure: Chamber pressure in solid motor dropped, leading to mission failure
- Sustainability Effort: Planned Orbit Change Thrusters (OCT) & passivation of PS4 to reduce orbital debris.
Source: TH
Topic- 2: New Caledonia
GS- 1: Geography (MAP)
The context:
A high-stakes attempt by French Overseas Minister to broker a new political accord for New Caledonia collapsed on May 8 2025, plunging the French Pacific territory into profound uncertainty.
About New Caledonia:
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- It is a French overseas territory located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,500 km east of Australia.
- It comprises the main island of Grande Terre (where the capital, Nouméa, is situated), the four Loyalty Islands (Ouvéa, Lifou, Tiga, and Maré), the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and some remote islands.
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- New Caledonia’s modern history began with its seizure by France as a penal colony in 1853.
- Despite attempts to ease colonial rule, such as granting French citizenship to all inhabitants in 1957, deep divisions persisted, culminating in the 1984-1988 conflict.
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- New Caledonia, a French island territory of approximately 2,71,400 people in the southwest Pacific Ocean.
- Approximately 39 percent are indigenous (‘Kanak’). The remainder are Caledonians of European, Polynesianand other (including Vietnamese, Indonesian and Algerian) origins.
- It is one of the European Union’s Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), but is not part of the European Union, the Euro or Schengen zones.
Source: TH
Topic-3: Operation SINDOOR: Forging Jointness Among India’s Armed Forces
GS-3: Internal Security
The context:
Operation SINDOOR, initiated on May 7, 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation SINDOOR was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan.
Key Highlights:
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- The operation was conducted seamlessly across land, air, and sea, demonstrating unprecedented coordination between the Indian Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and Indian Navy.
- India’s retaliatory action was based on meticulous planningand an intelligence-led approach, which ensured that the operations were conducted with minimal collateral damage.
- Pakistan initiated a series of retaliatory drone and UCAV attackstargeting key Indian airbases and logistics infrastructure. These attempts, however, were effectively neutralised by India’s comprehensive and multilayered air defence architecture. Central to this success was the Integrated Command and Control Strategy (ICCS), which facilitated real-time threat identification, assessment, and interception across multiple domains. In every single domain of Operation Sindoor there was operational synergy between the forces and fully supported by the Government, agencies and departments.
- The indigenously developed Akashsurface-to-air missile system and legacy platforms like the Pechora and OSA-AK were deployed effectively in a layered defence grid. The IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System enabled real-time coordination of air assets, allowing Indian forces to neutralize aerial threats efficiently and maintain net-centric operations throughout the conflict.
- The Indian Navy played a critical role in asserting maritime dominance during Operation SINDOOR. Operating as a composite networked force, the Navy deployed its Carrier Battle Group (CBG)equipped with MiG-29K fighter jets and airborne early warning helicopters.
- It has ensured persistent surveillance and real-time identification of threats across the maritime domain. The CBG maintained a powerful air defence shieldthat prevented hostile aerial incursions, especially from the Makran coast. The Navy’s presence created a strong deterrent and effectively bottled-up Pakistani air elements along their western seaboard, denying them any operational space.
Major Government-Led Coordination Efforts Among the Armed Forces Institutional Reforms Enabling Jointness
1. Creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS):
On 24 December 2019, the Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a four-star General who heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA)and acts as the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-Service matters.
Key roles of the CDS include:
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- Overseeing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Territorial Army.
- Promoting jointness in procurement, training, staffing, and command restructuring.
- Leading tri-service organizations, including cyber and space commands.
- Advising the Nuclear Command Authority and participating in defence planning bodies.
- Driving reforms to optimize resources, enhance combat capabilities, and reduce waste.
- Implementing multi-year defence acquisition plans and prioritizing inter-Service needs.
2. Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs):
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- Plans are underway to establish ITCs and Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) to conduct theatre-specific joint operations.
- These commands will integrate land, air, maritime, cyber, and space capabilities under a single commander.
3. Creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA):
Department of Military Affairs (DMA) with CDS as Secretary was created in 2020 to facilitate optimal utilization of resources and promote jointness among the three Services.
The subjects allocated to DMA include:
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- The Armed Forces of the Union, namely, Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence comprising of Army Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, Air Headquarters and Defence Staff Headquarters.
- Works relating to Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the Services through joint planning and integration of their requirements.
- Facilitation of restructuring of Military Commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint / theatre commands.
4. Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023
The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Act, 2023 promotes jointness in the Indian Armed Forces by empowering commanders of tri-service formations with authority over personnel from all three Services.
Key implications of this Act are:
1. Unified command:ISO commanders can discipline all personnel under one authority.
2. Faster processes:Reduces delays from inter-Service coordination.
3. Joint culture:Encourages cross-Service cohesion and shared responsibility.
4. Legal base for theatre commands:Supports future integrated operations.
5. Service identity retained:Each Service’s unique norms remain intact.
5. Joint Logistics Nodes (JLNs)
Three Joint Logistic Nodes (JLNs) have been established and are operational since 2021 at Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair for Logistics Integration between the three services.
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- It will provide integrated logistics coverto the Armed Forces for their small arms ammunition, rations, fuel, general stores, civil hired transport, aviation clothing, spares and also engineering support in an effort to synergize their operational efforts. This initiative would accrue advantages in terms of saving of manpower, economize utilisation of resources, besides financial savings.
6. ‘Year of Defence Reforms’ – 2025
Defence Minister with all the Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence unanimously decided to observe 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the MoD. This would aim at transforming the Armed Forces into a technologically-advanced combat-ready force capable of multi-domain integrated operations. The broad areas identified for focussed intervention in 2025 include:
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- Reforms should aim to further bolster Jointness & Integration initiatives and facilitate establishment of the Integrated Theatre Commands.
- Develop a shared understanding of operational requirements and joint operational capabilities through inter-service cooperation & training.
Training & Exercises Enhancing Joint War-Fighting Capability
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- Tri-services Future Warfare Course: It is an initiated by Chief of Defence Staff this is a rank agnostic course for Major Generals to Majors and their equivalent level officers from other services. It is important for a Future Warfare Course for Tri Services officers arose from the rapidly evolving nature of modern warfare, driven by technological advancements, changing global dynamics, and emerging threats. The first edition was conducted in New Delhi and the second edition was held at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi.
- Defence Services Technical Staff Course:The Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC) was held on 10 June 2024 at MILIT, Pune, with 166 officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations. For the first time, the course was conducted by Tri-Services Joint Training Teams, marking a significant step towards jointness and multi-domain operational readiness. Officers were trained in emerging technologies, defence strategy, and geopolitical awareness, along with exposure to live drills, defence R&D, and industrial corridors—a bold push toward techno-leadership and Atmanirbharta in military capability.
- Parivartan Chintan Conference: The Tri-service Conference, ‘Parivartan Chintan’, was held in New Delhi on 08 April 2024. It was curated as a brainstorming and idea incubation discussion to generate new and fresh ideas, initiatives and reforms to further propel Jointness and Integration in the Armed Forces.
- Seminar on ‘Synergising Air and Naval Forces: Enhancing Combat Power in the Indian Ocean Region’:Headquarters Southern Air Command, in collaboration with the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), hosted a seminar on “Synergising Air and Naval Forces: Enhancing Combat Power in the Indian Ocean Region” on 25 February 2025.
- Exercise Prachand Prahar 2025: The Indian Armed Forces conducted a tri-service integrated multi-domain exercise, Prachand Prahar, in the high-altitude terrain of the Himalayas along the Northern Borders in Arunachal Pradesh. The exercise validated integrated planning, command and control, and seamless execution of surveillance and firepower platforms across the three services, covering the full spectrum of conflict.
- Exercise Desert Hunt 2025: An integrated Tri-Service Special Forcesexercise named Exercise Desert Hunt 2025 was conducted by the Indian Air Force. The exercise involved elite Para (Special Forces) from the Indian Army, the Marine Commandos from the Indian Navy along with the Garud (Special Forces) from the Indian Air Force, participating together in a simulated combat environment. It’s aim to enhance interoperability, coordination and synergy among the three Special Forces units to ensure swift and effective response towards emerging security challenges.
Technology Integration & Network-Centric Warfare
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- Defence Communication Network (DCN): The DCN is a strategic, exclusive, secureand state-of-the-art communication network. Implementation of DCN is a proof of strength of the Indian industry and has reaffirmed the emphasis of the Government on Make in India It is a major step towards ensuring Network Centricity across the three Services, Integrated Defence Staff and Strategic Forces Command. The network provides converged voice, data and video services to the three Services based on secured system with adequate redundancy.
- Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS): The Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) of the Indian Air Force provides the backbone for real-time coordination, enabling synchronized responses across multiple units of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Conclusion:
Operation SINDOOR marks India’s evolution into a modern, integrated military force. Backed by institutional reforms, cutting-edge tech, and seamless tri-service coordination, it reflects India’s growing role as a regional security provider. Jointness and interoperability are the cornerstones of future military readiness.
Source: PIB
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