Indian Defence News & Update l 20 May 2026 to 01 June 2026 Published every Sunday
🎖️ 1. General NS Raja Subramani Takes Charge as India’s Third CDS
General NS Raja Subramani assumed charge as India’s third Chief of Defence Staff on 31 May 2026. He succeeds General Anil Chauhan, whose tenure ended on 30 May 2026.
General Subramani holds the decorations PVSM, AVSM, SM and VSM. He has served in the Army for over four decades. Before this appointment, he was working as Military Advisor at the National Security Council Secretariat. He had previously retired as Vice Chief of Army Staff on 31 July 2025.
As CDS, his primary task is to implement the theaterisation plan — which aims to create integrated commands combining the Army, Navy and Air Force under unified operational structures.
He is the third consecutive CDS from the Indian Army, after General Bipin Rawat and General Anil Chauhan.
🪖 2. General Anil Chauhan Retires After Over Four Decades of Service
General Anil Chauhan retired as Chief of Defence Staff on 30 May 2026. He was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles in 1981 and was appointed as the second CDS on 28 September 2022. His tenure was extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet to 30 May 2026.
During his tenure, he worked on improving coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force. He was involved in ensuring tri-services coordination during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
He served as Director General Military Operations at the time of the Balakot air strikes in February 2019. He later commanded the Eastern Army before being appointed CDS.
His military awards include the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
🏃 3. Navy’s Petty Officer Gurindervir Singh Sets New 100m National Record
Petty Officer Gurindervir Singh of the Indian Navy clocked 10.09 seconds in the men’s 100 metres final at the 29th National Federation Cup Athletics Championships in Ranchi on 24 May 2026. The event was held at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium.
This is a new national record. He is the first Indian man to clock sub-10.10 seconds in the 100 metres.
He is 25 years old and belongs to Punjab. His timing of 10.09 seconds also clears the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification standard of 10.16 seconds for both the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
The Indian Navy acknowledged the achievement on social media. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, extended his congratulations on the achievement.
🎓 4. NDA 150th Course Passing Out Parade Held at Khadakwasla
The National Defence Academy held the Passing Out Parade of its 150th Course on 30 May 2026 at the Khetarpal Parade Ground, Khadakwasla, Pune.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was the Reviewing Officer. He is an alumnus of NDA’s 65th Course.
A total of 353 cadets passed out. This included 18 women cadets and 24 cadets from 12 friendly foreign nations. This is the third batch of women cadets to pass out from NDA since women were admitted following a Supreme Court ruling in 2022.
The Indian Air Force’s Sarang Helicopter Display Team performed an aerial display over the parade ground using HAL Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters.
A convocation ceremony was held on 29 May 2026. Dr Kiran Bedi, retired IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, was the Chief Guest at the convocation. She conferred degrees and distributed awards to outstanding cadets.
🌍 5. Major Abhilasha Barak Wins 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award
Indian Army officer Major Abhilasha Barak has been awarded the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. The award was announced on 29 May 2026 — the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Major Barak is serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon — UNIFIL — as Commander of the Female Engagement Team of the Indian Battalion. She was recognised for community outreach work with women and adolescent girls in conflict-affected areas of Lebanon and for conducting gender sensitisation training for peacekeepers in her unit.
She is the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, a milestone from May 2022.
She is the third Indian peacekeeper to receive this award. In 2019, Major Suman Gawani was honoured with the award for her distinguished service in South Sudan. Major Radhika Sen received it in 2023 for her service with MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Two other Indian Army officers were also shortlisted for the same award this year — Major Mouiz Yaseen and Major Soniya Newaskar, both serving with UNMISS in South Sudan.
✈️ 6. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team has successfully completed three decades
The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team completed 30 years on 26 May 2026. The anniversary was marked at Air Force Station Bidar, Karnataka — the team’s home base since its formation on 27 May 1996.
The team made its first public display at Coimbatore in September 1996. Since then it has completed over 800 air displays across India and in countries including China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and the UAE.
The team currently operates the BAE Hawk Mk 132 aircraft. Its motto is Sadaiva Sarvottam — Always the Best. It is part of No. 52 Squadron of the Indian Air Force.
Earlier in May 2026, the team performed over the Somnath temple in Gujarat during the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav using indigenous smoke pods to create the image of the tricolour in the sky.
The Indian Air Force released a commemorative video on the occasion and described the team as the ambassadors of the Indian Air Force.
⚓ 7. INS Shivaji Employee Dies After Fall at Lonavala
An employee of INS Shivaji, Rakesh Kumar Mishra, aged 50, died after falling 250 feet into a gorge at Lion’s Point, Lonavala, on 28 May 2026.
INS Shivaji is the Indian Navy’s technical training establishment located near Lonavala, Pune.
Rescue operations were launched without delay, with personnel from the Indian Navy, Shivdurg Rescue Team, and Maval Disaster Management Team joining the effort. The body was recovered from the gorge after the rescue operation.
The Lonavala Rural Police are investigating the matter.
ESM Corner extends condolences to the family of Shri Rakesh Kumar Mishra.
🕵️ 8. CBI Registers Case Against Retired Navy Captain
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against a retired Indian Navy Captain for alleged possession of disproportionate assets exceeding Rs 3 crore. The assets are alleged to be beyond known income sources during and after the officer’s service period.
This is an ongoing investigation. No charges have been framed at this stage.
💰 9. 8th Pay Commission — Defence Consultations Held, Fitment Factor Not Yet Decided
The 8th Central Pay Commission held consultation meetings with defence sector unions and associations in New Delhi on 13 and 14 May 2026.
The Commission was constituted on 3 November 2025 and is chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. It is gathering inputs before finalising recommendations on pay, pension and allowances.
The deadline for submitting memorandums through the official Commission portal was 31 May 2026. Further meetings are scheduled in Lucknow in June 2026.
The fitment factor — the multiplier applied to basic pay for revision — has not been officially decided. Defence unions have demanded a fitment factor of 2.86 or above. No government announcement has been made on this yet.
The Commission’s recommendations are effective from 1 January 2026. Actual payment and arrears will follow only after formal government approval and notification, which is expected later.
OROP-3 — which covers 25.13 lakh pensioners — will continue alongside any 8th CPC revision. Official updates are published at desw.gov.in.
🪖 10. Haryana Government Issues Revised ESM Reservation Rules
The Haryana Government issued revised rules this week for reservation of state government jobs for Ex-Servicemen.
Under the revised rules, the one-government-job-per-family condition continues to apply for ESM families. Priority in direct recruitment will be given to disabled veterans and war widows.
ESM residing in Haryana should refer to the official Haryana government notification and contact their nearest Zila Sainik Board for details on eligibility and the application process.
Related: What is MACP? How It Affects Your Pension
📌 Quick Bites
🔹 Nausena Shaurya Vatika Inaugurated in Lucknow Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Nausena Shaurya Vatika in Lucknow on 30 May 2026. It is a naval memorial and heritage complex spread over two acres. The complex is dedicated to the history and service of the Indian Navy.
🔹 Major General Sachin Mehta — Selfie After Helicopter Crash A photograph of Major General Sachin Mehta taking a selfie at the site of a helicopter crash after surviving the incident circulated widely this week. The officer was unhurt. The image was widely shared on social media. The Indian Army has not issued a detailed statement on the incident at the time of writing.
🔹 India-Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles visited India this week for the 2nd Australia-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue with Rajnath Singh. The two sides discussed progress on their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and areas of bilateral defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
🔹 DRDO Bomb Trial at Panchkula Completed DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory completed a high-calibre bomb trial at its Ramgarh Test Range, Panchkula, Haryana on 31 May 2026 between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Senior Indian Air Force officials supervised the trial. Residents of nearby villages including Bhanu and Billa were advised to remain indoors during the test window as a standard precautionary measure. The trial was described by officials as a routine defence evaluation.
🔹 Operation Sindoor Commemorative Book Released Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a commemorative volume on Operation Sindoor on 29 May 2026 in New Delhi. The book contains firsthand accounts from 100 officers, sailors, airmen and soldiers who took part in the operation conducted from 7 to 10 May 2025.
INDIAN DEFENCE NEWS is published every Sunday on www.esmcorner.com. All stories verified from PIB, MoD, DD News, All India Radio, Business Standard, The Tribune, ANI, PTI, and trusted national media. No rumours. No unverified claims.
