GS3 · Defence · IndigenisationAt a curtain raiser on 19 October 2026, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar announced the fifth edition of Swavlamban, the Navy’s flagship innovation and indigenisation seminar. It will be held on 26–27 October at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, where the Navy will release the NAUSETU interface standards and a technology compendium.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NIIO, iDEX, NBCD, NAUSETU, DAP 2020. · Mains GS-III: innovation-led defence self-reliance.
19 Oct 2026GS2 · International relationsOn 14 October 2026 Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh opened the first ASEAN-India Defence Think Tank Forum at MP-IDSA in New Delhi. The two-day meeting brings India and all 11 ASEAN members together on maritime security, emerging tech and defence-industry ties, under the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ASEAN (11 members), MP-IDSA, ADMM-Plus, SAGAR/MAHASAGAR. · Mains GS-II: India–ASEAN defence engagement and Indo-Pacific.
14 Oct 2026GS3 · Security (defence)The Indian Navy is exercising with two partners this week. INS Sahyadri reached Vladivostok on 10 October 2026 for INDRA 2026 with the Russian Navy (13 to 18 October). INS Trishul is at Plymouth for KONKAN-26 with the Royal Navy, the annual India-UK exercise held in two phases.
UPSC angle: Prelims: exercise-partner pairs (INDRA, KONKAN), MAHASAGAR. · Mains GS-II/GS-III: defence diplomacy, India-Russia and India-UK ties.
12 Oct 2026GS3 · Internal security / defenceThe Indian Navy launched Shreyas (Yard 3040), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel, at GRSE Kolkata on 10 October 2026. NGOPVs are being built at two shipyards, GSL Goa and GRSE Kolkata, for surveillance, search and rescue, offshore asset protection, disaster relief and anti-piracy. Shreyas means best or most excellent in Sanskrit.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ship names and shipyards. · Mains GS-III: defence indigenisation.
10 Oct 2026GS3 · DefenceMangrol, the third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard, was set for commissioning on 12 October 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. It has over 80% indigenous content, carries the Abhay hull-mounted sonar and Maareech torpedo decoy, and uses waterjet propulsion for shallow coastal waters.
UPSC angle: Prelims: ship systems and names. · Mains GS-III: defence indigenisation, maritime security.
9 Oct 2026GS3 · Defence technologyDRDO flight-tested an indigenous High-Altitude Platform on 6 October 2026. The lighter-than-air system climbed to 21 km above mean sea level and stayed at 20 km for over 30 minutes before a controlled descent and recovery. It is being developed by ADRDE, Agra, as a long-endurance stratospheric surveillance airship.
UPSC angle: Prelims: HAPS, ADRDE. · Mains GS-III: defence technology.
6 Oct 2026 
