Defence Ministry greenlights purchase of 15 maritime aircraft

21 Feb 2024 CW Team

The Defence Ministry announced its approval for the purchase of nine maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy and six maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.

The patrol planes would be constructed based on the domestically produced C-295 transport aircraft, and the total project cost is estimated to be around Rs 290 billion.

The decision is seen as a significant boost to the 'Make in India' initiative by the Centre, aimed at promoting self-reliance in the defence sector and fostering overall economic growth.

Further details on the matter are awaited.

This development coincides with the Centre closely monitoring the situation amid tensions in West Asia due to the Israel-Palestine conflict. It also comes in the aftermath of a Chinese survey vessel reaching the Maldives, prompting India to keep a vigilant eye on the Indian Ocean Region.

It's noteworthy that a Chinese dual-use survey ship entered Male seaport in the first week of February, during a period of strained diplomatic relations between India and Maldives.

The Chinese Navy exhibited considerable activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) last year, deploying approximately 23 warships and 11 research ships.

To enhance defence capabilities, the Centre has set a target of achieving defence manufacturing worth Rs 1.75 trillion, including defence exports of Rs 350 billion, by the year 2024-25.

Infrastructure Urban

26 Aug 2025

REC honoured with ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at DNA Awards 2025

REC, a Maharatna NBFC under the Ministry of Power, has received the ‘Best Design Thinking Award’ at the 5th Distinguished NBFC Awards (DNA Awards) hosted by Banking Frontiers.The award acknowledges REC’s digital initiatives in Retail Bonds, highlighting the company’s efforts to leverage technology and design thinking to improve customer experience and service delivery.Jitendra Srivastava, CMD, REC, congratulated the finance team for their commitment and contribution towards driving innovation. Harsh Baweja, Director (Finance), along with senior officials, joined in celebrating the reco..

How India’s Logistics Sector Becoming Smarter, Faster, and Fairer

India’s logistics system, once criticized for being slow and fragmented, is now showing signs of a genuine turnaround. Policy reforms, new infrastructure, and rapid adoption of technology are changing the way goods move across the country. Officials argue the impact will be felt not just in lower costs, but in faster operations and more equitable opportunities for small businesses.Smarter: Digital Innovation Taking HoldThe biggest shift has been digital. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), IoT and block chain are no longer buzzwords, they are now being used on the ground. Fl..

Hindustan Zinc Charts Multi-metal Future as Cornerstone of 2x Growth Strategy

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has announced a bold transformation agenda – Hindustan Zinc 2.0 – to evolve from a zinc-and-silver leader into a diversified, multi-metal enterprise powering India’s future growth.Addressing shareholders at the company’s 59th Annual General Meeting, Chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar said, “Hindustan Zinc is moving beyond its zinc and silver legacy to become a multi-metal, future-ready enterprise. As demand for critical minerals grows across clean energy, digital infrastructure, and national sec..