Historic move: India to set up first-ever joint military stations, merge defence education wings | India News - The Indian Express

1. Joint Military Stations

Recent Development:

  • At the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC-2025) held in Kolkata, the government announced the creation of three Joint Military Stations for the first time.
  • Also decided: merging the educational wings of the Army, Navy, and Air Force into a Tri-Services Education Corps.

Significance:

  • Promotes jointness and integration among armed forces.
  • Reduces duplication of resources, ensures better coordination in operations.
  • Step towards the long-pending reform of Theatre Commands.
  • Challenges: determining lead service, turf issues, logistics, and asset management.

UPSC Relevance:

  • Prelims: Key defence reforms, concept of theatre commands, joint stations.
  • GS-III (Security): Defence reforms, integration of armed forces, modernization.
  • Essay: “Modern Warfare and Need for Jointness in Armed Forces.”

2. India-EU FTA Talks

Current Status:

  • India and the EU are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aiming for completion by end-2025.
  • About 60–65% of chapters already agreed upon.
  • Exploring an “Early Harvest” model – where priority trade benefits are implemented before the full FTA.
  • Contentious issues: EU’s demands on automobiles, wines, dairy; India’s push for greater access in textiles, pharma, and steel; debate over PGI (like Basmati rice).

Significance:

  • Boosts trade & investment flows, diversifies supply chains.
  • Helps India strengthen strategic partnership with Europe amid US-China tensions.
  • Challenges: Protecting sensitive sectors, meeting climate/labour standards, dealing with EU’s non-tariff barriers.

UPSC Relevance:

  • Prelims: Concept of FTA, Early Harvest deal, PGI (Protected Geographical Indication).
  • GS-III (Economy): Trade liberalization vs protectionism, market access, WTO role.
  • GS-II (IR): External economic policy, India-EU partnership.
  • Essay: “Geoeconomics and Trade Agreements in a Multipolar World.”

3. Air Defence Radars

Recent Developments:

  • Indian Army seeking new Low Level Light Weight Radars (Enhanced) and Air Defence Fire Control Radar-Drone Detectors (ADFCR-DD) to secure borders.
  • Triggered by rising drone intrusions (especially from Pakistan).
  • Indian Navy has commissioned Lanza-N 3D Naval Air Surveillance Radar developed by Tata Advanced Systems & Spain’s Indra.
  • IAF moving to procure mountain radars to cover difficult Himalayan terrain.

Significance:

  • Improves detection of UAVs, drones, low-altitude threats.
  • Strengthens border security against asymmetric threats.
  • Pushes indigenisation and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defence tech.

 UPSC Relevance:

  • Prelims: Types of radars (surveillance vs fire control), examples (Lanza-N, LLWR).
  • GS-III (Security/Technology): Role of technology in national security, indigenous defence production.
  • Essay: “Technology as the Future of National Security.”

In Essence

  • Joint Military Stations → First step towards Theatre Commands & force integration.
  • India-EU FTA → Crucial trade pact balancing growth with protection of sensitive sectors.
  • Air Defence Radars → Strengthening border security against drones, boosting indigenisation.