Hari Kumar

INS Kadamba in Karwar, on India's Western coast, is undergoing significant upgrades to become the Indian Navy's largest naval base east of the Suez Canal. This expansion allows it to host INS Vikramaditya and enhances operational flexibility compared to Mumbai, especially in handling larger vessels. The base's strategic location offers tactical advantages and supports India's broader maritime security goals in the Indian Ocean Region.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday that India, being the largest resident naval power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), will persist in countering the threats of piracy and drone attacks to uphold the safety, security, and stability of the region. The Navy has successfully concluded 100 days of intensified "maritime security operations" as part of "Operation Sankalp" in the Gulf of Aden, adjacent regions, the Arabian Sea, and along the east coast of Somalia. These efforts are crucial in light of the ongoing disruptions to sea trade caused by Houthi rebels and Somali pirates.

Actress Meera Chopra is gearing up to marry her boyfriend Rakshit Kejriwal on March 12, marking the end of their three-year relationship. Their wedding celebrations include traditional rituals, from the haldi and mehendi ceremonies to the solemn pheras and subsequent reception. The couple's wedding invitation, adorned with intricate floral designs, reflects the regal ambiance of their destination wedding in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The festivities will unfold at the Buena Vista Luxury Garden Spa Resort, promising a memorable experience amidst Rajasthan's cultural richness. Scheduled for March 11, the mehendi ceremony will commence at 5 pm, followed by a lively sangeet and cocktail party at 7 pm. On March 12, the haldi ceremony is planned for 10 am, followed by the traditional saat pheras around 4:30 pm, symbolizing the couple's union. Meera Chopra and Rakshit will conclude their wedding day with a reception starting at 9 pm, marking the beginning of their married life together.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, was captured doing push-ups with young cadets at the Juliet Squadron of National Defence Academy (NDA), located in Khadakvasla, Pune. The video showcases the 61-year-old admiral actively engaging in the festivities to celebrate the squad's victory in the Champion Chiefs of Staff Banner competition, as he joins the cadets in performing push-ups. This heartwarming moment has garnered immense attention.

The chief of Naval staff said Indian Navy won't allow the security and safety in IOR to be disrupted. "We have said piracy is not going to happen and we are going to teach a very hard lesson to anybody who tries to take to piracy," the Navy chief said. An Indian warship had last month rescued 19 Pakistani crew after their Iranian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by pirates on the east coast of Somalia.

India's ties with Maldives have come under strain after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's election win in November last year. Pledging to end his country's 'India First' policy, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, asked India to pull out its troops by March 15. "New Delhi has not really issued any communication to the Navy so far," Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said.

General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), stated on Tuesday that the three services (army, navy, and air force) require stronger cooperation and integration than ever before due to the changing nature and character of the battle. He stated that the concept of jointness is not new. Our predecessors, who established this academy, saw it as a combined training academy. It is the foundational ethos of the NDA. And that needs to be reignited among us.

The Indian Navy is proactively deploying its fleet to counter piracy and conducting anti-drone operations to tackle the increasing attacks on merchant ships by drones, chief of naval staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said here on Wednesday. “We have now decided that we will board any suspicious dhow, ship or fishing boat, look for piracy triggers and if we find any we will take action,” the Navy chief said on the sidelines of the handing over ceremony of the indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner medium altitude long endurance drone at the Adani Aerospace Park here.

The Indian Navy is proactively deploying its fleet to keep the pirates away and confine them in their waters, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Hari Kumar said on Wednesday. After unveiling the indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by Adani Defence and Aerospace for the Navy, Hari Kumar said there have been about 35 drone attacks on ships largely on Israel-owned or flagged or related vessels in the Red Sea, North and Central Arabian Sea during the last 40-42 days.

Adani Defence & Aerospace (ADA) handed over its first indigenously manufactured Drishti 10 Starliner Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Indian Navy to the Indian Navy on Wednesday at its facility in Hyderabad. The flag-off ceremony was led by Admiral R Hari Kumar (PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC), Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), India Navy, who was present at the event with 75 Navy personnel. Post the handing over, the UAV will leave from Hyderabad to Porbandar for its induction into naval maritime operations.

Addressing a session on 'Indo-Pacific Challenges and Way Ahead' at the Synergia Conclave, Admiral Hari Kumar said the Indian Navy acts as a uniting force for bringing friends together to exchange views and address the common concerns for holistic maritime security. "We are traversing through a very contested present into an uncertain future. Bhartiya Nausena (Indian Navy), for its part, will remain persistent and patient in our efforts while ensuring a regular presence in the wider Indo-Pacific," he said.

The chief of naval staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, has stated that the Indian Navy is prepared for evacuation operations in West Asia if necessary. The Navy deployed assets in the Gulfs of Oman and Aden, and the Red Sea, and is providing relief materials to Gaza. He also outlined plans for the Navy's growth, projecting an increase in ships, submarines, and aircraft by 2035. He mentioned the focus on manned-unmanned teaming and the development of unmanned air, surface, and underwater vessels.

The Indian Navy is prepared for evacuation operations in West Asia due to ongoing conflict, according to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar. He stated that the Navy has deployed assets and is ready to undertake any task given by the government. Admiral Kumar also outlined plans for the Navy's growth, projecting an increase in the number of ships, submarines, and aircraft by 2035. He mentioned the importance of manned-unmanned teaming and the Navy's interest in unmanned surveillance aircraft.