writingonblog uncensored: OTA Partners with SRM University to Launch Cyberse...

writingonblog uncensored: OTA Partners with SRM University to Launch Cyberse...: EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI: In a strategic move to bolster the digital capabilities of India’s future military leaders, the Officers Tra...

OTA Partners with SRM University to Launch Cybersecurity Training for Cadets

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ CHENNAI:
In a strategic move to bolster the digital capabilities of India’s future military leaders, the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) to introduce a diploma programme in Information Technology and Cyber Security.

The agreement, formalised at a signing ceremony on Monday, aims to equip OTA cadets with essential technical competencies in cybersecurity, data protection, and foundational IT skills — areas increasingly seen as critical in contemporary and future combat scenarios, according to a release.

The MoU was signed by Lieutenant General Michael A.J. Fernandez, Commandant of OTA Chennai, and Dr C. Muthamizh Selvan, Vice Chancellor of SRM IST, at the OTA campus.

Speaking at the event, Lt Gen Fernandez underscored the irreversible integration of emerging technologies into modern warfare. “Gone are the days when warfare could be imagined without the use of technology,” he said, adding that the diploma would help cadets build digital resilience and remain operationally relevant in an era of hybrid threats and cyber-enabled conflict. “This course will ensure our future officers are not just tactically sound, but technologically fluent.”

Dr Selvan said that SRM IST’s laboratories would be accessible to OTA cadets for hands-on learning and project work, further integrating military training with cutting-edge academic resources.

writingonblog uncensored: Exclusive: Tamil Nadu PSUs Face Legal Scrutiny Ami...

writingonblog uncensored: Exclusive: Tamil Nadu PSUs Face Legal Scrutiny Ami...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s state-owned enterprises have come under sharp scrutiny after the judiciary voiced alarm over persiste...

Exclusive: Tamil Nadu PSUs Face Legal Scrutiny Amid Judicial Backlash on Non-Compliance

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

Tamil Nadu’s state-owned enterprises have come under sharp scrutiny after the judiciary voiced alarm over persistent non-compliance with court orders—prompting the state’s finance department to issue a sweeping directive aimed at tightening legal oversight across the public sector.

In a letter circulated last month, S. Nagarajan, the state’s finance secretary (expenditure), instructed all public sector undertakings (PSUs) to proactively manage litigation, especially in cases involving state functionaries or departments as respondents. The letter underscores the urgent need for timely filings of deletion petitions, counter-affidavits, and appeals to avoid spiralling into contempt proceedings—an increasingly common occurrence in recent months.

The directive follows mounting criticism from the Madras High Court, where judges have repeatedly expressed frustration at what they describe as "systematic lapses" in implementing judicial orders. In particular, Justices G.K. Ilanthiryan and N. Anand Venkatesh, presiding over a contempt bench in March, pointed to a noticeable uptick in petitions filed for wilful disobedience, calling it symptomatic of “deeper institutional failures” in the state’s administrative apparatus.

“The increasing number of contempt petitions is a serious issue, as it undermines the authority of the judiciary and erodes public trust in the rule of law,” the bench observed during a March 18 hearing, laying bare the widening trust deficit between the courts and the executive arm of the state.

Concerns from the judiciary were formally conveyed to the government via a letter from J. Ravindran, the state’s additional advocate general (Coordination), addressed to Chief Secretary. In it, Ravindran urged the creation of a cross-departmental legal compliance mechanism that would ensure all court directions are adhered to within specified timelines. His letter also advocated for institutionalising legal vigilance across statutory boards and public corporations, with built-in accountability and escalation processes.

Reacting swiftly, the finance department has now asked PSUs to institute internal tracking systems to monitor litigation, maintain meticulous records for review by government auditors, and coordinate more effectively with legal counsel. Perhaps most notably, the directive includes provisions to hold errant officials personally liable for legal or financial losses incurred due to delays or negligence—marking a departure from the typically opaque and diffused responsibility structures within public administration.

The push from the state comes amid a broader national backdrop in which India’s apex court has also signalled a tougher stance. The Supreme Court has recently cautioned states against filing appeals with undue delay and has directed governments to streamline legal processes. In particular, it has asked states to clearly assign accountability in instances of procedural lapses and to impose financial penalties on officials found responsible for legal setbacks.

 This also cones in the wake of Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer Anshul Mishra has been held in contempt by Madras High Court and directed to undergo simple imprisonment for a month. 

Tamil Nadu PSUs Face Legal Scrutiny Amid Judicial Backlash on Non-Compliance

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:

Tamil Nadu’s state-owned enterprises have come under sharp scrutiny after the judiciary voiced alarm over persistent non-compliance with court orders—prompting the state’s finance department to issue a sweeping directive aimed at tightening legal oversight across the public sector.

In a letter circulated last month, S. Nagarajan, the state’s finance secretary (expenditure), instructed all public sector undertakings (PSUs) to proactively manage litigation, especially in cases involving state functionaries or departments as respondents. The letter underscores the urgent need for timely filings of deletion petitions, counter-affidavits, and appeals to avoid spiralling into contempt proceedings—an increasingly common occurrence in recent months.

The directive follows mounting criticism from the Madras High Court, where judges have repeatedly expressed frustration at what they describe as "systematic lapses" in implementing judicial orders. In particular, Justices G.K. Ilanthiryan and N. Anand Venkatesh, presiding over a contempt bench in March, pointed to a noticeable uptick in petitions filed for wilful disobedience, calling it symptomatic of “deeper institutional failures” in the state’s administrative apparatus.

“The increasing number of contempt petitions is a serious issue, as it undermines the authority of the judiciary and erodes public trust in the rule of law,” the bench observed during a March 18 hearing, laying bare the widening trust deficit between the courts and the executive arm of the state.

Concerns from the judiciary were formally conveyed to the government via a letter from J. Ravindran, the state’s additional advocate general (Coordination), addressed to Chief Secretary. In it, Ravindran urged the creation of a cross-departmental legal compliance mechanism that would ensure all court directions are adhered to within specified timelines. His letter also advocated for institutionalising legal vigilance across statutory boards and public corporations, with built-in accountability and escalation processes.

Reacting swiftly, the finance department has now asked PSUs to institute internal tracking systems to monitor litigation, maintain meticulous records for review by government auditors, and coordinate more effectively with legal counsel. Perhaps most notably, the directive includes provisions to hold errant officials personally liable for legal or financial losses incurred due to delays or negligence—marking a departure from the typically opaque and diffused responsibility structures within public administration.

The push from the state comes amid a broader national backdrop in which India’s apex court has also signalled a tougher stance. The Supreme Court has recently cautioned states against filing appeals with undue delay and has directed governments to streamline legal processes. In particular, it has asked states to clearly assign accountability in instances of procedural lapses and to impose financial penalties on officials found responsible for legal setbacks.

As Tamil Nadu navigates a complex legal and political landscape, the latest move signals a renewed focus on governance discipline—one that may prove to be a litmus test for the state’s broader institutional resilience.

writingonblog uncensored: AVNL Pushes for Western Defence Partnership For Li...

writingonblog uncensored: AVNL Pushes for Western Defence Partnership For Li...: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: Amid speculation of a joint venture with Russia, state-owned Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) is quietly chart...

AVNL Pushes for Western Defence Partnership For Light Tank Project

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
Amid speculation of a joint venture with Russia, state-owned Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) is quietly charting a different course for the development of a new generation of light tanks, with growing interest in Western technology partners.

Reports have earlier surfaced suggesting that AVNL, headquartered in Avadi, had finalized an agreement with Russian defence export agency Rosoboronexport (ROE) to locally manufacture a variant of the 2S25 Sprut-SD tank platform. The vehicle, originally designed for Russia’s airborne troops, has been cited as a potential fit for India’s high-altitude warfare needs.

However, AVNL sources familiar with internal deliberations say no such agreement has been finalized. Instead, they point to a broader evaluation process involving both Russian and Western light tank platforms. The company, which emerged as a Defence Public Sector Undertaking following the restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board, is understood to be leaning toward Western designs that emphasize Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) integration, modularity, and lightweight firepower, including 105mm and low-recoil 120mm main guns.

Western light tanks also offer enhanced survivability through composite and modular armour—characteristics that AVNL considers essential for India’s future battlefield environment, particularly in rugged, high-altitude terrain.

While AVNL has issued no official statement, its procurement activity offers insight into its strategic direction. Over the past several months, the firm has issued tenders seeking domestic and international partners to supply subsystems such as anti-drone systems, auxiliary power units (APUs), turret weapons, and power packs. Industry insiders say AVNL is in exploratory talks with leading global defence players, including Belgium’s John Cockerill and Israel’s Elbit Systems.

The Indian Army’s renewed interest in light tanks was sparked by China’s deployment of the Type 15 light tank near the Line of Actual Control during the 2020 standoff in Eastern Ladakh. India’s heavier platforms—such as the T-90 and the domestically developed Arjun—were found to be ill-suited for the high-altitude operational environment, prompting a strategic reassessment.

Project Zorawar, named after the 19th-century Dogra general Zorawar Singh, was launched in response. Spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the initiative aims to develop a 25-tonne class light tank tailored for mountain warfare. An initial order of 59 tanks has already been placed with L&T, but a further 295 units are up for grabs in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes defence procurement race.

Not content with merely competing in the open tender, AVNL has approached DRDO to be designated as an additional Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) alongside L&T. The company is reportedly seeking transfer of technology and manufacturing rights for the Indian Light Tank (ILT), aiming to create a parallel production line and reduce the risk of single-vendor dependency.

With a legacy of producing over 4,400 battle tanks and variants since 1966, AVNL has the industrial footprint and technical capability to support full-cycle armoured fighting vehicle development, including lifetime sustainment. The firm is also in the process of investing more than Rs 2,000 crore (approx. $240 million) to modernize its facilities—a move designed to boost manufacturing efficiency and reduce turnaround time for critical defence platforms.

With AVNL's overtures to Western firms gaining momentum and the Project Zorawar tender entering a critical phase, India’s approach to light tank acquisition may ultimately reflect a broader realignment in defence partnerships. Whether the country will continue to lean on its longstanding defence ties with Russia, or pivot more decisively toward Western industrial partners, remains a question of both strategic calculus and industrial capacity.

writingonblog uncensored: Sify bets on pay-per-use AI cloud model to lower e...

writingonblog uncensored: Sify bets on pay-per-use AI cloud model to lower e...: CHENNAI: Digital infrastructure firm Sify Technologies has launched a new pay-per-use pricing model for artificial intelligence  cloud servi...

Sify bets on pay-per-use AI cloud model to lower entry barriers in data centre market

CHENNAI:

Digital infrastructure firm Sify Technologies has launched a new pay-per-use pricing model for artificial intelligence  cloud services, in a move it says will help lower the cost of entry for businesses looking to deploy artificial intelligence workloads in the country.

The hourly billing model—covering hosting, power, and infrastructure—will be offered at three of Sify’s hyperscale data centre campuses in Chennai, Noida and Navi Mumbai. All three sites have been certified under NVIDIA’s DGX-Ready Data Center programme, supporting up to 130 kilowatts per rack. Sify’s Navi Mumbai facility secured certification in 2024, while Chennai and Noida received approvals more recently.

The initiative marks an effort by the Nasdaq-listed company to capitalise on India's growing role in global AI development, and to position itself as a leading infrastructure partner for GPU-intensive workloads.

“By introducing colocation pricing on an hourly basis, we aim to make it faster and easier to deploy these platforms in India,” said Sharad Agarwal, chief executive of Sify Infinit Spaces, the company’s data centre subsidiary. “Our partners can bring the latest NVIDIA GPUs to India, while Sify manages all the infrastructure support for this rapidly evolving market.”

Sify will initially support NVIDIA’s H100, H200, B200, GB200 NVL72, and GB300 NVL72 platforms—including liquid-cooled configurations—through its certified facilities. The company will also offer additional services such as global connectivity, white-glove IT infrastructure support, and managed services through its converged ICT ecosystem.

Sify’s strategy, built around flexible pricing and technical certification, could appeal to a new generation of AI startups as well as established cloud players seeking to expand their regional presence.

Still, competition remains intense. Global hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud continue to expand aggressively in India, with their own data centre infrastructure and AI platforms.

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Takes the Lead as India’s Metro Operators ...

writingonblog uncensored: Chennai Takes the Lead as India’s Metro Operators ...: CHENNAI: India’s metro systems, which have proliferated across its fast-growing urban centres, are moving to align on design and technology ...

Chennai Takes the Lead as India’s Metro Operators Seek Common Ground on Rolling Stock Innovation

CHENNAI:

India’s metro systems, which have proliferated across its fast-growing urban centres, are moving to align on design and technology standards in a bid to streamline operations and contain long-term costs. In a milestone initiative, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) hosted the inaugural meeting of a national working group on Friday aimed at overhauling how Indian metros approach rolling stock — the lifeblood of their commuter services.

Senior executives and technical experts from the country’s largest metro operators — including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad — gathered in Chennai to confront a shared challenge: how to manage, maintain and modernise a growing fleet of urban trains in an era of tightening budgets and rising passenger expectations, a release stated.

“We’re entering a new phase of metro expansion in India,” said M.A. Siddique, Managing Director of CMRL. “As urban mobility becomes increasingly sophisticated, collaboration between systems is no longer optional — it’s essential for efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness.”

The Rolling Stock Working Group, backed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and convened under I-Metro, represents a coordinated effort to bring coherence to a sector that has often grown in silos. The Chennai meeting — the first since the working group’s formation — marks a key turning point in the drive toward standardisation and technological convergence.

Chennai Metro Rail, appointed the lead agency for the initiative, is leveraging its rising stature in India’s urban transit landscape. With Phase 2 of its own metro network scheduled for completion in the next two years, CMRL is keen to both contribute to and benefit from the emerging national conversation around next-generation transit solutions.

Topics on the agenda ranged from predictive maintenance and lifecycle cost optimisation to artificial intelligence in asset management and localisation of critical spares. Senior CMRL leaders, including Manoj Goyal, Director (Systems & Operations), and A.R. Rajendran, Chief General Manager (Rolling Stock), joined metro officials from Mumbai to Kochi in sharing lessons on overhaul strategies, vendor development and obsolescence management, the release added.

Tamil Nadu seeks biotech boost with Swiss ties amid EFTA trade pact

CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu has stepped up efforts to deepen its presence in the global life sciences sector, representing India at Swiss Biotech Day this week — a key industry event in one of the world’s most advanced life sciences ecosystems.

The delegation, led by state investment promotion agency Guidance Tamil Nadu, held discussions with leading stakeholders across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medtech, aiming to position the state as a competitive destination for investment and innovation.

The visit follows the state's announcement in the 2025–26 budget to establish a bioscience park near Chennai, aimed at bolstering its position in the fields of biosimilars and therapeutics, according to sources from Guidance

The visit also comes shortly after the signing of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), a landmark deal with the European Free Trade Association comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The agreement is expected to facilitate greater market access and regulatory alignment across high-value sectors, Guidance stated in a social media post.

As one of India’s top exporting states with a diversified industrial base, Tamil Nadu is looking to leverage the trade pact to integrate more deeply into global value chains and attract investment from advanced economies. The state sees significant potential to expand its footprint in high-tech manufacturing and life sciences, tapping into Swiss expertise and capital.

The state has previously attracted major global players across the automotive and electronics sectors, and is now seeking to replicate that success in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Army Endorses Chennai-Built Tactical Drone

writingonblog uncensored: Indian Army Endorses Chennai-Built Tactical Drone: C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI: A micro  category surveillance drone developed by a Chennai-based company has received a nod from the Indian Army, m...

Indian Army Endorses Chennai-Built Tactical Drone

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
A micro  category surveillance drone developed by a Chennai-based company has received a nod from the Indian Army, marking a potential inflection point in India’s ambitions to build a sovereign defence technology ecosystem and reduce its reliance on Chinese-manufactured UAVs.

Zuppa Geo Navigation Technologies, a Chennai-based firm, has secured field-level validation for its Ajeet Mini drone—a compact tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for reconnaissance missions. The Army’s endorsement came after field trials conducted earlier this week by a Mountain Brigade operating in high-altitude terrain, where the drone reportedly met key performance parameters .

The Ajeet Mini is built around Zuppa’s proprietary patented autopilot system and features a domestically developed cyber-physical stack , including in-house firmware, command protocols, and ground control software. According to company founder Sai Pattabiram, the drone is "almost entirely made in-house," a claim that positions the Ajeet Mini as a rare example of true indigenous innovation in nascent UAV industry.

“We've developed the entire stack ourselves—hardware, software, structural components, and the control systems,” said Pattabiram. “This isn’t just a make-in-India drone—it’s designed and engineered from the ground up.”

India has long been dependent on Chinese drones for surveillance and civilian applications, with models from DJI dominating both defence and commercial segments. The Ajeet Mini is being positioned as a direct alternative, and its validation by the Indian Army could accelerate adoption under the government’s AatmaNirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign.

The timing of the Army’s endorsement is significant. On the day prior to the announcement, Indian forces intercepted a coordinated drone swarm believed to be launched by Pakistan across the Line of Control near Jammu. The incident underscores the growing importance of drone warfare in South Asia, drawing parallels with tactical shifts seen in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“Drone skirmishes are no longer theoretical—they’re happening now,” Pattabiram said. “While India has so far relied on counter-drone measures, our validation by the Army opens the door for cost-effective offensive swarm deployments using our secure software architecture.”

He added that Zuppa’s SWARM platform, tested under high-altitude operational stress, offers potential for “deep penetration” missions across adversarial borders without the risks associated with manned sorties.

The emergence of Zuppa underscores a broader trend in India’s tech-industrial base: homegrown companies are beginning to build not just consumer-grade UAVs, but advanced, military-grade platforms tailored to regional combat scenarios. Analysts say the domestic demand for drones—spanning defence, agriculture, and logistics—could create a fertile environment for globally competitive innovation, provided policy support and procurement pipelines remain robust.

“Drone manufacturing will evolve in distinct clusters, driven by domestic volume,” Pattabiram noted. “India’s real edge lies in its consumption base—if we scale that intelligently, global competitiveness will follow.”

The Army’s validation is not a procurement contract—but it is a crucial first step, providing Zuppa with credibility, access to further trials, and possibly, entry into a strategic procurement pipeline in the coming years.


Drone Comparison:   Pakistan's  Asisguard Songar vs.  Indigenous Drones  manufactured by Zuppa
Asisguard Songar – Key Highlights
Type: Quad Copter

Range: 5 KM

Flight Time: 25 Minutes

Take-off Weight: 44 Kg

Max Payload: 9 Kg

Size: 140 cm (Rotor to Rotor)

Service Ceiling: 3000 m from Sea Level

Operating Temperature: -20° to 50° Celsius

Material: Carbon Fiber Body

Speed: 10 to 15 m/s (36–54 Kmph)

Operational Use: Military, Security & Surveillance (day & night)

Combat Capability:

Detect and destroy targets

Transmit real-time video and flight data

Armament:

5.56mm Assault Rifle (200 rounds) or

Grenade Launcher

Advanced Features:

SWARM Capable

Target Location Acquisition: Not Known

AI for Drone Neutralisation: Not Known

Target Tracking: Not Known

 Zuppa Eagle – Key Highlights
Type: Quad Copter

Range: 5 KM (Extendable to 10 KM)

Flight Time: 60 Minutes

Take-off Weight: 4.5 Kg

Max Payload: 1 Kg (Airframe can be replaced for 9Kg payload)

Size: 56 cm (Rotor to Rotor)

Service Ceiling: 6000 m from Sea Level

Operating Temperature: -10° to 55° Celsius

Material: Carbon Fiber Arms & Propellers, ABS Body

Speed: 10 to 12 m/s (36–44 Kmph)

Operational Use: Military, Security & Surveillance (day & night)

Combat Capability:

Detect and destroy targets

Transmit real-time video and flight data

Armament:

1 Kg Payload Drop Mechanism

Advanced Features:

SWARM Capable

Target Location Acquisition: Yes

AI for Drone Neutralisation: Stryker AI

Target Tracking: Yes

writingonblog uncensored: Bad Weather Grounds Bengaluru Flights as Chennai A...

writingonblog uncensored: Bad Weather Grounds Bengaluru Flights as Chennai A...: CHENNAI: Chennai International Airport turned into an unscheduled relief hub on Friday evening as severe weather forced six Bengaluru-bound ...

Bad Weather Grounds Bengaluru Flights as Chennai Airport Steps In

CHENNAI:

Chennai International Airport turned into an unscheduled relief hub on Friday evening as severe weather forced six Bengaluru-bound flights — including five commercial passenger aircraft and one cargo freighter — to divert mid-route.

The diversions, which occurred over a three-hour window between 6:25 PM and 9:40 PM IST, included aircraft operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Gulf Air, and Germany-based cargo airline AeroLogic. 

Among the first arrivals was IndiGo flight 6E6014, an Airbus A320 en route from Dehradun, which landed in Chennai at 6:25 PM. It was followed closely by Air India Express flight IX2747 from Bagdogra at 6:35 PM and IndiGo flight 6E6508 from Rajkot’s Hirasar Airport at 6:37 PM. All three aircraft had been scheduled to land in Bengaluru but were redirected due to adverse weather conditions in and around the city.

At 7:10 PM, a Boeing 777 freighter operated by AeroLogic, inbound from Hong Kong under flight number 3S0533, was also forced to land in Chennai. This widebody cargo aircraft, originally destined for Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, was accommodated at a remote stand typically reserved for large international operations.

The weather showed no signs of improvement into the late evening. Gulf Air flight GF280, an Airbus A321 from Bahrain, touched down in Chennai at 9:35 PM. Just five minutes later, Air India Express diverted yet another flight — IX2012 from Guwahati — marking the sixth unscheduled arrival redirected from Bengaluru that day.

Chennai, with its relatively uncluttered apron and operational agility, has increasingly become the emergency buffer for Bengaluru during meteorological and air traffic congestion events.