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.