Maharashtra to give basic military training to students from Class 1
In a first-of-its-kind move, Maharashtra will begin providing basic military training to school students starting from Class 1, state school education minister Dada Bhuse announced on Monday. The initiative aims to foster patriotism, discipline, and physical fitness amongst children from an early age.According to Bhuse, retired army personnel will take charge of training the students, alongside support from school sports teachers, NCC (National Cadet Corps) officials, and Scouts and Guides units. 'This decision has been taken to instil love for the country and encourage daily habits like physical exercise and disciplined living, which will greatly benefit students in the long run,' he said.advertisementThe proposal has reportedly received a favourable response from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. To ensure wide implementation, the government plans to involve over 2.5 lakh ex-servicemen across the state.
This announcement comes in the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and India's retaliatory strikes under 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7 targeting terror bases in Pakistan and PoK.The country also witnessed a series of nationwide civil defence exercises recently. Under 'Operation Abhyas' on May 7 and 'Operation Shield' on May 31, mock drills were conducted in several border states to prepare civilians and authorities for potential emergency scenarios. These drills involved rehearsing responses to a range of simulated threats, underscoring India's increased focus on national security.The military training plan for students aligns with this broader strategy of preparedness and resilience at both national and grassroots levels.(With PTI inputs) Must Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
"PM Modi's leadership spurs Rs 17 Lakh crore in Investment proposals in 2 days," says Odisha CM Majhi
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 20 (ANI): On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the BJP-led government in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi commended Prime Minister Modi's leadership and highlighted contributions to the state's development. 'In January, PM Modi urged the investors to participate in the Utkarsh Odisha 2025 conclave. We received proposals worth Rs 17 lakh crores in just two days, which is a record. This happened because the investors trusted you. We are working to make Odisha the industrial hub of eastern India...,' he said. On Operation Sindoor, Majhi lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stating, 'Under your leadership, the terrorist has been eliminated. Operation Sindoor was not just an operation; it was a symbol of the trust of mothers and sisters. With Operation Sindoor, India rises to a new role, one that does not bow. Earlier, people said, 'Modi hai toh mumkin hai'; now they say, 'Modi hai toh desh surakshit hai.' Under your leadership, development is touching new heights. In 11 years, all sectors have made progress, and India has become the world's fourth-largest economy.' PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore in Bhubaneswar. These projects will cover critical sectors, including drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line. He will also release the Odisha Vision Document, which is anchored around the landmark years of 2036 (when Odisha completes 100 years as India's first linguistic state) and 2047 (when India celebrates 100 years of independence). Odisha has set an ambitious target to become a $500 billion economy by 2036 and $1.5 trillion by 2047. Earlier today, PM addressed the rally in Bihar's Siwan said that the Congress and RJD supported Gundaraj and corruption.'RJD and Congress are against Bihar and investments. They can never make a place in the heart of Biharis.' Launching a scathing attack on the opposition parties in Bihar for the slow progress of the state during their tenure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day said that the opposition Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are anti-Bihar and anti-investment. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Ex-RAW boss AS Dulat praises Asim Munir meet with Trump, says meet PM Modi next
London [UK], June 20 (ANI): Amarjit Singh Dulat, Former Chief of India's premier intelligence agency- the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)- has praised Pakistan's COAS Asim Munir for his meeting with US President Donald Trump and has called for Munir to come to India and meet PM Modi to thaw ties. Dulat made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Geo News at King's College, during a discussion on his newly published book The Chief Minister and the Spy. Dulat recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan to attend the wedding of Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter, and said that Pakistan must also try their hand at thawing the frozen ties, reported The News International quoting the interview with Geo. Dulat said: 'I congratulate Field Marshal Asim Munir. Congratulations to the people of Pakistan. He should now come and meet Modi Ji in Hyderabad House and then may visit Amritsar. I believe that hardlines can be softened. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan to attend the wedding of Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter. Things can and should improve. Someone needs to bowl first. Imran Khan is in jail. The Field Marshal or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif can do that.' Dulat agreed that relations are frozen between India and Pakistan, especially after the recent conflict but he was hopeful of a change, saying that if the meeting between Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump can take place, so even he could visit Delhi, as reported by Geo News. 'Look at the Field Marshal's lunch in the US. Whoever arranged it, send him to Delhi too. If it can happen in Washington, why not in Delhi,' he told Geo News He said that the Field Marshal's luncheon at the Cabinet Room and the Oval visit, lasting over two hours, was a major development in the US-Pakistan relations. He said, 'This has happened for the first time. It's good and huge for Pakistan. I congratulate Pakistan but don't stop there, come to India too.' Dulat told Geo News that India has good relations with the US. He said, 'Pakistan has always progressed in these relations, that's why the Field Marshal is there.' The former RAW chief advised both countries to talk directly to each other. He said there should be no war between India and Pakistan. 'It's good that the recent conflict lasted for only four days.' He also praised Pakistan's hospitality. 'I am the only intelligence chief who visited Pakistan four times after retirement. Between 2010-2012 I visited four times. Pakistani hospitality cannot be matched. We cannot match it. I enjoyed it a lot,' he said to Geo News. Dulat spoke about his friendship with former ISI chief General Asad Durrani and described him as a great friend. Munir, during the meeting, lauded Trump for his 'constructive and result-oriented role' in facilitating a ceasefire with India following last month's armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India conducted Operation Sindoor on May 7 following April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks where 26 tourists were killed. The Operation was focused strikes on terrorists and terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in Pakistan and PoJK. It was India's 'measured, non-escalatory' action. (ANI)
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Bangladesh, Pakistan, China hold inaugural trilateral foreign office discussion
Bangladesh, Pakistan and China held an inaugural trilateral foreign office-level discussion this week in Kunming, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has announced. The trilateral consultation was led by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Amna Baloch, who participated in the first Foreign Office Consultation with Bangladesh in one and half decades on April 17, 2025, participated in Thursday's (June 19, 2025) trilateral discussion via video link, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. 'In her remarks the Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna commended the Chinese side for convening the inaugural meeting of the trilateral mechanism. Noting the common aspirations of the three sides for people-centric development, the Foreign Secretary expressed Pakistan's desire for a deeper engagement between China and South Asian countries,' said a press note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan announcing the Bangladesh, China, Pakistan Trilateral Mechanism. This is the first such meeting between the three neighbours of India – China, Pakistan and Bangladesh – since Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Prof Mohammed Yunus visited China during March 26-29 and also since India carried out Operation Sindoor in May when India and Pakistan clashed. During his China visit, Prof Yunus had addressed the business community in China and presented Bangladesh as a partner of China politically and commercially. Prof Yunus presented Bangladesh's long coastline as an advantage to the country and said Bangladesh is the 'only guardian of the ocean' and that China should access the market of northeast India through Bangladesh. The comment was cited as an irritant in Delhi-Dhaka relations by official sources in India later when India stopped the flow of textile apparel from Bangladesh through the land ports of India. The May 17 order also stopped entry of certain specified products from Bangladesh to the northeastern States of India. The discussion in Kunming coincided with Bangladesh-United States dialogue that was held between the interim government's National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the State Department in Washington DC on June 19. 'They discussed the Rohingya issue, ongoing tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the U.S-, developments in South Asia, and the democratic transition in Bangladesh,' said a press statement issued by the office of Prof. Mohammed Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh. Mention of the Rohingya issue after the bilateral discussion has brought to focus the so-called humanitarian corridor from Bangladesh to Myanmar's Rakhine province that Dr. Rahman has been championing in recent weeks. Rakhine-Chin-Sagaing region of Myanmar is of common interest of India, China and Bangladesh and in recent weeks, the United States has also indicated more interest in the strategically important area with the US Air Force personnel conducting a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief programme in May in the Cox's Bazar area.
