In Our Defence

On February 26, 2019, fighter jets of the Indian Air Force bombed a terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan. The Balakot airstrike – as the operation came to be known – was the first time since the 1971 war that Indian warplanes attacked a target inside Pakistan. The cross-border bombing raid was in response to the February 14, 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The already-high tensions between Delhi and Islamabad escalated even further after Pakistan responded to the Balakot airstrike with an attempted air raid of its own and the subsequent capture of an Indian Air Force pilot by Pakistan.  

On the 48th episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and “Def-Savvy” recall their experience of covering those tensed few days as journalists. With the benefit of four years of hindsight, the duo talks about some of the key takeaways of the Balakot airstrike and the consequent developments that pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of war. Tune in!  

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

In the latest episode of "In Our Defence," Dev Goswami, the show's host, and "Def-Savvy" Abhishek Bhalla, the national bureau chief, delve into the pressing need for cybersecurity. Abhishek's recent visit to Israel's CyberTech Global conference, a prestigious gathering of delegates from across the world, provides the perfect backdrop for this insightful conversation. The duo explores why cybersecurity laws are not given more prominence and emphasises the importance of addressing this critical issue. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the significance of cybersecurity in today's world.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

As Feb 14 marks the fourth anniversary of the gruesome Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF members, we bring you a detailed and insightful discussion with Lt. Gen KJS. Tiny Dhillon, who played a critical role in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in February 2019.

Listen to the full discussion with him and Abhishek Bhalla on the attack, Kashmir After 370, his Twitter entry saga and much more.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

What is the the Chinese Spy Balloon in US airspace Saga? And what's the “mystery balloon” hovering over Andaman & Nicobar Islands? Tune in to know!

We discuss the Indian navy and its hunt for a deck-based fighter jet, with respect to Abhishek Bhalla's recent visit to the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle. There are several questions that we address: Why do we need to start thinking about a replacement for an aircraft carrier now? What makes a country decide what kind of aircraft carrier it wants? Listen in!

India celebrated its 74th Republic Day on January 26th, 2023 with a grand parade in the capital city of New Delhi. The parade, which is an annual event, was held at Kartavyapath and was attended by dignitaries from all over the world, including the President of India.


This year's parade had a special focus on the inclusion of women in the military. For the first time in India's history, an all-women's motorcycle team from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) participated in the parade, showcasing their precision and skill. The parade also featured a tableau from the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, which highlighted the role of women in the Indian Army's communication network.


The parade also showcased India's military might, with a display of various weapons systems and equipment, including tanks, missiles, and fighter jets. The Indian Air Force also performed a fly-past, with fighter jets and helicopters showcasing their capabilities.


The parade also included a display of India's cultural diversity, with floats from various states of India showcasing their unique customs, traditions, and art forms.


The parade was followed by a 21-gun salute and the national anthem was played. The President of India also awarded bravery medals to members of the Indian military for their service and sacrifice to the nation.


The Indian military played a major role in the republic day celebrations, with the three wings of the Indian armed forces, the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force participating in the parade. The parade also showcased the Indian military's capabilities, strength, and readiness to defend the nation.


In the 43rd episode of In Our Defence, Dev Goswami, the show's host, and "Def-Savvy" Abhishek Bhalla the national bureau chief, share their individual experiences of the Republic Day fanfare. Tune in!

With Pakistan facing the worst ever economic turmoil, the country’s prime minister advocating for ‘peace’ with India, doesn't come as a surprise. But should the PM’s comments be taken with a pinch of salt? Was his statement really aimed at India or was it aimed at the West drawing its attention towards the country’s dwindling economy?? Abhishek Bhalla and Dev Goswami discuss. Tune in!

Squadron leader Avani Chaturvedi, the Indian Air Force’s first female fighter pilot, is set to take part in a maiden air exercise ‘Veer Guardian-2023’. The exercise will be carried out from January 16 to January 26 at the Hyakuri Air Base and its surrounding airspace in Omitama, and the Iruma Air Base in Sayama in Japan.

The women officers have been participating in wargames with the foreign contingents coming to India, including the French Air Force where two of the lady fighter pilots took part, but this would be the first time they would be representing the country on foreign land.

Besides, Captain Shiva Chouhan of the Indian Army's Fire and Fury Corps became the first woman officer to get operationally deployed at the world's highest battlefield, Siachen, after a month's arduous training at Siachen Battle School along with other personnel.

All this is brilliant, however, questions are raised of women's limited representation.

Women have been serving in the Indian Armed Forces in various roles for several decades. They are currently allowed to serve in all branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In recent years, the Indian government has made efforts to increase the representation of women in the Armed Forces, with a goal of having women comprise 15% of the military by 2020.

However, due to various factors, the representation of women in the Indian Armed Forces is still relatively low, with women making up just over 3% of the military as of 2021. Despite this, women have been serving in non-combat roles such as in logistics, medical and education corps, and have also been inducted in combat roles in the Indian Airforce.

In the 41st episode of In Our Defence, Dev Goswami, the show's host, and "Def-Savvy" Abhishek Bhalla the national bureau chief, are joined by India Today TV’s Executive Editor Preeti Choudhry. Well, Preeti does have an army background but “she never describes herself as a fauji brat”, Bhalla remarks.

Referring to Chaturvedi’s achievement Bhalla believes that it’s not a landmark. “Because if she is already a fighter pilot, she would be expected to be going to such exercises.”

“Talking about these is really cosmetic.” I feel the army is more discriminatory than the other armed forces,” Preeti says.

Tune in to this relevant discussion on women’s sparse representation in the armed forces.

Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound mix by Amrit Regi

Despite the constitution of the Defence Planning Committee in 2018, India still does not have an NSS in place. Why? Why the current dispensation should prioritise having a comprehensive national security strategy? Are vested political interests a hindrance in its formulation? And why do we have so little written about it? What would be the benefits of an Indian NSS? Listen in!

In this episode Dev Goswami and Abhishek Bhalla reflect on the major defense developments of the past year in India. One significant reform from the Ministry of Defense was the Agnipath or Path of Fire initiative, which aimed to recruit a large number of troops aged 17.5 to 21. However, this scheme faced backlash and protests from aspiring candidates.

The hosts also address the question of why India has not yet developed a basic rifle and discuss the importance of small arms for the army, despite the focus on larger weapons and equipment. They also raise the issue of the need to replace the Insas rifle.

In addition, Dev and Bhalla discuss their favorite and least favorite episodes, including the appointment of General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defense Staff and the accidental firing of a missile. They also mention the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the events leading up to it.