Bengal: DGIS head visits Eastern Command, reviews digital push

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kolkata, Aug 12 (IANS) Lt Gen Harsh Chhibber, who heads the Directorate General of Information Systems (DGIS) of the Indian Army, visited the Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Lt Gen Chhibber interacted with Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, General Officer Commanding‑in‑Chief, Eastern Command. “The interaction focused on advancing digital capabilities and leveraging technology for enhanced operational effectiveness,” the Command said in a post on X.

The DGIS chief also interacted with officers of the Command, explaining the latest developments towards enhancing the information and technology capabilities of the Indian Army, the statement said.

The visit comes at a time when the Army is scaling up its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and big data analytics across all levels to streamline operations and improve decision‑making. Officials said the ultimate aim is to process large volumes of battlefield data to enhance situational awareness and response times.

Under the programme, large language models are being put front and centre to allow the Army to interpret and summarise lengthy reports. They will also provide voice‑to‑text service, power AI chatboxes and facial recognition, and enable pattern and threat detection tools.

Feeds from aircraft, satellites, drones and ground sensor networks can also be monitored using this technology, which is to be in place by 2027. The Army will leverage the resulting solutions for counterintelligence, surveillance, logistics, open‑source intelligence, social media security, enemy equipment analysis and wargaming simulations.

The aim is also to optimise equipment targeting, predictive maintenance and navigation in GPS‑denied environments. The technology will aid in threat detection and operational planning.

The Army plans to embed AI articles into the military’s technical baseline for all future procurements and may explore retrofitting select AI capabilities into legacy systems. A special task force has been formed with teams that include personnel from different commands.

While the Indian Air Force and Navy already have high‑tech embedded in their systems, the Army is now progressing towards the induction of the latest technology to help it fight wars more effectively. “The aim is to take this technology to the soldier who will actually be fighting the wars of the future. For this, high‑tech systems are being developed that are easier to understand,” an official said.

–IANS

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She was addressing the centenary celebrations of the industry in Kovilpatti, a hub that has become synonymous with matchbox production in India.

The Finance Minister noted that the industry, which began on a modest scale, was nurtured and shaped largely by women workers whose resilience turned it into a thriving enterprise.

“On this drought-stricken land, where water scarcity continues to pose challenges, women not only safeguarded their families but also carried forward this trade with pride. What started as a small venture grew into such a vast industry through their hard work,” she said.

Turning to the Centre’s development initiatives, FM Sitharaman underlined that numerous projects have been brought to the Thoothukudi district and other parts of Tamil Nadu, regardless of the BJP’s electoral representation. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi considers Tamil Nadu as an integral part of India and is ensuring projects are brought here to strengthen the state’s growth,” she said.

She also urged stakeholders in the matchbox sector to prepare a comprehensive plan that outlines how the industry could contribute to India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047. “The Central government is ready to extend schemes and support to this sector, and I am fully committed to taking this forward,” she assured.

Commending AIADMK MLA Kadambur Raju for his efforts in supporting the local industry, Sitharaman also appealed to the people to elect leaders in 2026 and 2029 who are “deeply aware of regional issues and committed to resolving them.”

During the event, Sitharaman released a commemorative journal marking 100 years of the Tamil Nadu matchbox industry, which was received by BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran. She also felicitated women labourers for their contribution.

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan and M. Paramasivam, president of the National Small Matchbox Manufacturers Association, were among the dignitaries present.

The centenary celebrations, with their focus on honouring women’s labour, offered not only a look back at the industry’s history but also a vision for its place in India’s economic journey towards 2047.

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Every rupee of crop insurance will be paid to farmers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Mumbai, Nov 7 (IANS) Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, every rupee of compensation owed to farmers would be delivered, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted on Friday.

If required, “we will directly consult farmers to ensure that every single rupee of their rightful claim reaches them,” the minister said while addressing a congregation of 20,000 farmers at the Global Vikas Trust (GVT) Krishikul, Sirsala in Maharashtra’s Beed district.

“A farmer is not merely a cultivator but a provider of life — the ‘Annadaata’ of the nation. For the first time in the country, under the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’, scientists from across India have stepped out of their laboratories and reached directly to the fields, interacting with farmers to ensure that the benefits of agricultural research and innovation reach the grassroots level,” he added.

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Referring to the recent erratic weather conditions, he said that excessive rainfall this year had severely damaged crops across several regions, affecting the livelihoods and future of farmers and their families.

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Chouhan announced that the state government would provide immediate compensation to farmers for crop losses, and that additional financial aid would be extended through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

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Himachal CM announces Rs 1,500 for tribal women of Kinnaur

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At the state-level function held in Reckong Peo in Kinnaur, the Chief Minister unfurled the national flag and took the salute of the march past. The parade, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Umeshwar Rana, comprised contingents from the Sixth Indian Reserve Battalion, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the district police and the Second Indian Reserve Battalion (Women).

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