'I Feel Very Devastated': Ayushman Sharma on Satya Niketan PG Collapse

In an interview, retired military officer and newly appointed Ram Mandir Chief Executive Officer Jeetendra Mishra addressed his new administrative role and future roadmap. Mishra stated that the announcement of his appointment was made on the second of the month and that he has only conducted preliminary introductory meetings so far. He explained that detailing concrete plans at this stage would fall into speculation and that he would be better positioned to answer after a month of taking over officially. Concluding his remarks on the responsibility entrusted to him, Mishra said, 'Jai Shri Ram.'

India's maritime security landscape covers 11,100 kilometres of coastline, 1,382 islands, and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.01 million square kilometres. Managing this vast area presents significant challenges amid evolving threats, including gray zone warfare, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and maritime terrorism. Unlike land borders, international regulations and the principle of freedom of navigation prevent sea borders from being fenced, making maritime routes naturally porous. In the wake of historical security breaches such as the 1993 Bombay bombings and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where sea routes were exploited for infiltration and smuggling, the Government of India has taken extensive steps to strengthen the Indian Coast Guard and enhance comprehensive coastal defence.

The interview highlights the operational preparedness of the Indian Navy in addressing security uncertainties across the maritime domain, spanning from East Africa to the Malacca Strait. The speaker emphasizes that Indian naval assets are pre-positioned in potential geopolitical hotspots, especially in West Asia and the Gulf region, to reduce response times and safeguard national interests. The discussion also addresses strategic lessons from ongoing conflicts, noting that geography dictates operational assessments, threat perceptions, and force development. Furthermore, the complexities of naval operations in critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the utility of aircraft carriers are outlined.

Modern warfare has transitioned from isolated events into an ongoing continuum, blurring the lines between peace, conventional conflict, and grey-zone competition. Challenges such as economic pressure, cyber activity, information operations, and proxy actions now occur without crossing conventional conflict thresholds. Meanwhile, the democratisation of technology, including low-cost drones and networked intelligence, allows non-state actors access to advanced capabilities. The compression of the sensor-to-shooter cycle from hours to minutes and seconds demands rapid sensing, comprehension, and execution. Leveraging artificial intelligence, robust data infrastructure, and algorithmic processing is essential to secure decision superiority and maintain operational advantage on transparent battlefields.