.1 Towards Integrated Defence: Tri-Services Exercise ‘Trishul 2025’
This editorial analyzes the significance and objectives of the Tri-Services Exercise ‘Trishul 2025,’ which commenced on this day, highlighting the crucial push for jointness and integrated operations within the Indian Armed Forces.
- Mandate for Jointness: The editorial places ‘Trishul 2025’ within the larger context of India’s strategic push towards joint combat preparedness and the goal of establishing unified Theatre Commands. This exercise is a critical demonstration of the commitment to enhance interoperability between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Scope and Scale: The analysis details the scale of the drills, which involve large-scale integrated land, air, and maritime operations across geographically diverse sectors (creek and desert of Rajasthan and Gujarat, extending into the Northern Arabian Sea). This complex setting is designed to test and validate operational procedures in a multi-domain environment.
- Focus on Multi-Domain Integration: A key takeaway is the emphasis on multi-domain integration. The exercise features:
- Amphibious Landings: Using vessels like INS Jalashwa, showcasing the Navy’s capability to project power onto land.
- Carrier Operations and Air-Sea Coordination: Highlighting the synergy between naval assets and the Indian Air Force for maritime security.
- Joint ISR and EW: A critical focus is on joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) operations, which are central to modern networked warfare.
- Cyber Warfare: Inclusion of cyber warfare drills reflects the evolving nature of threats and the need for unified cyber defence/offence capabilities.
- Inter-Agency Coordination: The participation of not just the three Services but also the Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and other central agencies underscores the robust efforts for inter-agency coordination—a necessary element for national security challenges, especially along the western front.
- Strategic Imperative: Western Border: Given the location across the western sectors, the exercise serves a dual purpose: a massive drill to validate joint warfighting doctrines and a clear deterrent signal to potential adversaries along the land and maritime borders with Pakistan.
- ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in Defence: The editorial points out that the drills emphasize the use of indigenous systems. This aligns with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the defence sector, showcasing homegrown capabilities and refining strategies to meet modern security challenges using locally developed technology.
- Testing Theatre Command Logic: While the creation of Theatre Commands is a work in progress, ‘Trishul 2025’ serves as a crucial testing ground for the operational logic that will underpin these commands. The success of such large-scale, integrated drills will inform the final structure and operational protocols of the future unified commands.
2. Stray Dogs Case: Judicial Intervention on Animal Birth Control and Compliance
This editorial dissects the Supreme Court’s proactive stance in the stray dog matter, focusing on the issue of governmental compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules and the broader questions of public health and animal welfare.
- Context of Judicial Scrutiny: The analysis begins with the Supreme Court’s decision to summon Chief Secretaries of States and Union Territories (UTs) to appear in person on November 3, 2025. This extraordinary step highlights the Court’s deep concern over the lack of governmental compliance with its prior orders regarding the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
- The Underlying Crisis: The Court’s action stems from a suo motu (on its own motion) case initiated due to media reports on the growing public health crisis, specifically the risk of rabies and stray dog bites, particularly affecting children. The core issue is balancing public safety with humane animal control.
- Failure of ABC Rules Implementation: The main indictment is the States’ failure to uniformly and effectively implement the ABC Rules. The editorial suggests that many State administrations have been “sleeping over orders,” resulting in:
- Uncontrolled Population: Ineffective sterilization and vaccination programs leading to continued growth of the stray dog population.
- Safety Hazard: Increased instances of dog bites, creating a serious public health and safety hazard.
- Procedural Inconsistencies: Lack of a clear, coordinated, and resource-backed strategy across different local bodies for animal welfare and control.
- The Principle of Uniformity: The Court’s decision to implead all States and UTs underscores the principle that the application of central rules, like the ABC Rules, must be uniform across the country. Varied standards and patchy implementation defeat the purpose of a national framework.
- Accountability and Executive Responsibility: By directing top administrative officers (Chief Secretaries) to appear, the Supreme Court is enforcing a high degree of executive accountability. It is seeking a direct explanation for the non-filing of compliance affidavits, signaling that judicial orders cannot be ignored, especially on matters of public interest and fundamental rights (including the right to a safe environment).
- The Dual Imperative: The editorial implicitly supports the need for a dual imperative:
- Public Safety: Protecting citizens, especially the vulnerable, from harm.
- Animal Welfare: Ensuring humane treatment of stray animals, as mandated by law, through sterilization and vaccination, which is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term solution.
- Conclusion: A Push for Governance: The judicial intervention is not merely about stray dogs; it is a profound commentary on governance, resource allocation, and the executive’s obligation to implement statutory rules and court orders. The hearing is expected to force a much-needed strategic, well-funded, and coordinated national action plan on the issue.
