The Indian Army has recently begun fielding Shaurya Squadrons, which are specialised drone units integrated into armoured regiments to enhance battlefield capabilities.

About Shaurya Squadrons

Shaurya Squadrons are dedicated drone sub-units embedded within armoured regiments. Their primary role is to provide real-time surveillance and precision-strike capability directly to tank commanders at the unit level, reducing dependence on higher command structures.

Composition and Structure

Each Shaurya Squadron consists of around 20 to 30 trained personnel. These personnel are skilled in both drone operations and counter-drone warfare, making the unit versatile in modern combat scenarios.

Key Features and Capabilities

Shaurya Squadrons operate a diverse range of drones, including:

• Surveillance drones for reconnaissance

• Attack drones for offensive operations

• Swarm drones for coordinated strikes

• First-Person View (FPV) drones for precise targeting

• Loitering munitions that can hover and strike targets

FPV drones allow commanders to directly strike enemy tanks and logistics nodes, enabling faster decision-making without waiting for higher-level approvals.

Sensor-to-Shooter Cycle

A major objective of these squadrons is to reduce the sensor-to-shooter cycle, which refers to the time between detecting a target and neutralising it.

Shaurya Squadrons aim to compress this time from minutes to seconds, significantly improving battlefield responsiveness and operational efficiency.

Deployment and Expansion

Currently, five Army commands have inducted Shaurya Squadrons. The Indian Army plans to extend this capability to all 67 armoured regiments, ensuring each unit has its own dedicated drone wing.

Link with Ashni Platoons

The concept of Shaurya Squadrons builds upon the earlier deployment of Ashni Platoons in infantry battalions. These platoons also consist of 25–30 personnel and use a similar mix of drone technologies, and are now an integral part of infantry operations.

Conclusion

The induction of Shaurya Squadrons marks a significant shift towards technology-driven warfare in India. By decentralising drone capabilities and enabling faster, real-time decision-making, the Indian Army is enhancing its combat effectiveness and modern battlefield readiness.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently infused over ₹25,000 crore into the banking system through a 3-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction. Prior to this, it had already injected around ₹3.5 lakh crore through Open Market Operations (OMO) since January 2026, indicating active liquidity management.

What is Variable Rate Repo (VRR)?

About

The Variable Rate Repo (VRR) is a short-term liquidity injection tool used by the RBI. It allows banks to borrow funds from the RBI, but unlike the fixed repo rate, the interest rate is determined through a market-based auction.

Auction Mechanism

In a VRR auction, banks bid for funds based on their liquidity needs. The RBI accepts bids starting from the highest interest rates, and the cut-off rate is determined accordingly. This ensures that the rate reflects real-time market demand.

Tenor and Collateral

VRR operations are usually conducted for short durations ranging from 1 to 14 days. Banks are required to provide government securities (G-Secs) as collateral while borrowing funds.

Significance of VRR

The VRR plays a crucial role in fine-tuning liquidity in the banking system. It helps maintain the Weighted Average Call Rate (WACR) close to the policy repo rate. It also enables efficient price discovery and allows the RBI to respond quickly to temporary liquidity shortages.

Difference Between VRR and Fixed Repo Rate

The VRR differs from the fixed repo rate in several ways. In VRR, the interest rate is market-determined, making it more flexible and responsive to short-term conditions. In contrast, the fixed repo rate is set by the RBI and serves as a signal of long-term monetary policy stance.

Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF)

The Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) is the RBI’s core monetary policy framework for managing day-to-day liquidity mismatches. It was introduced in 2000.

Components of LAF

The LAF operates mainly through:

• Repo Rate: The rate at which RBI lends money to banks (liquidity injection).

• Reverse Repo / Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): The rate at which RBI absorbs excess liquidity.

• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): A penal borrowing window for banks in emergencies.

LAF Corridor

The RBI maintains an interest rate corridor:

• Upper limit: MSF

• Middle: Repo rate

• Lower limit: SDF

This ensures that short-term interest rates like the WACR remain stable and aligned with policy objectives.

Open Market Operations (OMO)

Open Market Operations (OMO) refer to the buying and selling of government securities by the RBI to regulate liquidity in the economy.

Function

When the RBI purchases securities, it injects liquidity into the banking system. When it sells securities, it absorbs excess liquidity, thereby controlling the money supply.

Execution

OMOs are conducted through auctions or direct transactions using the RBI’s E-Kuber digital platform.

Conclusion

The RBI uses tools like VRR, LAF, and OMO to ensure liquidity stability and smooth functioning of financial markets. The recent liquidity infusion highlights the RBI’s proactive approach in managing short-term liquidity pressures while maintaining overall monetary stability.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has recently created a high-resolution map of the ocean floor using data from the SWOT satellite. This breakthrough improves understanding of ocean topography, currents, and underwater features.

About SWOT Satellite

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite is a joint mission between NASA and the French space agency CNES. It was launched in 2022 with the objective of measuring and monitoring Earth’s surface water systems with high precision over time.

Objectives

The primary goal of SWOT is to study how water bodies on Earth change over time, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It also helps in understanding climate-related changes such as flooding, sea-level rise, and water storage variations.

Key Features of SWOT Satellite

Advanced Technology – KaRIn System

SWOT uses a specialised instrument called the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn). It measures the height, width, and elevation of water bodies by sending microwave signals and analysing their return time.

High-Resolution Water Monitoring

The satellite can:

• Track rivers wider than 330 feet almost across their entire length

• Monitor over 1 million lakes and reservoirs larger than 5 acres

• Capture fine changes in ocean surface elevation, currents, and eddies

Global Coverage

SWOT orbits Earth and can scan around 90% of the planet every 21 days. It also captures data on more than 55% of large-scale global floods during their lifecycle, improving flood forecasting and disaster response.

Scientific Significance

• Helps map underwater topography and seafloor features indirectly through water surface variations

• Improves understanding of ocean circulation and heat-carbon exchange processes

• Enhances flood prediction and water resource management

• Supports research on climate change and sea-level rise

Conclusion

The SWOT satellite represents a major advancement in Earth observation technology, enabling scientists to study global water systems in unprecedented detail. Its data is crucial for understanding climate change, ocean dynamics, and water resource management, making it a significant tool for both science and disaster preparedness.