Indian Air Force scripts history, Shakti Sharma becomes 'first woman' non-medical Air Vice Marshal :::: A landmark achievement, marking a new chapter ....

 Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has previously achieved another distinction by becoming the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School.  

"Her over three decades of distinguished service continues to inspire generations to Touch the Sky with Glory."

"A historic milestone for the Indian Air Force. 

On 01 Sep 2026, Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma became the first woman officer (non-medical) in the Indian Defence Services to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal (or equivalent). She assumed the appointment of Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education). 

A landmark achievement, marking a new chapter in the journey of women officers in the Indian Defence Forces," the Indian Air Force announced on X.

She assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters on Tuesday, September 1, marking a significant milestone in the progression of women officers in India’s armed forces.

Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma has become the first woman non-medical officer in the Indian Defence Services to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal or equivalent.  

Shakti Sharma was commissioned into the IAF’s Education Branch on June 18, 1994. Since then, she has served in a range of assignments at training establishments, field stations, command headquarters and Air Headquarters, gaining extensive experience across different facets of the service.

Her career has also included several initiatives aimed at strengthening academic and institutional cooperation.

She played a key role in establishing IAF Chairs of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University, intended to promote collaboration in academics and strategic defence-related areas.

With her new assignment at Air Headquarters, Sharma will oversee responsibilities related to education within the IAF.

Sharma has previously achieved another distinction by becoming the first woman officer from the Tri-Services to command a Sainik School. She served as the principal of Sainik School, Kapurthala, adding another notable chapter to her career.

Her elevation comes against the backdrop of the expanding role and responsibilities of women officers across the Indian military.

While women have progressively taken up a wider range of operational, command and senior leadership assignments, Sharma’s appointment to the Air Vice Marshal rank represents a first for a non-medical woman officer in the Indian Defence Services.  

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Sudden presence of Donald Trump's handpicked diplomat in Bishkek on a day SCO Summit is being hosted surprised many

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who is also President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, landed in Kyrgyz capital and held meetings with the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

For records, Gor said he was to cheer up the US team for the Nomad Games. In fact, the 'games; provided an opening for business diplomacy in a region that was once part of Russia's sphere and is now seeing an expansion of Chinese influence.

The US Ambassador to India 'suddenly' appeared in Bishkek on Monday surprising many.

 The presence of the Donald Trump-appointed diplomat in Bishkek, even as leaders of the China-Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) gathered there, has left many wondering if it was just a coincidence.

Gor said he was there with Republican Senator Steve Daines to support the American contingent at the World Nomad Games, being held simultaneously in Bishkek.  

Apart from serving as the US Ambassador to India, Gor is also President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Therefore, he was well within his remit or diplomatic range in travelling to one of the Central Asian republics.

However, it is equally important to look at Senator Daines's presence and the policies he has advocated for years.  

It is also great optics by President Trump. He has sent his close aide a city packed with global leaders from the rival camp, including from Iran, Russia and China.  

The organisations such as SCO, BRICS and RIC at times do not go well with the US administration.

While there's no evidence that Gor attended Bishkek during the SCO summit to undermine it, his choice of back-to-back meetings and Daines's long-standing interest in Central Asia may suggest something else.

At least, it was not just a sport. 

Another thing to note here is that Sergio Gor was born Sergey Gorokhovsky in Tashkent (then part of Soviet Uzbekistan) in 1986. 

His family reportedly left Uzbekistan for Malta in 1994, when he was about seven, and moved to Los Angeles in 1999, according to US think tank OCCRP. 

He is also reported to be fluent in Russian, a language still widely spoken across the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.

Interestingly, Daines, a Republican Senator, wore a cowboy hat in the photo Gor shared. Reposting the same image, Daines said, "Great time with US Ambassador India cheering on Team USA!"

The sixth World Nomad Games, featuring traditional sports such as horseback, archery and wrestling, drew athletes from 104 countries. But the Games were not taking place in an ordinary setting.

The opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games coincided with the two-day SCO summit, which began in Bishkek on August 31.

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“Strategic alignment" :::: Photo of the Month: PM Narendra Modi, Putin and Xi Jinping make a powerful statement with 'handshake' moment at SCO Summit ::: Pak PM left 'isolated' ... resulting big setback for desi SICKULAR FORCES

The Sickular and die-hard anti-Modi lobbies are upset.

Several intellectual writers, chamchas etc etc from the ecosystem had to abandon their regular "intellectual" drinks. Did they remain hungry to mourn the occasion is a matter of academic interest in times to come.  

The moment between PM Narendra Modi, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping was captured as the SCO leaders gathered for the official family photograph, a traditional feature of the annual summit.

 

A pro-Congress newspaper has deliberately brought in Shehbaz Sharif in their headline trying to humour their well wishers. Another intellectual on a known anti-Hindu (anti-BJP) website went ahead with an interview trying to yet again question the Election  Commission. 

Nevertheless,  a video posted by the Kremlin pool captured the Prime Minister Modi and the two Presidents smiling as they held hands in a brief but striking display of bonhomie.

This is a perfect photo and in days to come, Rahul Gandhi is likely to rake up the 'handshake' and could again charge Prime Minister of having been "compromised".  

The three leaders stood smiling greeting each other and formed a chain as they shook hands. In fact, Modi was standing looking towards them. Xi and Putin together walked together. While Modi shook his right hand with Xi; he grabbed Putin (a smiling man) with his left hand.  

The Kremlin pool shared the video with the caption: “Strategic alignment: Russia-India-China.”  This snap and the signaling actually marks the importance of RIC factor in today's diplomacy. 

PM Modi and Putin held a bilateral meeting on Monday. The RIC factor would be again visible in a big way in Delhi when India will host the BRICS Summit within next fortnight.  In all this 'handshake' event ... Pakistan Prime Minister appeared 'left out' and perhaps also out of place. Was he missing 'instructions' from his 'defeated'-general-turned-Field Marshall will be also of academic interest.  

As PM Modi briefly exchanged words with Xi and Putin before posing for the group photograph earlier in the day, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen approaching the Russian President moments later.

As Putin walked away from the podium, Sharif appeared to stop him by holding his hand before engaging him in a conversation. 

Putin appeared unfazed.  

Visuals later also showed that Modi and Putin walking past Sharif as leaders lined up for a group photograph ahead of the plenary session. 

The latest visuals bring back memories of another much-noticed PM Modi-Putin-Xi moment at the 25th SCO Summit in China last year.

At the time, the Prime Minister and Putin were welcomed by Xi as they entered the summit venue, following which the three leaders engaged in a lengthy conversation marked by handshakes and laughter.  Their interaction soon turned into a huddle as their aides gathered around them, with the conversation lasting nearly a minute and a half. 

For Sickulars in India; it was a pretty bad day. Shahbaz Sharif was left 'isolated' and almost insulted. There were two other 'Indian developments' - the GDP in the last quarter showed 7.8 per cent. 

Of Congress fielded their Rajya Sabha 'intellectual' to claim that the figures were distorted. Jai-rahim and Rahul Gandhi had tried to dub Indian financial standing as 'dead economy'. So did Donald Trump !! 

But India's was the best figures in recent times. UK was around 2 and the US much less.  

Following a Supreme Court judgement, the Sept 5 protest by July troublemakers has also been drawn. 

What a day, oh boy Sickular ... take your bus.

 

Can make "laws, rules, regulations, orders" ::::: Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority - FNTA will have 62 members -- among them 40 will be elected :::: 20 MLAs will be 'ex offico' members but no voting right

The revised Bill on FNTA says 

- 20 elected MLAs of Nagaland Legislative Assembly falling in FNT area shall be ex-officio members of FNTA without voting rights. 

There shall be 40 constituencies covering the FNT region for electing members to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority. Each constituency shall be a single member territorial constituency. 

 

File snap : On Way to Oting, Mon district 

The draft law also makes it clear that the overall superintendence, direction and control of elections to the FNTA shall be vested in the State Election Commission. 

The Bill says among other things --- 

There shall be an Executive Council of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) consisting of not more than 9 (nine) members. 

The executive powers of the FNTA shall vest in the Executive Council. It is also made clear that Chief Executive Member (CEM) and the Executive Council shall hold office as long as they enjoy the majority support in FNTA.  

The Chief Executive Member shall be the Chairman of the Executive Council and shall preside over the meeting. 

The Bill also says the CEM shall have the status of a Cabinet Minister in the state of Nagaland for protocol purposes. The Deputy Chief Executive Member shall have the status equivalent to Cabinet Minister and other Executive Council Members equivalent to the Minister of State for protocol purposes within the FNT.  

The Interim Council shall continue to function for a period not exceeding one year from the date of constitution or until the first FNTA is constituted under this Act whichever is earlier. The 17-member interim body will have 13 members, three MLAs from the region and one MP (Rajya Sabha). 

These four members will be 'advisors' to the interim body. 

On the Powers and Functions of the FNT, it is stated that - 

Subject to the general policy of the Government, the FNTA shall:  (1) 

-- Formulate integrated development plans for the FNT area; 

--- Implement scheme and plan for the FNT area. 

The FNT shall have the power subject to the provisions of this Act to make laws, rules, regulations, orders to be made applicable within the the FNT with respect to all or any of the matters enumerated in the first Schedule.  

With regard the legislative powers, however, it is made clear that "until assented" to by the Governor and published in the official gazette of the state, such law (cleared by FNT) shall have no effect. 

Moreover,  Resolution for a new law cleared by FNT will have to be sent to the state Government, which will submit with its comments to the Governor for his assent.  

Roads - An experiment 

 

The Bill also states that the Nagaland State Government shall appoint an officer of the IAS cadre - preferably of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, but not below the rank of Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland subject to availability of officers, to be designated as the Chief Executive Secretary (CES) of the FNTA. 

Interestingly, there is also a clause which says that the CES shall be posted by the State Government in consultation with CEM of FNTA.

All requisite administrative structure shall be created under CES to function as the Secretariat to FNTA.  

There shall be also an Additional Commissioner (District Administration) who shall be posted in the FNTA Headquarter in consultation with CEM of FNTA. 

It is also stated that Departments within FNTA shall be headed by officers of appropriate rank posted by the State Government, having regard to functional necessity and administrative convenience. 

For Major Departments, Joint Director/Additional Director level officers will be posted in FNTA Headquarters for coordination. 

Recruitment to Grade III officers shall be done through NPSC/NSSB, as the case may be, for the entire State. But the FNTA shall have powers for rationalization/redeployment of Grade III posts within FNTA with concurrence of the State government. 

 

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Centre and Delhi Police are at 'liberty' to register "fresh FIRs against 2,873 persons" ::::: Supreme Court uses special powers to cancel FIRs against protesters,

The Supreme Court said the Centre and Delhi Police would remain at liberty to register fresh FIRs against 2,873 persons, 

.... as described in their application, without prejudice to the affected parties' right to seek legal remedy.  

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept 1,  invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to cancel all FIRs listed before it against youth protesters over incidents between July 20 and 25 during the Cockroach Janta Party-led paper leak protests across the country.

The court said any other FIRs related to the same incidents in any state or Union Territory should not be pursued or investigated and would be treated as closed for all purposes.  

Allowing applications filed by five states seeking the cancelling of the FIRs, the Supreme Court said no state or Union Territory should register any fresh FIR for incidents between July 20 and 26.  

The Centre, earlier, placed before the court a specific application by the Delhi Police seeking permission to register a fresh FIR against 2,873 people who were alleged to have serious criminal records, but only if an investigation established their involvement in offences involving bodily harm or destruction of property during the protests. 

The Supreme Court said its decision to invoke Article 142 was based on commitments made before it by the Centre and some states, along with a statement read by the CJP co-convenor.

It also took into account the future prospects of young protesters who had "bona fide" come to participate in peaceful protests. On compensation, the court directed that modalities for a pan-India mechanism be worked out in consultation with states and Union Territories, with the framework adopted as a regular mechanism for compensatory measures.  

The Centre was also directed to provide compensation within three months in cases of suicides due to NEET 2026.  

CENTRE REITERATES THREE ASSURANCES

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the Centre had given three assurances at a meeting with protest leaders.

The first was that FIRs against protesters for incidents between July 20 and 25 would not be pursued. 

The second was that no fresh FIRs would be filed in connection with those incidents. The third related to compensation for the families of those who died by suicide. 

“The government stands by its commitments,” the Solicitor General told the court.

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Focus Nagaland : Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority - FNTA -- "forward movement" :::: New revised Bill expected to be passed on Sept 3

In a major development and that would mark fulfilment of Modi Govt's commitment towards hitherto governance-starved and 'neglected' region of Nagaland; the revised Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill was introduced in the state assembly on Tuesday, Sept 1. 

A Bill reportedly without giving 'adequate legislative and financial powers' to the new body was withdrawn by Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton.  

The state government is run by the NPF-BJP dispensation headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio. Patton is a BJP legislator and holds the key portfolio of Home. 

In the BJP and official circles, this is being seen as "fulfilling of promise and assurance" made by Home Minister Amit Shah during his repeated meetings with local Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) leaders and also during election campaign in 2023. 

The BJP's lone Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland - Ms Phangnon Konyak also hails from this region.  

In March this year, the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026 introduced by Paton was initially scheduled for consideration and passage on March 27th.

But it was deferred close on the heels of a request by the Leader of the House and Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio.

The move to defer the crucial legislative came after the Government of India, that is the Home Ministry intervened.

The MHA is a signatory to the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). There were also appeals and threats of agitation from the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) and the Eastern Nagaland Legislators Union (ENLU).

The state government had later agreed to ensure that the provisions of the MoA are "addressed in a legally sound" and constitutionally tenable manner in the revised FNTA Bill 2026. 

Whether there was a minor tug of war between among political leaders and stakeholders vis-a-vis providing legislative and financial powers to the FNTA could be debated another day.  

In March during the brief debate, appraising the House on the matter, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had said that the government has consistently striven to ensure equity and inclusiveness in development across all sections and regions of the state. 

"However, owing to various historical reasons and geographical challenges, the districts of the Eastern Nagaland Region have suffered significant developmental deficits and continue to lag behind on several key indicators," he reportedly told the assembly. (DIPR) 

Mon region in ENPO region suffered floods in 2026 also 

 

Sources say now with the passage of the new and revised Bill and after Governor's assent, the process of forming an interim body will be kicked off. 

The 17-member panel is likely to have three MLAs from the region, Rajya Sabha MP, Ms Phangon (of BJP) and 13 others including a few social workers and former politicians.  

"This is a step forward and a crucial big step in materialising FNTA as was promised and ensured by the Modi Government," a source said. 

The Speaker of the Nagaland assembly, Sharingain Longkumer, later announced that the new Bill will be taken up for consideration and debate on Sept 3, Thursday. 

The agreement was signed on Feb 5, 2026, in the presence of Union Home Minister. 

The agreement seeks to pave the way for creation of Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) for six districts of Nagaland -- Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, 

Longleng, Noklak and Shamator.

It also deals with devolution of powers in respect of 46 subjects to the FNTA.

Naga infants on a 'security Dept vehicle' ::  Near Oting, Mon district 

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Which North East India leader said "No" - to offer of High Commissioner' assignment to Australia ?

The Congress party has ruled the north east India for long and it has created several stalwarts both from Assam and other tribal-dominated states. 

Long before, the Modi Govt had deputed a full-time politician Dinesh Trivedi to be India's envoy in Bangladesh; the Congress dispensation in the 1970s had thought of appointing a few 'political stalwarts' to key capitals across the world. 

Veteran Naga leader : S Chubatoshi Jamir 

It may be mentioned here that Australia-India relations in the 1970s were largely cool and marked by strategic divergence during the Cold War. Australia has in the seventies traditionally supported India's position on Arunachal Pradesh, which was subject to diplomatic disputes between India and China.  

Around the same time, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the then president V V Giri had planned for a northeastern Indian leader to be High Commissioner to Australia.  

Congress sources say apparently, President V V Giri had invited Naga leader S C Jamir and offered him the post. 

Understandably, a hardcore politician by heart and mind; Jamir was taken by surprise. He worked closely with Jawaharlal Nehru in the foreign ministry but that was more as as 'learner' and as parliamentary secretary. 

Reportedly, he was glad enough and started thanking President V V Giri instantly; but suddenly Jamir "surprised" Giri and told him - "Sir, I will need to talk to my wife about it and personally too, I have to think about it more minutely". 

Giri agreed. But in their Delhi quarters; that evening Jamir had detailed discussion with his wife on the matter. "Should I take it .. it's a rare thing to happen in life. But family life ... I am not sure; you have to move with me; and our children and our people back home". 

A politician every inch; Jamir was probably stressed out and had some confusion about politics in Nagaland - the unresolved insurgency issue and the villagers' struggles at home. 

His wife initially gave a patient hearing and then said -  "It has to be your decision. But I know you",  Congress sources say.  

Both Jamir and his wife Imkonglemla agreed during the discussions that "to remain active in politics Jamir would have to go back to Nagaland and live with the people".

The following day Jamir accompanied his lady wife called on the President to convey their decision. 

V V Giri was a bit taken aback but said he would respect the decision of the individual and his family. 

In the meantime, sources say there are a few key Naga figures in the diplomatic service in India.

Lately, Aliawati Longkumer, who served in Doha, Frankfurt, Guatemala City, and as Chargé d'Affaires in Paraguay was sent to North Korea as the ambassador.

Mijito Vinito, a diplomat from Nagaland, served as the First Secretary at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations and notably represented India at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

He gained prominent public attention for walking out of a UNGA high-level meeting in September 2020 while exercising India's right of reply to reject statements made regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

R. Masakui, also from Nagaland, has served as India's Consul General in Vancouver, Canada.

Cherakung Zeliang  (IFS) has served in various roles such as Counselor at the Embassy of India in Madrid, Spain.

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