Sitharaman will travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on October 18 and celebrate the festival of light with the tri-service personnel there on October 19.

A Chinese daily today said that Beijing welcomes Nirmala Sitharaman's greeting and hopes this friendly gesture is also welcomed by Indians.

Reacting to Sitharaman's visit to the area, the Chinese foreign ministry today said "the Sikkim section of the China-India border has been demarcated by the historical boundary"

A video tweeted from the official Twitter handle of Defence Minister’s office shows Sitharaman interacting with a Chinese officer who introduces her to his colleagues

Sikkim government officials said the Defence Minister also made a survey of the new Pakyong Airport in East Sikkim and neighbouring areas this afternoon. Sitharaman is on a day-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim today.

Nearly 57,000 officers and other ranks are being redeployed to enhance the combat capability of the Indian Army under the reform process.

The government in August had unveiled an ambitious reform initiative for the Indian Army based on recommendations of a committee headed by Lt Gen (retd) DB Shekatkar.

Arrows were fired to set the effigies of Ravana ablaze at the Parade Ground in Delhi at an event attended by President Kovind, VP Naidu, PM Modi and his Manmohan Singh.

This is Nirmala Sitharaman's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir as Defence Minister.

Nirmala Sitharaman's visit coincided with one year of the Indian Army's surgical strike on terrorist hubs in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.

This is her first visit since she assumed office as the Defence Minister of the country.

Nirmala Sitharaman has decided to hold meetings of the DAC, the highest decision making body for defence acquisitions in the ministry, every fortnight.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis, after meeting with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said there can be no tolerance of terrorist safe havens.

Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the issue of terror safe havens in Pakistan in meeting with her US counterpart James Mattis.

Arjan Singh, 98, the only officer of the IAF to be promoted to five-star rank, was admitted to the Army's Research and Referral hospital this morning. He was appointed Chief of Air Staff on August 1, 1964.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said Sir Creek, located on the Gujarat border with Pakistan, is a "very important place" for national security

Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday denied making any comments on a CAG report which had stated that the defence forces had ammunition that could last for only 20 days in the event of a war

Over 100 officers of the services corps have approached the SC alleging "discrimination and injustice" in promotion

Sources said issues related to the security challenges the country was facing on the northern and western borders figured at the meeting between General Bipin Rawat and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.