HAL inaugurates its third Tejas Jet assembly line
On Friday, the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) in Bengaluru received the inauguration of a third production line by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.
Currently, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has two assembly lines for LCA in Bengaluru. These assembly lines enable HAL to produce 16 Tejas fighters annually without
According to the chairman and managing director of HAL, C B Ananthakrishnan, the company will have the capability to increase the production capacity of Tejas Mark 1A from 16 to 24 aircraft yearly with the introduction of the new line.
The Indian Air Force has ordered 40 Tejas Mark 1 and 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighters from HAL, and it is crucial to expedite their production to free up the Tejas assembly lines for the manufacturing of six squadrons of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. According to senior officials at HAL and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the production of Tejas Mark 2 is not expected to commence until 2027-28.
The process of creating the Tejas Mark 2 will require the replacement of the current General Electric F-404 engine with the more powerful GE F-414, as well as upgrades to the avionics and weaponry. It is estimated that it will take until 2025 to complete the prototype development, followed by an additional two to three years for flight-testing and production preparations.
At present, HAL is striving to retain the production lines engaged until 2028 by fulfilling the IAF's request for 83 Tejas Mark I-A
The Mark 1A is expected to have greater speed and maneuverability compared to the existing model.
To improve the speed and agility of the current Mark I fighter, the Mark 1A is proposed. The development of this fighter would require the reduction of 800 kg in weight, specifically in areas such as the landing gear which are currently designed to be overly robust for safety reasons.
HAL has suggested removing 300 kg of weight that is currently spread out across the Mark I in order to create a more evenly balanced fighter.
Sukhoi-3OMKI overhauled
Today, the Indian defence secretary presented the Indian Air Force with the 100th Sukhoi-3OMKI fighter plane after it had undergone repair and overhaul at HAL's Nashik Division.
The speaker praised the actions of HAL in creating a ROH center for the Su-30MKI and a new production line for LCA manufacturing, acknowledging the significance of the Indian government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat policies and HAL's important role in implementing them.
Despite facing supply chain problems due to the present geopolitical situation, HAL's Nashik unit has successfully reached the highest capacity for overhauling 20 Sukhoi-30MKI planes annually.
In 2014, the Nashik division established a unique ROH facility for their 272 Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft, making it the first of its kind worldwide. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with the help of the Indian Air Force (IAF), regulatory bodies, and private industries, gained expertise in ROH technology after producing and repairing MiG-series and Sukhoi-3OMKI fighters.
Girish Linganna
Aerospace & Defence Analyst
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
