CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ BHUBANESWAR l monday l august 25, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late CITY EDITION Cheteshwar Pujara, the star batter who served as India’s Test No 3 for more than a decade, announced retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday | P11 First flight-test New India-Japan framework on AI, economic security of home-grown ADWS successful J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi India’s air defence shield poised to get major upgrade to defend against aerial threats M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi IN a big boost to India’s air defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday . IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising the quick reaction surface to air missiles (QRSAM), very short range air defence system (VSHORADS) missiles, and a high-power laser-based directed energy weapon (DEW). The indigenous air defence system was flight-tested at 1230 hours off the coast of Odisha on Saturday . “During the flight-tests, three different targets including two high-speed fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle targets and a multi-copter drone were simultaneously engaged and destroyed completely by the QRSAM, VSHORADS and High Energy Laser weapon system at different ranges and altitudes,” the defence ministry said. It added that all the weapon system components, including the missile systems and drone detection and destruction system, command and control mechanism along india and Japan are in the process of finalising a new bilateral framework to strengthen cooperation in economic security with a focus on securing , stable supply chains for critical goods coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan on August 29 and 30. The framework is expected to cover key sectors including semiconductors, essential min- erals, communications, clean energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and pharmaceuticals, sources said. Both sides are also preparing to announce a dedicated AI Cooperation Initiative, aimed at supporting collaboration between startups and tech firms in the emerging artificial intelligence space. The initiative aims to promote ties between Japanese and Indian firms. “Such cooperation is a win-win and mutually beneficial and can contribute to the growth of the Japanese economy,” a source said. The announcement is set to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Japan. Modi may also travel to Sendai to see an experimental bullet train and visit a leading chip-making equipment manufacturer. Japan is home to major players in the global semiconductor industry including Kioxia, Re, nesas Electronics, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, and Toshiba Electronic Devices. These companies are central to advancements in chip-making and related technologies. Sendai, where Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit, is part of a region that has been increasingly focusing on semiconduc- tor innovation and development, positioning itself as a hub for next-generation tech. Modi is set to visit Japan on August 29-30 at invitation of Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, to participate in the 15th IndiaJapan Annual Summit During the visit, the two leaders will review the progress of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, with discussions also covering key areas such as defence. BJP, JD(U) likely to contest equal Flood alert in 5 dists as number of seats in Bihar election rivers swell after rains DRDO conducts maiden flight-tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System | PTI with communication and radars, performed “flawlessly”. The performance of the system was confirmed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur. The missiles successfully intercepted and neutralised the i n d i g e n o u s ly d eve l o p e d , SHIKRA aerial targets, manufactured by Anadrone Systems. These targets fly at high speeds of 650 kmph with operational altitude of 9000m and ranges up to 200 km. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented DRDO, the armed forces, and the defence industry for the successful development of IADWS. He said the flight-tests established the country’s multi-layered air-defence capability . The integrated air defence system will undergo more tests before being commissioned. r amashanka r @ Patna SEAT-sharing talks between allies of the NDA for the upcoming Bihar assembly election are in the final stages with sources pointing towards BJP and JD(U) expected to contest an equal number of seats, likely around 100 each. However, both parties are likely to face a challenge in satisfying smaller allies like Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM), which are demanding 40 and 20 seats, respectively . A senior LJP (RV) leader on a condition of anonymity said, “We have made it clear to contest not less than 40 seats in the elections.” Even The LJP question In the 2020 poll, even though LJP won one seat despite contesting 135 seats, it cost Nitish’s JD(U) dearly by cutting votes if Chirag’s LJP (RV) relents, it is not expected to contest less than 30 seats, sources added. On the other hand, a senior HAM leader said, “My party would not settle for less than 20 seats. We should not be offered fewer seats than what LJP gets. We have four legislators in the state assembly while the LJP has none.” Bihar JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha confirmed seat-sharing talks are underway and it will be , finalised at the appropriate time. “We will let you know when it is finalised,” he said. Sources said the seat-sharing negotiations among NDA allies is likely to be finalised either by the end of August or the first week of September. JD(U), sources said, would not contest less than 100 seats in any condition. This means, sources said, that the BJP will also not accept less than 100 seats. The other ally former union minis, ter and MP Upendra Kushwaha has not opened his cards so far, but would like to contest on a ‘respectable’ number of seats. In the 2020 Assembly elections, JD(U), led by chief minister Nitish Kumar, contested 115 seats and won 43, while the BJP fought on 110 and won 74 seats. more on P5 E x p r ess N e w s S e r v ice @ Bhubaneswar The state government on Sunday issued a flood alert for at least five districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur as water levels in the Subar narekha, Baitarani and Brahmani rivers have started rising due to incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas. The rains have been triggered by back-toback low pressures in the Bay of Bengal. With the IMD forecast of more heavy rains due to another system this week, the collectors have been asked to keep the administrative gear in readiness to deal with any eventuality . Engineer-in-chief (EIC) of Water Resources department Chandra Sekhar Padhi said the water level in Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers had started rising since Saturday. Sub- arnarekha was flowing at 10.85 metre against the danger level of 10.36 metre at Rajghat in Balasore district. The water level is likely to rise to 11.4 metre on Monday which will result in a flood. The government is expecting a medium scale flood in the district, he said. Subarnarekha river has already inundated low-lying areas of Bishnupur, Palia, Ikidp a l , B a d a Ta l a p a d a , Jamkunda, Kulhachada and Rashalpur in Baliapal block and Chirkula, Gabgaon, Kusuda, Aruhaburti, Dajhamunda, Uluda, Nahara, Kumbhirgadi, Khalabadia, Pontei, Kulha and Putina in Bhograi block of Balasore district. Collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas convened an emergency meeting and instructed all BDOs, tehsildars and senior officials to monitor the situation and remain p re p a re d fo r i m m e d i at e Continued on P5 response.