What happened:
On January 2, 2026, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurated the resurfaced and upgraded runway at the Indian Air Force’s Car Nicobar air base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The upgrade includes expanded apron areas, enabling smoother aircraft movement and faster execution of long-range air operations. The CDS also visited key facilities and the Tsunami Memorial.
Why it matters to India:
The upgraded runway significantly strengthens India’s eastern front by enhancing air force readiness near the Malacca Strait, a critical global maritime chokepoint. It reinforces India’s strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific, supports rapid military deployment, and aligns with the Act East policy and India’s broader maritime security objectives.