CA-20260930-7718Exam Essential
Armed Forces Medical Services Concludes Operation Drishti in J&K
30 Sept 2026
4 min read
Source:PIB India (Press Information Bureau)
The Armed Forces Medical Services successfully concluded the Kashmir leg of Operation Drishti on September 30, 2026, performing 364 vision-restoring surgeries across Tangdhar and Srinagar. This high-altitude medical outreach initiative demonstrates the capability of military medical teams to deliver advanced healthcare in challenging operational environments.
Key Highlights
- Prior to the surgical camps, 18 preliminary screening drives were executed by the 92 Base Hospital and 328 Field Hospital teams across remote border locations including Uri, Machil, Dawar, and Kupwara.
- A cumulative total of approximately 6,000 citizens underwent preliminary ophthalmic evaluations during the outreach phase, identifying around 500 patients requiring surgical intervention.
- The surgical operations were executed in two distinct operational phases, utilizing both subterranean frontline facilities near the Line of Control (LoC) and established base hospitals.
- Advanced ophthalmic interventions performed during the mission included glued intraocular lens (IOL) implantations, complex glaucoma procedures, pterygium excisions, and diabetic retinopathy management.
- Following the successful culmination of the Jammu and Kashmir leg, the nationwide initiative is slated to expand its outreach to the eastern state of Odisha.
Exam Quick Facts
Nodal Ministry / Dept
Ministry of Defence (रक्षा मंत्रालय)
Key Bodies
Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Army Hospital (Research & Referral), 92 Base Hospital
Constitutional & Legal Context
Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) under Article 47 (Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health).
Static GK Connection
The Line of Control (LoC) acts as the military control line between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In-Depth Editorial Analysis
Operation Drishti represents a critical paradigm in civil-military integration and humanitarian assistance in remote, rugged terrain. Executing high-precision ophthalmic surgeries—ranging from standard cataract extractions to complex glued IOL implants and diabetic retinopathy treatments—requires robust surgical infrastructure, sterile environments, and specialized human resources. Conducting these procedures in subterranean operation theatres near the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar highlights the adaptability, preparedness, and operational readiness of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) under adverse geographical and security constraints.
From a socio-economic and administrative standpoint, border and remote regions in Jammu and Kashmir historically face acute deficiencies in super-specialty healthcare access, compelling residents to travel long distances to urban tertiary care centers. By deploying specialized surgical teams from premier institutions like the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) and 92 Base Hospital, the initiative bridges this critical infrastructure deficit. The two-tier execution model—involving extensive grassroot screenings across 18 remote zones followed by targeted surgical interventions—ensures optimized resource allocation and high-impact healthcare delivery for underprivileged populations.
Strategically, such outreach initiatives strengthen the psychological bond between local civilian populations and the security apparatus, fostering grassroots trust and national integration. The successful pan-India expansion of Operation Drishti—moving across northern, western, central, and eastern regions toward its upcoming phase in Odisha—exemplifies a structured, scalable template for military-led human security missions. For civil services aspirants, this exemplifies the practical application of 'Human Security' and 'Inclusive Development' frameworks in peripheral and conflict-sensitive administrative zones.
Official Reference:PIB India (Press Information Bureau)