- STRIFE – HIT MANIPUR PUT UNDER PRESIDENT RULE
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Article 356invoked by President Droupadi Murmu after Governor’s report; Manipur Assembly under suspended animation.
- 11th instance of President’s Rule in Manipur; previous imposition lasted 277 days (2001-2002).
- Ethnic violence: Kuki-Zo vs Meitei conflict, 250+ deaths, 60,000 displaced.
- Opposition Criticism: Delay in imposition, demand for fresh elections.
- Key Concern: Illegal immigration from Myanmar, border security issues.
2. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE DRC?
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- M23 Militia: Captured mineral-rich Goma city(2024) with alleged Rwandan support; 2,900+ killed, 700,000 displaced.
- Historical Context: Conflict rooted in Hutu-Tutsi tensions since colonial times.
- 1994 Rwandan Genocide: 800,000 killed; Tutsi-led RPF seized power.
- Hutu exodus to eastern DRC; multiple wars (1996, 1998) with 5 million deaths.
- M23 Rebels: Formed in 2012 after failed 2009 peace pact between DRC and Tutsi-led CNDP.
- Led by Sultani Makenga; accused of war crimes by the UN.
- Economic Angle: DRC’s east rich in Coltan (vital for electronics), making Goma a strategic hub.
- Regional Response: DRC’s President Tshisekedi calls it an “act of war.”
- Rwanda’s Kagame hints at M23 legitimacy; Burundi warns of conflict spillover.
- Uganda assists DRC but also allows M23 presence
3. RAFALE – M PACT TO BE INKED SOON, DELIVERY TO START AFTER 4 YEARS
SUBJECT: DEFENSE
- Rafale-M Deal for Indian Navy: Contract Signing: Expected by March-April 2025 during French Defence Minister’s visit.
- Delivery Timeline: 48 months post-signing; completion in 2 years.
- Key Deals: Rafale-M jets (Dassault Aviation) and 3 Scorpene submarines worth $10 billion.
- Complementary Acquisitions: MQ-9B UAVs from the US by 2029
4. WHO SCHEME PROVIDES CANCER MEDICINES TO CHILDEREN
SUBJECT: SCIENCE
- WHO Initiative: Provides cost-free cancer medicines to children in low-and middle-income countries.
- Pilot Phase Countries: Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, Zambia.
- Coverage: Around 5,000 children across 30 hospitals in 2025.
- Significance: Childhood cancer survival rates in low-income countries
5. CHINA’S DAM PROJECT OPENS THE FLOODGATES OF CONCERN
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- Hydropower project: Part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, impacts Brahmaputra in India.
- Concerns: Water flow disruptions, ecological impact, flood risks, no water sharing treaty with India.
- Strategic Impact: Affects India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh.
