1. C.P. Radhakrishnan Elected as Vice-President of India
Subject: Polity
- C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra and NDA nominee, was elected as the 17th Vice-President of India, securing 452 first-preference votes against Opposition candidate Justice B. Sudershan Reddy’s 300 votes.
- The election saw a 98.2% turnout of the electoral college, with some cross-voting from the Opposition camp.
- Constitutional Provisions: Article 63 establishes the Vice-President’s office; Article 64 makes the Vice-President the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha; Article 66 outlines the election process via proportional representation and single transferable vote.
- The Vice-President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament, including nominated members, with equal vote value for all MPs.
- Eligibility: Must be a citizen of India, at least 35 years old, and qualified for Rajya Sabha membership.
- Significance: Radhakrishnan’s election strengthens the NDA’s position in the Rajya Sabha, where he will play a pivotal role in legislative proceedings.
- Historical Context: Several Vice-Presidents, like Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and K.R. Narayanan, later became Presidents, highlighting the office’s significance.
2. India and Israel Sign Bilateral Investment Agreement
Subject: Economy and International Relations
- India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) in New Delhi, signed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
- The BIA aims to boost investments, trade, and cooperation by ensuring investor protection, dispute resolution through arbitration, and safeguards against expropriation.
- Current bilateral investments stand at USD 800 million, with expectations of significant growth post-agreement.
- Key areas of collaboration include cybersecurity, defense, innovation, fintech, infrastructure, and high-technology sectors.
- The agreement balances investor protection with India’s regulatory rights, preserving policy space for governance.
- India’s economic reforms over the past decade were highlighted as making it an investment-friendly destination.
- Strategic Importance: Strengthens India-Israel ties in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with India’s economic and security goals.
3. Exercise Zapad 2025: India’s Participation in Multinational Military Drill
Subject: Defence and International Relations
- A 65-member Indian Armed Forces contingent, including 57 Army, 7 Air Force, and 1 Navy personnel, departed for Mulino Training Ground, Russia, for Exercise Zapad 2025 (September 10–16, 2025).
- Led by the KUMAON Regiment, the exercise focuses on joint company-level operations, conventional warfare, and counter-terrorism tactics.
- Objectives include enhancing military cooperation, interoperability, and exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures among participating nations.
- The drill emphasizes mission planning, tactical drills, and the use of specialized arms in a multinational environment.
- Strategic Context: Aligns with India’s interests in Eurasia and strengthens defence ties with Russia and other participating countries.
- Emerging Technologies: The exercise integrates advanced technologies, enhancing India’s capabilities in modern warfare scenarios.
- Relevance: Bolsters India’s defence preparedness and global military diplomacy.
4. Poor NARI Ranking Highlights Women’s Safety Gaps in Delhi
Subject: National Issues
- The National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 exposed significant gaps in women’s safety in Delhi, 13 years after the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
- Key issues include inadequate infrastructure, poor implementation of safety measures, and low conviction rates in gender-based violence cases.
- The report calls for enhanced policing, better public transport safety, and stricter enforcement of laws to address these gaps.
- Delhi’s ranking reflects broader national challenges in ensuring women’s safety in urban areas.
- Policy Implications: Highlights the need for gender-sensitive urban planning and stronger judicial mechanisms.
- Tamil Nadu Context: Tamil Nadu has implemented initiatives like the “Kavalan” app to enhance women’s safety, but urban areas like Chennai face similar challenges.
- Significance: Critical for social justice and inclusive development, with implications for national policy frameworks.
5. India-Japan Strengthen Strategic Ties with New Agreements
Subject: International Relations and Economy
- India and Japan unveiled a Joint Vision for the Next Decade, focusing on economy, technology, energy, and defence cooperation.
- Japan pledged 10 trillion yen investment in India over the next decade, alongside human resource exchange involving five lakh people.
- The India-Japan Digital Partnership 2.0 was launched, emphasizing joint R&D in AI, quantum computing, and emerging technologies.
- Defence ties were deepened through a new security cooperation framework, including joint exercises like Dharma Guardian, Shinyuu Maitri, and JIMEX.
- Agreements were signed on space collaboration, clean hydrogen, ammonia-based fuels, mineral security, and wastewater management.
- Tamil Nadu Relevance: Chennai’s industrial hub status makes it a potential beneficiary of Japan’s investments in technology and manufacturing.
- Global Impact: Strengthens India’s role in the Indo-Pacific, countering regional geopolitical challenges.
