1. PUTIN-MODI SUMMIT REAFFIRMS INDIA-RUSSIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to New Delhi concluded with the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin signed a Vision 2030 economic cooperation pact, targeting diversified trade beyond energy and defence to reach $100 billion by 2030.
- Both leaders condemned cross-border terrorism, including the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and reaffirmed commitments to counter-terror financing, while praising India’s role as a mediator in Ukraine peace initiatives.
- Discussions focused on nuclear projects like Kudankulam expansion and underground coal gasification, amid Western sanctions, with India maintaining strategic autonomy despite U.S. tariff pressures on Russian oil imports.
- Naval cooperation was enhanced through plans for expanded joint exercises like INDRA, emphasizing Indo-Pacific stability and interoperability, while potential deals for advanced missile systems were explored without committing to Su-57 fighters.
- The summit addressed multipolar world advocacy, with joint statements highlighting collaboration in high-tech sectors and private sector roles to balance geopolitical churn.
- Concepts: Non-Alignment 2.0 – Enables India’s balanced diplomacy with Russia amid U.S. pressures; Indo-Pacific Strategy – Strengthens naval ties for regional security.
2. RBI MONETARY POLICY EASES RATES TO FUEL RESILIENT GROWTH
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee unanimously cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, citing record-low inflation at 0.25% in October and robust domestic demand, while shifting to a neutral stance for potential further easing.
- GDP growth forecast for FY26 was upgraded to 7.3% from 6.8%, driven by 8.2% Q2 expansion with services at 9.3% and manufacturing at 7.6%, though U.S. tariffs risk export slowdowns.
- Liquidity measures include ₹1 trillion in open market bond purchases and $5 billion forex swaps to inject up to $16 billion, aiding rural-urban consumption transmission amid $2.5 billion FII outflows.
- Forex reserves reached $686.2 billion, offering over 11 months of import cover and narrowing the current account deficit via strong remittances, cushioning rupee volatility.
- Gold prices fell ₹10 per 10 grams to ₹1,29,650 and silver dropped ₹100 to ₹1,90,900, reflecting global cues ahead of U.S. Fed decisions and cautious investor sentiment.
- Concepts: Balance of Payments – Remittances bolster stability under IMF Article VIII; Atmanirbhar Bharat – Rate cuts support PLI schemes for export resilience amid tariffs.
3. NATIONAL QUANTUM ECONOMY ROADMAP TARGETS SELF-RELIANCE BY 2035
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- The government launched the National Quantum Economy Roadmap, aiming for “quantum Atmanirbharta” with phased milestones like 50+ funded startups, sectoral pilots in defence and healthcare, and net exporter status by 2030-35.
- Deployment plans cover defence, finance, and energy by 2035, including testbeds for post-quantum cryptography to combat rising cyber threats and digital frauds.
- Supreme Court directed CBI probes into ‘digital arrest’ scams involving mule accounts, strengthening digital governance and consumer safeguards amid a surge in cybercrimes.
- New parliamentary data reveals persistent child malnutrition despite improvements, prompting calls for enhanced NDMA interventions under the Disaster Management Act for nutritional security.
- Nationwide mock civil defence drills across 244 districts simulated border tensions, improving inter-agency coordination and community readiness for hybrid threats.
- Concepts: Disaster Management Act, 2005 – Structures responses to cyber and nutritional crises; Environmental Impact Assessment – Ensures quantum tech aligns with ecological safeguards.
4. LABOUR CODES ROLL OUT NATIONWIDE TO BOOST WORKER FORMALIZATION
SUBJECT: POLITY
- The four Labour Codes, effective from November 21, 2025, consolidate 29 laws to simplify hiring, wages, social security, and safety, covering over 50 crore workers with gig economy protections.
- Booth Level Officers lead Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, promoting voter inclusivity as opposition pushes for federalism debates in the Winter Session of Parliament.
- The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments empower Panchayats and Municipalities, with new guidelines for youth Gram Sabhas to enhance grassroots democracy and local governance.
- A Supreme Court petition advocates animal legal representation, challenging anthropocentric biases under Article 51A(g) to advance environmental duties in judicial reforms.
- Mahad Satyagraha’s centenary underscores Dalit rights evolution, influencing constitutional morals and designating December 25 as Women’s Liberation Day per Ambedkar’s vision.
- Concepts: Article 110 – Guides fiscal scrutiny in labour reforms; Federalism Principles – Promotes Centre-State harmony in electoral and local governance.
5. GARUDA EXERCISES AND INDIGENIZATION DRIVE DEFENCE MODERNIZATION
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Exercise Garuda 25 with France ended with Su-30MKI and Rafale simulations for air defence, while Garuda Shakti 2025 with Indonesia began in Himachal, focusing on special forces counter-terrorism at high altitudes.
- The 14th INDRA with Russia emphasized tri-service interoperability, drawing from Vostok-2022 lessons to enhance multi-domain operations.
- 2025-26 defence budget of ₹7.86 lakh crore prioritizes indigenization, cancelling imports for Coast Guard helicopters and advancing AK-203 rifle co-production.
- A $946 million U.S. deal sustains 24 MH-60R Seahawks, with INAS 334 squadron commissioning in December 2025 at INS Hansa for improved maritime surveillance.
- DRDO transferred Sigma 4.0 camouflage software and multispectral tank mock-ups to CME Pune, boosting survivability along LAC post-Galwan enhancements.
- Concepts: Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 – Boosts private indigenization; Strategic Autonomy – Balances alliances with domestic pushes like BrahMos exports.
