1. Operation Sagar Bandhu: India’s Humanitarian Aid to Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka
1. Syllabus
GS-II: India and its neighborhood- relations. Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
GS-III: Disaster and Disaster Management.
2. Context
India has significantly intensified its humanitarian mission in Sri Lanka, codenamed ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, following the devastating impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused massive floods and landslides across the island nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the Sri Lankan President of India’s continued support.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
This operation is a prime example of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its role as a First Responder and Net Security Provider (SAGAR) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Humanitarian Diplomacy: India rapidly deployed the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and the frontline ship INS Udaigiri to deliver the first batch of relief materials, including food, medicines, and emergency supplies. This rapid, large-scale response strengthens bilateral ties and showcases India’s capabilities.
- Disaster Management Cooperation: The operation involves coordination between the Indian Navy, Air Force, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with Sri Lankan agencies. This joint effort is crucial for search and rescue operations, particularly in remote, flood-hit areas.
- Geopolitical Angle: By being the first and most substantial responder, India reinforces its position as a reliable partner, countering the influence of other regional powers in the strategic IOR. The goodwill generated is vital for long-term diplomatic and strategic stability.
- Cyclone Ditwah: The severe cyclonic storm developed in the Southwest Bay of Bengal and is the third such storm in the post-monsoon season, underscoring the increasing vulnerability of coastal regions to extreme weather events due to climate change.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Bilateral Ties | Deepens the India-Sri Lanka Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on mutual trust and cooperation in times of crisis. |
| IOR Security | Projects India’s military assets (like the INS Vikrant) as instruments of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), enhancing its strategic credibility. |
| Climate Resilience | Highlights the urgent need for regional cooperation on climate resilience and early warning systems in the Bay of Bengal. |
5. Way Forward
Beyond immediate relief, India can help Sri Lanka with long-term infrastructure reconstruction (e.g., flood defenses, resilient housing) and the development of better disaster communication and management protocols.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-II: Analyze the significance of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ in the context of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). (250 words)
2. India-Russia Annual Summit 2025: Geopolitical and Economic Agenda 🇷🇺🇮🇳
1. Syllabus
GS-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
2. Context
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India from December 4-5, 2025, for the Twenty-Third India-Russia Annual Summit. The visit aims to reinforce the long-standing Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
The Annual Summit is the highest institutional mechanism for regular dialogue and ensures continuity in the relationship despite evolving global geopolitical dynamics.
- Defence Cooperation: The defence partnership remains the bedrock of the relationship. Discussions will likely focus on the delivery of pending defence equipment, joint production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and cooperation in future military technology (e.g., advanced missile systems, stealth platforms). The successful combat launch of the BrahMos missile by the Indian Army on December 2 will likely be highlighted.
- Economic Cooperation: The summit will review progress on the ambitious target of $30 billion in bilateral trade by 2025. Key areas include energy (nuclear energy, oil and gas supply), space research, and fertilizers. The use of national currencies (Rupee-Rouble) for trade settlement, bypassing US dollar-based sanctions, is expected to be a key discussion point.
- Geopolitical Coordination: Both leaders will exchange views on global developments, including the Ukraine crisis, the situation in Afghanistan, and cooperation within plurilateral forums like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). India will seek Russian support for its position in multilateral institutions.
- The US Factor: The summit is crucial as India balances its historic ties with Russia against its burgeoning strategic partnership with the United States (US), especially within the Quad framework.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Energy Security | Russia’s commitment to supplying energy, especially oil and nuclear fuel, is vital for India’s long-term energy security goals. |
| Technological Edge | Continued access to advanced Russian defence technology is necessary for maintaining India’s military edge. |
| Multipolarity | Reinforces India’s commitment to strategic autonomy and a multipolar world order, where it maintains deep ties with all major global powers. |
5. Way Forward
The leaders must seek to diversify the trade basket away from its heavy concentration on defence and energy, focusing on non-traditional sectors like information technology, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture to ensure the relationship’s sustainability.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-II: Critically examine the key agenda and the strategic significance of the India-Russia Annual Summit 2025 in the context of India’s policy of strategic autonomy amid changing global alignments. (250 words)
3. Mandatory Pre-installation of ‘Sanchar Saathi’ App for Cyber Safety
1. Syllabus
GS-III: Security challenges and their management. Role of external state and non-state actors in creating internal security challenges. Cybersecurity.
2. Context
The government has directed all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ cyber safety application on all new devices sold in India. This move is part of the broader Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, 2025, aimed at curbing mobile-related fraud and enhancing user safety.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
‘Sanchar Saathi’ is a citizen-centric portal launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that helps users track and block lost/stolen mobile phones and check the ownership status of mobile numbers.
- Cybersecurity Rationale: The application provides critical tools to combat rising cyber-frauds, particularly SIM cloning, IMEI manipulation, and identity theft. Pre-installation ensures that all users, including those less tech-savvy, have immediate access to these security features upon purchasing a new device.
- Mandate and Concerns: The government has specified that the app cannot be deleted by the user, a measure intended to maximize its effectiveness. However, this raises several concerns:
- Privacy and Surveillance: The inability to uninstall the app may lead to public concerns about potential government surveillance or data monitoring, even if officials state the app’s functions are purely for security.
- Sovereignty of Device: It interferes with the user’s control over their personal device and may set a precedent for other mandatory pre-installed government software.
- Software Bloat/Performance: The forced inclusion could impact the performance of entry-level smartphones.
- Digital Governance: This action highlights the government’s approach to securing the digital infrastructure through mandatory pre-emptive measures rather than solely relying on user discretion.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Fraud Reduction | Direct and immediate protection for all smartphone users against common mobile-related identity and financial frauds. |
| Digital Trust | If transparently implemented, it can boost user confidence in the safety of digital transactions and communication. |
| Legal Review | The ‘non-deletable’ clause could face legal challenges on the grounds of infringing on user privacy and device autonomy. |
5. Way Forward
To mitigate privacy concerns, the government must issue a clear and transparent policy document detailing the app’s exact permissions, data collection protocols, and an independent third-party audit of its security and privacy features.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-III: Discuss the pros and cons of the government’s directive to mandate the pre-installation of the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on all new mobile phones. How can India effectively balance cyber safety with the protection of user privacy and device autonomy? (250 words)
4. Indian Army Conducts Combat Launch of BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
1. Syllabus
GS-III: Science and Technology – Indigenization of technology and developing new technology; Defence Technology.
2. Context
The Indian Army successfully conducted the combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as part of its operational readiness drills. This confirms the missile system’s integration and high-level preparedness across all three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
BrahMos is a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile.
- Operational Readiness: The successful test validates the Indian Army’s capability to deploy the missile from a Mobile Autonomous Launcher (MAL) in varied terrain conditions and hit targets with high precision. This is critical for enhancing India’s deterrence capability along its Northern and Western borders.
- Indigenization and Exports: The BrahMos program is a shining example of India’s defence indigenization effort under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Furthermore, its confirmed operational success bolsters its marketability for exports (e.g., to the Philippines and Indonesia), fulfilling India’s goal of becoming a major defence exporter.
- Strategic Capability: The missile travels at speeds of up to Mach 2.8, making interception extremely difficult. Its capability for pinpoint accuracy against high-value enemy installations, command and control centers, and ships provides a significant tactical advantage.
- Future Upgrades: The combat launch will inform the development of the next-generation variants, including the BrahMos-NG (Next Generation), which will be smaller, lighter, and more adaptable for deployment on a wider range of platforms, including the indigenous LCA Tejas.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Deterrence | Enhances India’s conventional deterrence capabilities in the region, particularly against potential adversaries with hardened military targets. |
| Tri-Service Integration | Confirms the seamless operational integration of the BrahMos into the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force doctrines. |
| Technology Push | Provides confidence and a knowledge base for further indigenous research in supersonic and hypersonic missile technologies. |
5. Way Forward
The focus must shift to expediting the indigenous development of crucial components to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, ensuring a truly self-reliant supply chain for this strategic asset.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-III: Assess the strategic significance of the successful combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile by the Indian Army. How does this development align with India’s defence indigenization and export goals? (250 words)
5. New Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Cap on Insurance Sector
1. Syllabus
GS-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development. Government Budgeting.
2. Context
The government is set to introduce the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Winter Session of Parliament. The key proposal is to raise the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector from the current 74% to 100%.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
This policy move is part of the government’s broader economic reform agenda aimed at modernizing the financial sector and attracting massive capital inflows.
- Need for Capital: The Indian insurance sector (both life and non-life) requires huge capital infusion to expand penetration, especially in rural areas, and to introduce innovative, tailored products (e.g., specialized health or weather insurance). The existing 74% cap acts as a barrier to complete ownership and control for foreign players.
- Impact of 100% FDI:
- Capital Availability: Full ownership will encourage large global insurers to commit more capital, leading to greater competition and potentially lower premiums for consumers.
- Technology and Expertise: Foreign firms bring in advanced actuarial science, risk management expertise, and digital technology, which can rapidly modernize the domestic insurance industry.
- Job Creation: Increased activity will lead to the creation of high-skilled jobs in underwriting, data analysis, and regulatory compliance.
- Safeguards: The amendment is expected to include robust safeguards concerning the safety of policyholders’ funds, ensuring that a certain percentage of the management board seats remain with Indian residents, and maintaining strict regulatory oversight by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Market Penetration | Crucial for expanding insurance coverage, which is currently low (around 4.2% penetration in 2024), especially health and life insurance for the middle and lower-income segments. |
| Financial Sector Reform | Signals India’s commitment to liberalizing key financial sectors, enhancing its image as an attractive global investment destination. |
| Consumer Benefit | Increased competition and better technology can lead to more customized products and efficient claims settlement processes. |
5. Way Forward
The IRDAI must strengthen its regulatory and supervisory capacity to effectively monitor the operations of foreign-majority owned insurance entities, ensuring they prioritize policyholder interest over profit repatriation.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-III: Analyze the rationale behind raising the FDI limit in the Indian insurance sector to 100%. What are the anticipated benefits for the Indian economy and consumers, and what safeguards must accompany this liberalization? (250 words)
6. UN International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
1. Syllabus
GS-I: Society – Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.
2. Context
December 2nd is observed annually as the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, marking the date of the adoption of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others in 1949.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
While ‘slavery’ in the traditional sense has been abolished, the UN day focuses on eliminating contemporary forms of slavery (Modern Slavery), which include bonded labour, child labour, forced marriage, trafficking, and human exploitation.
- India’s Constitutional and Legal Framework:
- Article 23 (Right Against Exploitation): Explicitly prohibits traffic in human beings and forced labour (including bonded labour).
- Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976: Aims to abolish all forms of bonded labour.
- Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016: Bans the employment of children below 14 years.
- Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill (Pending): Aims to create a comprehensive framework for dealing with human trafficking.
- The Challenge in India: India is consistently ranked high on global indices for modern slavery, largely due to debt bondage in agriculture and brick kilns, forced labour in supply chains (e.g., textiles), and sexual exploitation. The issues are rooted in structural poverty, caste, gender, and migration.
- The Economic Dimension: The existence of modern slavery is often linked to the informal economy and the high global demand for cheap labour and goods. Effective intervention requires addressing the entire supply chain and not just the victims.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Human Rights | Highlights the need for robust enforcement of constitutional rights against exploitation, ensuring dignity and fundamental freedom for all citizens. |
| Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) | Directly linked to SDG 8.7, which calls for taking immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour. |
| Social Justice | Requires a dedicated focus on rehabilitating survivors and addressing the deep-rooted socio-economic drivers of vulnerability. |
5. Way Forward
India must accelerate the passing of the pending Trafficking in Persons Bill, strengthen the implementation of the Bonded Labour Act by increasing inspections and convictions, and create more transparent and responsible supply chains through business and human rights policies.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-I/II: Despite constitutional and legal safeguards, contemporary forms of slavery like bonded labour persist in India. Discuss the socio-economic drivers of modern slavery and suggest policy measures for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. (250 words)
7. Border Security Force (BSF) Report on Terror Launchpads along Jammu Frontier
1. Syllabus
GS-III: Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism.
2. Context
The Border Security Force (BSF) has reported to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that Pakistan has actively rebuilt and reactivated several terror launchpads along the Jammu frontier (International Border – IB), noting increased movement and enhanced surveillance under Operation Sindoor.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
This BSF report underscores the ongoing security challenges posed by cross-border terrorism, despite the relative stability observed after the 2021 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC).
- Tactics and Infrastructure: Launchpads are staging areas in close proximity to the border used to facilitate the infiltration of trained terrorists. Their rebuilding indicates Pakistan’s intent to push more foreign terrorists into India, often exploiting natural features or using sophisticated methods like drones and underground tunnels. The BSF has enhanced surveillance to counter these tactics.
- Security Strategy (Operation Sindoor): This operation involves increased patrolling, upgraded technological surveillance (e.g., thermal imagers, ground sensors, anti-drone systems), and strengthening the physical fence height and quality to improve resilience against infiltration and breach attempts.
- The Geopolitical Context: The renewed activity on the Jammu IB comes amid internal political flux in Pakistan and a focus on the LoC due to the ceasefire. The use of the International Border (IB) often indicates a shift in tactics to evade the heavy concentration of troops and surveillance on the LoC.
- Linkages with Drug Trafficking: Terror groups increasingly use the IB route for narco-terrorism, where drugs are smuggled to finance terror activities. The BSF strategy must address this nexus of organized crime and terrorism.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Internal Security | Heightened risk of terrorist attacks in the hinterland of Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India. |
| BSF Modernization | Calls for faster modernization and deployment of advanced surveillance and counter-infiltration technology for the BSF. |
| Diplomacy | Provides concrete evidence for India to raise the issue of state-sponsored terrorism at international forums and with bilateral partners. |
5. Way Forward
The government needs to expedite the deployment of a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) along the entire Jammu IB and invest in specialized anti-drone technology to counter the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-III: Analyze the challenges posed by the reported reactivation of terror launchpads along the Jammu frontier. What key strategies and technological advancements are necessary to counter cross-border infiltration and narco-terrorism in this sector? (250 words)
8. International Consortium ‘Frontria’ to Combat AI Disinformation
1. Syllabus
GS-III: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. Awareness in the fields of IT, Computers, Robotics.
2. Context
Fujitsu Limited announced the establishment of Frontria, an international consortium bringing together over 50 global organizations, including partners from India, to collaboratively address the escalating challenges of AI-generated disinformation, misinformation, and AI system vulnerabilities.
3. Main Body in Multi-Dimensional Analysis
The rapid advancement of Generative AI makes the creation of highly realistic and deceptive content (like deepfakes) increasingly easy, posing a serious threat to democratic processes, social harmony, and national security.
- Consortium’s Mandate: Frontria aims to foster a healthy and resilient digital society by pooling cutting-edge technologies to enhance information reliability and ensure AI trustworthiness and security.
- Focus Areas:
- Disinformation Countermeasures: Developing technologies for rapid detection and authentication of original content (digital watermarking, provenance tracking) to distinguish human-generated content from AI-generated content.
- AI Vulnerability: Researching and mitigating risks associated with AI system vulnerabilities, such as bias, drift, and adversarial attacks that can manipulate AI outputs.
- Regulatory Compliance: Working with governments and regulatory bodies globally to formulate standards for responsible AI deployment and mandatory disclosure of AI usage.
- Significance for India: As India has a massive and rapidly digitizing population, it is highly vulnerable to AI-driven misinformation, which can destabilize social order or influence elections. India’s participation in Frontria is vital for accessing and contributing to global best practices in AI safety and governance.
4. Implications
| Aspect | Description |
| Media Integrity | Helps news organizations and social media platforms to maintain trust by accurately labeling and managing AI-generated content. |
| Democratic Process | Crucial for safeguarding the integrity of elections from AI-powered deepfakes and targeted disinformation campaigns. |
| Global Governance | Contributes to the emerging global consensus on the need for ethical and regulatory frameworks for Artificial Intelligence. |
5. Way Forward
India must leverage its participation in Frontria to inform its own AI regulatory policy (currently focused on the Digital India Act) and encourage domestic AI developers to adopt the consortium’s best practices on transparency and trustworthiness.
6. Practice Mains Question
GS-III: Analyze the threat posed by AI-generated disinformation and deepfakes to India’s democratic and social fabric. Discuss the role of international collaborations like ‘Frontria’ in creating a framework for AI safety and trustworthiness. (250 words)
