International Relations & Security

All (4265)Current Affairs (4243)Mains Practice (77)Mains PYQs by Subjects (40)

What is behind Nepal Protests?

Context: Recently, the worsening economic scenario in Nepal has led to protests and the demand for the return of King Gyanendra, the former monarch of Nepal, to power. In this context, let us see the political issues faced by the government of Nepal.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Nepal Relations: Basic Idea about state of events in Nepal.

Background

The recent protests in Nepal are rooted in growing dissatisfaction with the country’s political and economic trajectory since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
When the monarchy was dissolved, Nepal transitioned into a federal democratic republic with the hope of fostering stability, economic growth, and inclusivity.
However, over the years, successive governments have been plagued by corruption, inefficiency, and political infighting, leading to widespread disillusionment among the population.

Challenges to Democracy in Nepal

Political Instability:
- Nepal has seen over a dozen Prime Ministers in the last 15 years, preventing stable governance. Coalition governments are unstable due to power struggles, party infighting and frequent floor-crossing by lawmakers leads to a lack of policy continuity.
- The electoral system encourages fragmentation of political parties, making it hard to form a majority government.
Weak Institutional Structure and Governance:
- Judiciary interference: Politicisation of the courts has weakened judicial independence. It is seen that the judicial decisions have often favored those in power.
- Bureaucratic inefficiency: Nepali bureaucracy is slow, unresponsive, and burdened by political appointments.
- Delayed implementation of federalism: Though Nepal adopted federalism in 2015, power remains concentrated in Kathmandu, and provincial governments lack resources and autonomy.
Ethnic and Identity-Based Conflicts:
- The Madhesi movement (2015-16) protested against the new constitution, arguing that it marginalises their political representation.
- Janajati (indigenous) communities continue to demand proportional representation and land rights. E.g., The 2023 protests against renaming Province No. 1 as "Koshi" turned violent, highlighting the ongoing ethnic and linguistic tensions.
Electoral Manipulation: Vote-buying and electoral fraud events have been seen in past elections, undermining fair elections and post-election horse-trading leads to unstable coalition governments.
Corruption and poor governance: Nepal ranks poorly in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Corruption scandals in infrastructure, education, and healthcare reduce public trust in democracy.
Foreign influence in Nepal’s politics: Nepal is sandwiched between India and China, leading to significant external influence.
- While India has historical ties and economic leverage, China has increased its investments in Nepal, influencing politicians and civil society.
- The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant named Nepal Compact faced massive protests in 2022, with some fearing it would compromise Nepal’s sovereignty.
- Nepal struggles to maintain a balanced foreign policy while protecting its sovereignty.

Thus, Nepal’s democracy remains fragile due to internal instability, weak institutions and corruption. While the 2015 Constitution provided a framework for federalism and inclusive governance, its slow implementation, coupled with rising political tensions, threatens democratic progress.

The Katchatheevu controversy

Context: The Tamil Nadu State Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Union government to review the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1974, and take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka. Over the years, the Sri Lankan Navy has continued arresting Indian fishermen and seizing their vessels near the island.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Katchatheevu Island.

Katchatheevu Island

Katchatheevu is a small uninhabited island (285 acre) in Palk Strait, that connects the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea.
Katchatheevu island was formed due to volcanic eruptions in the 14th century.
It is administered by Sri Lanka at present.

Historical Control and Ownership:

Ramanad Kingdom: The island was historically under the control of Ramanad Raja, a zamindar in Ramanathapuram in the Madras Presidency during British rule (1795 to 1803).
Administration under British colonial rule: Katchatheevu was administered as part of the Madras Presidency.
Disputed claims: Both countries have been claiming Katchatheevu since at least 1921, following a survey that placed the island within Sri Lanka’s boundaries.
Contestation by British Indian Delegation: The British Indian delegation contested Sri Lanka's claim, citing the historical ownership of the Ramanad kingdom.

Fishermen of both countries have been fishing in each other's waters without conflict for a very long time. The issue emerged when India-Sri Lanka signed the maritime boundary agreement.

Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Boundary Agreement of 1974:

The agreement was a treaty signed between the Indian government and the Sri Lankan government in 1974.
It defined the maritime boundary between the two nations in the Palk Strait and near the Adam's Bridge.
India recognised Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the Katchatheevu island.
It allowed Indian fishermen to access Katchatheevu for rest, drying of nets, and participation in the annual St. Anthony’s festival.
It did not explicitly specify the fishing rights of Indians in the waters around Katchatheevu, leaving a critical issue unresolved.

LTTE era and restrictions on movement:

During the LTTE (LiberationTigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist group in Sri Lanka) era, the Sri Lankan government restricted the easy movement of Sri Lankan fishermen in waters raising military operations issues.
In 2009, Sri Lanka started heavily guarding its maritime boundary in the Palk Strait. It was done to reduce the possibility of the return of Tamil insurgents to the country.
The Indian fishermen considered this an opportunity. But, with the end of the war in 2010, Sri Lankan fishermen again started their movement in Palk Bay and reclaimed their lost legitimate territory.

Distress of Indian Fishermen

The sea in the Palk Strait and the Adam's Bridge has for ages served as a traditional fishing ground for fishermen from both India and Sri Lanka. Indian fishermen, especially from Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram district, frequented the waters to fish.
Climate change, a growth in fish demand and increased use of bottom trawlers of late has resulted in fishermen venturing beyond territorial waters to get a good catch. The lack of catch near the coast and an absence of demarcations, at times, drive the fishermen into the perceived Sri Lankan waters.
The agreement of 1974 is often blamed for the distress of the Indian fishing community in the state of Tamil Nadu. The treaty deprived Indian fishermen of their traditional fishing rights in the sea around Katchatheevu island.

Rising Geopolitical Conflicts in Arctic Region

Context: International observers have raised concerns about escalating tensions in the Arctic Region, warning that if left unchecked it could eventually spark conflict in the region.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Arctic Council.

Mains: Geopolitical conflict in the Arctic region.

Drivers of Geopolitical conflict in Arctic region

Vast resources: Beneath the frozen Arctic landscape lie untapped reserves of natural resources such as fossil fuels, rare earth elements, phosphates, and copper as well as lucrative fishing grounds. According to a Geological Survey report, the Arctic region holds 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil reserves and 30% of its untapped natural gas reserves.
New trade routes: The melting of Arctic sea ice has opened up new commercial trade routes creating new strategic opportunities for global powers. E.g., The Northeast Passage running along Russia’s Arctic coast. This route, connecting the Bering Strait to Norway, could shorten the maritime distance between East Asia and Europe by about 8,000 kilometers compared to the Suez Canal route.
Lack of legal safeguards: Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic lacks legal safeguards and is mainly governed by UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea), allowing nations to claim territories and build military infrastructure. This has led to overlapping claims and rising tensions.

Geopolitical Tensions and Conflicts

Russia:
- In 2007, Russia sent the MIR-1 submarine to the North Pole to plant a Russian flag on the seabed beneath the Arctic ice cap — a symbolic demonstration of its presence and capabilities.
- Russia has maintained a number of military bases in the Arctic, most of them dating back to the Soviet era.
- In 2022, it conducted joint naval exercises with Beijing in the East China Sea, which indicated strategic implications for Arctic security.
- Russia views the Northern Sea Route as an essential part of its Arctic strategy, aiming to establish it as a major shipping route connecting Europe and Asia.
- Russia has made extensive claims over the Arctic seabed, including the Lomonosov Ridge, which it asserts is a natural prolongation of its continental shelf. This has led to overlapping territorial claims with other Arctic nations, particularly Canada and Denmark.
- Russia has suggested that Norway’s Arctic island of Svalbard should fall under its control.
China: Even China, an Arctic outsider by geography, has declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018. China is planning to construct its first nuclear-powered icebreaker. Investments in infrastructure and resources by China raise concerns among Arctic nations.
NATO: Since Sweden and Finland joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the alliance has intensified its military presence in the region, including large-scale exercises near the Russian border in Finland in 2024.
US and Canada Dispute: The Northwest Passage, a potential Arctic shipping route that winds through Canada’s Arctic Archipelago, is a contentious point. Canada considers the passage part of its internal waters, granting it control over navigation, while the US claims it is an international waterway which means that any nation has freedom of navigation in the Passage.
Greenland Issue: The US President has expressed interest in buying Greenland, citing strategic reasons. Greenland hosts the Thule Air Base, a key US military installation.

Also Read: Greenland: The island of US interest

Arctic Council:

It is an international body tasked with protecting the environment, conducting scientific research, and safeguarding the interests of indigenous peoples in the region.
Set up in 1996 by Ottawa Declaration.
Members: Canada, Denmark (through Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S.
These nations exercise sovereignty over the Arctic land and can also exploit resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

The Arctic remains a region of immense potential. The Arctic may not yet rival the Suez Canal or the Malacca Strait as a global trade artery, but the slow, silent competition beneath its melting ice is reshaping the contours of international relations.

Tiger Triumph: India-US Tri-Service Exercise

Context: The Fourth edition of the bilateral Tri-Service Exercise codenamed “Tiger Triumph” is scheduled to take place on the Eastern Seaboard (Visakhapatnam) from 1 to 13 April, 2025.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Tiger Triumph: India-US Tri-Service Exercise.

Tiger Triumph

It is an India-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
Aim:
- To develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations.
- To formulate SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to establish a Combined Coordination Center for rapid and smooth coordination between Indian and US Joint Task Forces (JTF) during exercises, crises, and contingencies.
Indian Armed forces, as well as the US Navy and Marine troops, will participate in various phases including joint command exercises and medical aid camps.

Key details of the Tri-Service Exercise

Indian side would be represented by:
- Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa, Gharial, Mumbai and Shakti; Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I.
- Army Troops from 91 Infantry Brigade and 12 Mechanical Infantry Battalion.
- Air Force C-130 Aircraft and MI-17 Helicopters, along with the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT).
The US side would be represented by US Navy Ships Comstock and Ralph Johnson, with troops of the US Marine Division embarked.

Operation Brahma to aid Myanmar

Context: India has launched 'Operation Brahma' to aid Myanmar following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1700 lives in the country.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Operation Brahma.

Operation Brahma

The relief effort includes naval ships, aircraft, and rescue teams carrying vital supplies and medical personnel.

Two Indian naval ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid, have reached Myanmar. Two additional ships are set to follow.
A field hospital with 118 medical personnel from Agra is being airlifted to provide immediate assistance.
The Airborne Angels Task Force, specialised medical task force, to deliver advanced medical and surgical care in disaster-affected zones.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team equipped for search and rescue operations.

The operation reaffirms India's commitment as a first responder in the neighbourhood.

Also Read: Sagaing Fault: Earthquake in Myanmar

Russia, Ukraine have agreed to end military action in Black Sea

Context: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea and energy facilities after the US mediated peace talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Major Highlights of the Maritime Security Deal:

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
There would be ban on strikes over energy facilities (of both countries), including:
- Oil refineries; Oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities.
- Electricity generation and transmission infrastructure (power plants, substations, transformers and distributors).
- Nuclear power plants and Hydroelectric dams.
In exchange, the US has agreed to help restore ‘access to the world market’ for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports. The US did not put direct sanctions on Russian agriculture, but had restricted Russia’s access to payment systems used for international transactions.
This deal is a resumption of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Location of Black Sea

The largest inland body of water (salt-water) is situated in Eurasia.
Bound by:
- Ukraine to the north and northwest
- Russia and Georgia to the east
- Turkey to the south
- Bulgaria and Romania to the west
Black Sea is connected to the distant waters of the Atlantic Ocean by the Bosporus strait, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles strait, Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Many important rivers flow to the Black Sea, including the Don, the Danube, the Dniester and the Dnieper.

India’s Maritime Diplomacy in Africa and Indian Ocean Region

Context: The Indian Navy has announced a series of maritime initiatives to bolster cooperation with Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Africa India Key Maritime Engagement; IOS Sagar; MAHASAGAR

1. Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME):

Large-scale multinational exercise scheduled to be held with 10 African countries.
The maiden edition of the India-Africa multilateral exercise ‘AIKEYME’ is being co-hosted by: Indian Navy and Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF).
It will be conducted at/off Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from April 13 to 18, 2025.
Participating nations: Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa.
Focus on: VBSS (visit board search and seizure) drills, arms firings, helicopter operations, seamanship evolutions, search and rescue missions.

2. India-African Naval Exercise: IOS Sagar

IOS Sagar is an initiative towards continued cooperation with IOR nations.
An offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna is set to be deployed to the Southwest IOR, from April 5 to May 8, 2025.
Participating nations: INS Sunayna will have a combined crew of India and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (FFC)- Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, South Africa.
The warship will undertake port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria and Male.
Significance: Capacity-building, enhanced interoperability, and regional security cooperation.

3. Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR):

Announced in 2025, during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Mauritius.
The MAHASAGAR vision builds on the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. SAGAR has guided India's engagement with the Indian Ocean Region for the past decade.
It would work towards:
- Emphasising trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future.
- Ensuring cooperation through technology sharing, concessional loans and grants.

Significance of India’s Maritime Engagement:

Counter China’s influence: The initiatives are against the backdrop of massive inroads by China in Africa through infrastructure projects, and in IOR through naval bases (E.g., Djibouti).
Regional security: Proactive maritime engagement, coordinated patrols, information sharing, naval exercises to boost security in the IOR to counter threats of maritime piracy (Somali pirates) and maritime terrorism.
Secure trade routes: Ensure safe and secure trade routes between India, Africa and other nations, against continued threat from Houthi rebels to global shipping routes.
Soft power diplomacy: Build goodwill through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts, capacity building and other diplomatic engagements.

Also Read: Charting a route for IORA under India’s Chairship

MAHASAGAR, IOS Sagar and AIKEYME are aimed at consolidating Indian Navy’s stature as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region.

The complex struggle for Kurdistan

Context: Recently Abdullah Ocalan, founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has called on the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve the organisation. This ceasefire with Turkiye marks a major shift in Kurdish politics.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Geographical Location of Kurdistan, About PKK.

What is Kurdistan?

Kurdistan is a geographical and cultural region that represents the historical homeland of the Kurds.
Traditionally, the Kurds were spread across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Armenia, however, Kurdistan is not recognised as an independent state.

History of Kurdish People:

Kurdish people are an ethnic-group living in the Zagros mountain range (which spans Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey) and surrounding areas.
Traditionally, Kurds were nomads, and later settled into tribal communities under the Ottoman and Persian empires. They were soldiers, merchants, and local rulers in these empires.
During the Ottoman era, Kurds initially had autonomy in the guise of semi-autonomous emirates. But Ottoman efforts at centralisation in the 19th-century undermined Kurdish self-governance.
Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the Kurds attempted to create their own state but were opposed by both global and regional powers.
In spite of various uprisings and movements, they could not come together under one political umbrella, thereby preventing the creation of an independent Kurdistan.

Why were Kurds unable to form a separate state?

Tribal and linguistic divisions: Kurdish population is divided into multiple tribes, dialects, and religious sects (Sunni, Shia, Alevi Kurds). These internal divisions made political unity difficult.
Lack of unified leadership: Kurds lacked centralised leadership to negotiate a separate state. Different tribal chiefs prioritised their own power over collective Kurdish identity.
Geopolitical resistance: Countries with large Kurdish populations (Turkiye, Iran, Iraq, Syria) strongly opposed Kurdish independence. These states feared that recognising Kurdish rights could lead to territorial fragmentation.
Strategic and economic importance of Kurdish lands: Kurdish regions are rich in oil and natural resources. Iraq, Turkey, and Iran depend on these resources, making them reluctant to lose control.

Treaty of Sevres (1920)

It was signed in 1920 by the Ottoman Empire and Allied Powers.
It was the first treaty to recognise Kurdish autonomy and offered a plan for local self-rule to be prepared within six months. It gave an option for Kurds in Mosul Vilayet (British-controlled Iraq) to voluntarily join an independent Kurdistan.

Why did the Kurds fail to benefit from the Treaty?

Many Kurdish tribal chiefs rejected the proposal because they feared British control over the new Kurdish state, and they wanted to remain part of the Muslim Ottoman Empire rather than align with Western powers.
Treaty of Sevres was never implemented because the Ottoman Empire collapsed, and the newly formed Turkish Republic opposed it.

About Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):

In 1978, Abdullah Ocalan founded the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a Marxist-Leninist organisation.
PKK aimed to establish an independent Kurdish state through armed struggle. It targeted the Turkish government and Kurdish elites who collaborated with Turkey.
PKK formed alliances with Kurdish groups in neighbouring countries: PYD in Syria, PJAK in Iran, PCDK in Iraq. These groups coordinated efforts under the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK).
During the Syrian Civil War (2012), the PKK’s Syrian branch (the YPG) became a key player, forming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

International stance on the PKK:

Turkey, US, and the European Union have labeled the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
Russia does not recognise PKK as a terrorist organisation. Historically, Russia has provided training and support to the PKK through its Soviet Allies.

India's call for banning Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)

Context: Amid the Raisina Dialogue, India has demanded for the banning of the separatist Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), with the U.S. and New Zealand.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: SFJ group, Five Eyes Intelligence Network.

Mains: Role of diaspora-based separatist movements in India’s internal security.

Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) Group

Pro-Khalistan separatist organisation founded in 2007 by GS Pannun.
Headquarters: United States
It advocates for the creation of an independent Khalistan state carved out of India, through activities like "referendums" among the Sikh diaspora.
SFJ operates from Western Democracies like the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
India sees SFJ’s activities as a threat to national security, and has been urging Western nations to act against the group.
India's State Police Forces and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have registered over 120 cases against SFJ (for instigating violence, sabotage of railway operations, conspiracy with Pakistan’s ISI), since 2018 and 105 people have been arrested.

Challenges in banning SFJ Internationally

Legal barriers in Western democracies: Countries like New Zealand and Canada argue that peaceful advocacy for Khalistan does not constitute terrorism. In liberal democracies, lawful protests are part of protected speech, and thus prevents outright ban on SFJ.
Geopolitical constraints: The U.S. and Canada are investigating alleged Indian involvement in assassination plot against GS Pannun, and the killing of Canadian Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar respectively. Diplomatic tensions make countries reluctant to align with India’s requests.
Five Eyes Intelligence Network’s Stand: Countries in the Five Eyes (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand) share intelligence but have not banned SFJ. A ban by one member may trigger others to follow, however, there is no consensus yet.

Five Eyes Intelligence Network:

Global intelligence-sharing alliance comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
Originated during World War II as a partnership between the U.S. and U.K. to intercept and decode enemy communications during World War II.
Formalised in 1946 through the UK-USA Agreement, expanding later to include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
It played a crucial role during the Cold War in tracking Soviet activities.

Potential Impact of Ban on SFJ

Ban on SFJ by key Western nations like the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, would:
- lead to freezing of assets and funds
- travel restrictions on separatists leaders like GS Pannun
- criminal prosecution under anti-terror laws
- limit SFJ’s ability to organise events like referendums, reduce its propaganda reach among the Sikh diaspora.
If taken to the UN Security Council under Resolution 1373, it would impose global obligations on countries to act against the group under FATF guidelines, making it harder for SFJ to operate internationally.

SFJ’s activities pose a serious internal and external security threat to India. The ban of SFJ would depend on strong diplomatic efforts and coordination with host countries, given the legal complexities in Western democracies.

Charting a route for IORA under India’s Chairship

Context: India is set to chair the Indian Ocean Rim Association for the next two years, starting November 2025.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

IORA is an intergovernmental organisation of states on the rim of the Indian Ocean.
Established: 1997
Aim: To strengthen regional cooperation, sustainable development and economic growth among the countries in Asia, Africa, and Australia, connected by the Indian Ocean.
IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually. Council of Ministers has established a ‘Troika’ consisting of the chair, vice-chair and previous chair.
Secretariat: Cyber City, Ebène, Mauritius.

Members of IORA

All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the Association. To become members, States must adhere to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the Association.
Members: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France (since 2020), India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Note: Pakistan is not a member of IORA.

Importance of Indian Ocean Region:

IOR is a crucial part of the broader Indo-Pacific and has significant strategic and economic importance.

It is home to two-thirds of the global population.
Facilitates 75% of global trade and 50% of daily oil consumption.
Contributes $1 trillion in goods and services annually.
Intra-IORA trade reached $800 billion in 2023.

Flagship Projects of IORA

Indian Ocean Dialogue: Track 1.5 discussion diplomacy initiative that fosters an open and interactive platform for dialogue on strategic issues of the Indian Ocean Region.
IORA Sustainable Development Program: Aims to assist Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the IORA framework by providing technical assistance and capacity-building support.

Challenges faced by IORA

Funding Constraints: IORA’s annual budget is limited and highly dependent on its members, mostly developing economies, except for Singapore, the UAE, and France. IORA’s focus areas (maritime security, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, blue economy) require sustained investment.
Conflicting priorities: IORA consists of diverse membership (developed, developing, LDCs and SIDS), with different immediate priorities and challenges. This may hinder regional consensus. E.g., political instability in Sri Lanka.
Environmental threats: Climate change-induced disasters and marine degradation threat specially to SIDS. (E.g., Maldives)
Security concerns: Piracy, terrorism, and human and drug trafficking. The absence of a unified security network poses coordination challenges.
Limited Economic Integration: IORA does not have a comprehensive FREE Trade Agreement unlike EU, or ASEAN.
IORA lacks a legal enforcement mechanism to ensure adherence to agreements.

India and IORA

As India prepares to assume the chairmanship of IORA, India's three key priorities as chair include:
- Expanding funding opportunities to increase IORA’s budget (by further involving private sector stakeholders in the maritime industry)
- Strengthening the Blue Economy and developing maritime-ready academic courses in collaboration with research institutions.
- Integrating technology for efficient data management and policy analysis to improve efficiency and decision-making.
India’s Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) Vision comfortably aligns with IORA’s objectives and offers a roadmap for strengthening regional cooperation.

With a proactive approach, India can strengthen IORA’s role as a key driver of stability and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region.

World Happiness Report 2025

Context: The World Happiness Report 2025 was recently published. India is ranked 118th out of 147 countries in the latest edition.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: About World Happiness Report 2025

World Happiness Report

It is an annual global assessment that ranks countries based on life satisfaction and happiness levels.
Published by: Wellbeing Research Centre (University of Oxford) in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The report ranks global happiness basis survey data in over 140 countries.
Criteria for Ranking: Based on six key indicators- Social support, GDP per capita, Health- life expectancy, Freedom, Generosity and Perception of corruption.

Key Highlights of the Report

1. Global Highlights:

The report ranked Finland as the happiest country for the 8th consecutive year, while Afghanistan as the unhappiest country in the world.
The report highlights a concerning trend of young adults reporting the lowest well-being among all age groups.

2. India's Performance:

India ranks 118th out of 147 countries, improving its rank from 126th in 2023.
India's happiness score increased to 4.389, on a scale of 0-10. Zero denotes the worst possible life and 10 denotes the best possible life.

Key factors influencing India's Ranking:

India scored high in personal freedom which was at a five-year best.
India’s GDP per capita ranking has improved showing economic progress.
Perception of corruption in India has shown improvement.
However, India’s rank below Nepal, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Palestine in the overall happiness, raises concerns about the methodology used in the report.

The report has suggested investing in education, employment and mental health services to improve the well-being of young adults and contribute to long-term national happiness.

U.S., U.K. replace Gulf as top source of Remittance to India

Context: Reserve Bank of India (RBI), recently, released the insights about remittances received by India in the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key Trends: Remittances to India

What are Remittances?

Remittances are transfers in the form of money or goods that migrants send back to their families and friends in their home countries.
Remittance forms a part of the transfer payment category in the current account of the Balance of Payments (BoP) records in an economy.
- BoP is the transactions in goods, services and assets between residents of a country with the rest of the world for a specified time period typically a year.
- Transfer payments are the receipts which the residents of a country get for ‘free’, without having to provide any goods or services in return. They consist of gifts, remittances and grants. They could be given by the government or by private citizens living abroad.
Significance: Remittances increase household disposable incomes, lead to poverty reduction, increase investment in human capital, crucial source of foreign currency, help stabilise the balance of payments in recipient countries.

Remittances to India- Key Trends reflected by RBI’s Report:

The largest share of remittances into India in 2023-24 came from the:
- United States (27.7%)
- United Arab Emirates (19.2%)
The US, the UK, Singapore, Canada and Australia together accounted for more than 50% of remittances in 2023-24.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations- UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain- held 37.9% of India’s remittances in 2023-24. This is a reduction from 46.7% share in 2016-17.
Dominant recipients of remittances: Maharashtra, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Reasons behind the Trends:

UAE is the largest hub for Indian migrant workers engaged primarily in blue-collar jobs, which are dominated by the construction industry followed by healthcare, hospitality, and tourism.
In the US, Indian migrants are mainly employed in white-collar jobs (such as management, business, science, and arts), thus explaining the higher remittances received from the US despite the lower number of migrants.

World Bank data on Remittances:

As per the World Bank data, India’s share in world remittances has risen from around 11% in 2001 to about 14% in 2024.
In 2024, India received an estimated $129 billion worth of remittances, the highest ever for a country in any year.
Remittances to India are projected to increase to around US$ 160 billion in 2029.