International Relations & Security

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Role of Decoys in Contemporary Warfare

Context: In contemporary warfare, as jets, tanks, and warships have become more sophisticated; the methods used to shield them from detection and attack have greatly evolved. Decoys have emerged as vital tools to protect assets through deception.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims & Mains: Decoys - working, applications, examples; Role of Decoys in Contemporary warfare.

What are Decoys ?

A decoy in warfare is a deliberately created false target (physical or electronic) that imitates real military assets with the objective of misleading enemy sensors and weapons, thereby protecting actual platforms, wasting adversary munitions, and buying time for counteraction.

Types of Decoys in Modern Warfare

Airborne Decoys:
- Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys (FOTD): E.g., Rafael’s X-Guard, Raytheon’s AN/ALE-50/55.
- Expendable Active Decoys (EAD): E.g., Leonardo’s BriteCloud, that imitate aircraft signatures.
- Stand-in Decoys: E.g., US MALD series, acting as mini-jammers or fake aircraft.
Land-Based Decoys: Inflatable tanks, artillery, or missile batteries with radar/thermal emissions. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech, Ukraine’s wooden/3D-printed systems, US Army’s fake vehicles.
Naval Decoys: Chaff, acoustic emitters, and self-propelled active decoys. E.g.,
- Nulka (Australia-US), mimicking large vessels to mislead anti-ship missiles.
- India: Kavach (chaff decoy) & Maareech (anti-torpedo system).

India’s Deployment of Decoys

X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD):
- During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force reportedly deployed the X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD) on its Rafale jets.
- These decoys are believed to have misled Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and their PL-15E beyond-visual-range missiles, resulting in false kill claims by the adversary.
- Integrated with the SPECTRA Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, the X-Guard provided an additional protective layer, enhancing the survivability of Rafales.
- Following the operation, the Ministry of Defence began fast-tracking the emergency procurement of additional X-Guard units to strengthen the Air Force’s defensive capabilities.
T-90 Tank Decoys: In 2025, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information (RFI) to domestic vendors for the development of T-90 tank decoys. These decoys are required to replicate not only the physical dimensions but also the thermal and acoustic signatures of real tanks.
Kavach Decoy System: Indian Navy has inducted the Kavach decoy system, designed to protect warships by diverting radar-guided anti-ship missiles.
Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS): Indian Navy has also operationalised the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS), jointly developed by DRDO and BEL, which detects incoming torpedoes and deploys decoys to neutralise them effectively.

Role of Decoys in Contemporary Warfare:

Protection of High-Value Assets: Decoys act as the first line of defence for expensive platforms like fighter jets, tanks, and warships. E.g., Indian Air Force reportedly used X-Guard Fibre-Optic Towed Decoys on Rafales during Operation Sindoor to protect jets from Pakistan’s J-10C fighters and PL-15E missiles.
Confusing and Misleading Enemy Sensors: They replicate radar, thermal, and acoustic signatures to misguide surveillance and targeting systems. E.g., X-Guard mimics a Rafale’s radar cross-section and Doppler velocity, making it hard for missiles to distinguish between real and fake targets.
Wastage of Enemy Munitions: By drawing enemy fire onto false targets, decoys force adversaries to expend costly missiles and bombs. E.g., Ukraine has used wooden and 3D-printed decoys of artillery and missile systems to make Russia waste drones and precision strikes.
Buying Time for Counteraction: Decoys delay enemy decision-making and create windows for evasion or retaliation. E.g., In naval warfare, Australia-US Nulka active decoy draws incoming missiles away from warships, giving them time to maneuver or launch countermeasures.
Force Multiplication in Ground Warfare: Ground decoys simulate massed formations, creating the illusion of greater strength. E.g., Russia’s Inflatech decoys can quickly create fake tank or artillery formations; Indian Army in 2025 issued an RFI for T-90 tank decoys with thermal and acoustic signatures to deceive drones.
Multi-Layered Defence Systems: Decoys work in tandem with Electronic Warfare (EW) suites to form a layered shield. E.g.,
- On Rafales, SPECTRA EW suite + X-Guard FOTD together provide both onboard jamming and an external trailing shield.
- Indian Navy’s Kavach chaff system and Maareech ATDS provide similar protection against radar-guided missiles and torpedoes.
Psychological and Strategic Impact: Decoys undermine the enemy’s confidence in their own sensors and kill claims, adding to the fog of war.

Decoys, across air, land, and sea, have become indispensable to modern war fighting. For a relatively low investment, they deliver high-impact protection.

China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project

Context: China has recently set up the Xinjiang-Xizang Railway Co. Ltd. to construct a high-altitude railway line linking Hotan in Xinjiang with Shigatse and Lhasa in Tibet.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project.

China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project

The project is part of Beijing’s larger “Go West Strategy” to integrate its underdeveloped western regions.
The line will connect two restive and strategically sensitive frontier provinces – the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (northwest) and the Tibet Autonomous Region (south).

Key Features of the Project:

The Xinjiang-Xizang line will run from Hotan in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Shigatse and Lhasa in Xizang, Tibet.
The project is a part of five planned railway corridors into Tibet, aimed at building a comprehensive rail network across the high-altitude region.
The route is expected to run close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and may pass through Aksai Chin, Indian territory occupied by China since 1962.

Significance of the Project:

The project has multiple aims including facilitation of the movement of soldiers to harness untapped economic potential in these regions.

Political Integration of Frontier Regions: Xinjiang and Tibet are historically prone to separatism and unrest. Enhanced connectivity strengthens the Chinese state’s presence and integrates them more tightly into Beijing’s administrative framework.
Cultural Assimilation (Sinicisation): The railway facilitates Han Chinese migration into minority regions. This supports the policy of Sinicisation, which aims to assimilate local Uyghur and Tibetan populations into the dominant Han culture.
Military and Strategic Utility: The railway provides the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with faster troop mobilisation and logistical support in high-altitude areas.
Economic Development of the West: The project seeks to unlock resources, promote trade, and generate employment in historically underdeveloped western provinces.

Implications for India:

The railway may pass through Aksai Chin, strengthening China’s control over the Indian territory occupied by China since 1962.
It will improve the PLA’s mobility and logistics, giving China a military edge along the LAC.

Taking stock of India-China Bilateral Ties

Context: Recently, the Chinese Foreign Minister paid a two day official visit to New Delhi, first such visit since 2021. He co-chaired the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the Boundary Question between India and China with India’s National Security Advisor.

Relevance of the Topic : Mains: India and its Neighbourhood: India-China Relations.

India-China relations constitute one of the most significant bilateral equations in contemporary international politics. Characterised by deep economic interdependence, multilateral cooperation, and persistent strategic distrust, the relationship has been under strain since the 2020 Galwan clashes

Recent talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian leadership, along with the planned Modi-Xi meeting at the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin, indicate renewed efforts to stabilise borders, rebuild economic ties, and restore strategic trust.

Key Developments of Chinese Foreign Minister’s Visit

Border Management and Security:

Both sides agreed to establish new mechanisms under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs:
- Expert Group to explore early harvest outcomes in boundary delimitation.
- Working Group to advance effective border management in order to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
- General Level Mechanisms in the Eastern and Middle Sectors, in addition to the existing General Level Mechanism in Western Sector.
Both sides reiterated that peace and tranquillity along the LAC is essential for overall ties.

Political and Diplomatic Engagement:

Indian Prime Minister Modi stated that India-China relations must be guided by mutual respect, sensitivity, and shared interests.

Economic and People-to-People Ties:

Agreement to resume direct flight connectivity and finalise an updated Air Services Agreement.
Decision to reopen border trade routes at Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass, and Nathu La Pass.
China assured India of addressing its needs for fertilisers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines.
Revival of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra and planning of people-to-people exchanges to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025.
Agreement to facilitate visas for tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors.

Strategic and Regional Issues:

India strongly raised concerns about cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, with both sides agreeing that SCO must prioritise counter-terrorism.
India expressed concerns over China’s mega dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo), stressing the need for transparency and data-sharing.

On trans-border rivers cooperation, the Chinese side agreed to share hydrological information during emergency situations based on humanitarian considerations.
Both sides agreed to cooperate on multilateral issues, uphold a rules-based WTO system, and promote a multipolar world.
India and China pledged reciprocal support for hosting BRICS summits in 2026 and 2027.

Challenges in India-China Relations:

Taiwan Controversy: China’s readout claimed Jaishankar acknowledged Taiwan as part of China. India clarified no change in policy, i.e., relations with Taiwan remain economic, technological, cultural.
Trust Deficit from repeated Chinese incursions on the border: Depsang in 2013, Chumar in 2014, Doklam in 2017, Galwan in 2020.
Chinese Projects on Brahmaputra: India remains cautious of hydrological risks and ecological consequences.
China-Pakistan Axis: India continues to be wary of China’s all-weather friendship with Pakistan. China’s military cooperation with Pakistan was on display during Operation Sindoor, when the Chinese supplied weapons and live intelligence to the Pakistanis.
China’s export restrictions: India is concerned at China’s export restrictions on rare earths, tunnel boring machines, and fertilisers, which are key to India’s development and food security.

The Wang Yi visit and the upcoming Modi-Xi meeting represent an opportunity for recalibration in India-China relations. The litmus test remains peace and stability on the border. For India, the challenge will be to remain firm on sovereignty while pragmatic on cooperation.

Also Read: India-China Relations: Developments & Challenges

India’s Strategic Engagement with Namibia

Context: Namibia is a valued and trusted African partner with which India is seeking to boost bilateral cooperation and partnerships.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India’s engagement in Africa; India-Namibia bilateral relations; Global South diplomacy.

India’s Engagement with Namibia

India and Namibia have a shared anti-colonial heritage and enjoy warm and cordial relations.

Diplomatic Engagement:

India was among the first nations to raise the question of Namibian independence in the UN in 1946.
At the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, India offered full diplomatic recognition to SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organisation), which led Namibia’s liberation struggle, accompanied by material assistance and military training.
The first SWAPO Embassy (South West Africa People’s Organisation led Namibia’s liberation struggle) abroad was established in New Delhi in 1986.

Bilateral Trade & Investment:

Bilateral trade has grown from less than $3 million in 2000 to almost $800 million in 2025, supported by a $12 billion development partnership across Africa.
Indian companies have invested in mining, manufacturing, diamond processing and services in Namibia.

Digital Infrastructure & Capacity building:

Namibia became the first country in Africa to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
India’s targeted investments in capacity-building include, India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, and the ‘India Wing’ funded by a $12 million grant. These efforts leverage India’s strengths in IT and respond to Namibia’s youthful population and digital readiness.
Namibia’s recent accession to the Global Biofuels Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) aligns with India’s global vision of resilient infrastructure.

Translocation of Cheetahs

Eight cheetahs from Namibia were translocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in 2022, the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a major carnivore species.

Significance of Namibia to India:

Namibia’s rich mineral resources, particularly Uranium, Copper, and rare earth metals, can meet strategic critical mineral requirements to India.
Gateway in Southern Africa: Namibia’s ports and connectivity provide India with an entry point into southern Africa’s markets.
Global South Diplomacy: Namibia is a key collaborator in the Global South’s broader effort to reshape international rules and usher reforms in global governance. This is in line with India’s advocacy for rules-based international order.

Challenges

Lack of Consistent Engagement: India’s developmental ambitions in Africa are often criticised for uneven implementation and long lapses. This is evident in the recent visit to Namibia by an Indian head of government, the first in nearly three decades.
Lack of major agreement or strategic framework to access Namibia’s critical mineral reserves.

To further the engagement, India needs to overcome structural and operational issues by consistent engagement matched by sustained investment and institutional coherence. The upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit could serve as a vital platform to formalise and solidify these diplomatic efforts through institutional cooperation.

The Concept of Necropolitics

Context: Necropolitics is a theory that examines how modern nation states determine whose lives are disposable and may be sacrificed in the name of security, threat, or political control.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About the idea of Necropolitics. Mains: Essay: Necropolitics: What, How Necropolitics Operates?

What is Necropolitics?

Necropolitics refers to the power of the state (or other authorities) to decide who may live and who must die. It goes beyond physical killing as it includes slow neglect, abandonment, and structural violence where certain people are denied care, dignity, or justice.
E.g., Bengal Famine of 1943 - Millions died not due to a lack of food, but because British colonial policies prioritised imperial interests over Indian lives.
The idea of Necropolitics was coined by Cameroonian historian Achille Mbembe in a 2003 essay and later expanded in his book Necropolitics (2019). The concept of Necropolitics builds on Michel Foucault’s Notion of Biopolitics.

How Necropolitics Operates?

Necropolitics is not always about open violence. It works through invisible systems and everyday decisions. Mbembe identifies key features of necropolitical systems:

State terror and suppression: Even in democracies, dissent is crushed using surveillance, arrests, or killings.
Collaboration with non-state actors: Governments often work with militias or gangs, blurring lines between legal and illegal violence.
Enemy creation as governance: Politics often revolves around inventing an enemy- a community to blame, exclude, or control.
War and terror as economies: Violence fuels industries- arms, surveillance, and security become profitable.
Displacement of communities: Large-scale resource projects or conflict zones often force poor people out of their homes.
Varied forms of death: Torture, drone strikes, hunger, lack of healthcare, all can be tools of political death.
Moral justifications: Ideologies like nationalism, religion, or security are used to justify abandonment or violence.

‘Living Dead’ and ‘Death Worlds’

Mbembe introduces the idea of the "living dead", people who are alive biologically but have been stripped of all social, legal, and political recognition.
These people may not be killed directly, but live in conditions so degrading and unstable, it is like dying slowly every day.
For Example: During India’s COVID-19 lockdown, migrant workers were left without food, shelter, or transport. Many died walking back to their villages, not from the virus, but from state neglect.
Mbembe calls such spaces “death worlds”, zones where people live outside the protection of law, care, or justice.

The State of Exception:

Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben describes the "state of exception", a situation where governments suspend laws and rights in the name of protecting them.
Mbembe extends this idea: For some communities (like refugees, slum dwellers, minorities), this exception is not temporary, it is permanent. In these zones, people are governed by logistics, not justice.

Necropolitics in Everyday Life:

Necropolitics is not confined to war zones. It thrives in the slow violence of poverty, caste, racism, and displacement. It exists all around us, through silence, neglect, and “routine” policy decisions.
Examples:
- Sterilisation of Dalit and Adivasi women: bodies controlled without consent.
- Police profiling of Muslims or Dalits: targeted surveillance.
- Neglect of refugees, slum dwellers, and tribal areas: systemic denial of basic rights.
It also exists in silence, in the world including states and global institutions, looking away as thousands of civilians, including women and children, are killed in places like Gaza, while the rest of us carry on with our daily lives.
In a necropolitical world, the aim must not just be survival. It must be the right to a dignified life- a life that is: Valued, Protected, Mourned if lost.

Way Forward

Challenge Necropolitics by:

Resisting narratives that normalise suffering.
Questioning systems that abandon the most vulnerable.
Demanding policies that protect all lives equally.

Recognising necropolitics around us is the first step towards building a state that protects, not abandons, a nation where every life counts.

India and Philippines upgrade ties to Strategic Partnership

Context: During the recent official visit of the Philippines President to India, both nations have elevated their bilateral relationship to Strategic Partnership. The move aims at renewed commitments in trade, defence and maritime cooperation, and digital collaboration.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Philippines Bilateral ties.

India and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in 1949. Over 75 years, the relationship has grown steadily. In recent years, amid the rising assertiveness of China in the South China Sea, shared democratic values and strategic interests have brought the two nations closer.

Key Outcomes of the Strategic Partnership

India-Phillipines Strategic Partnership Formalised

India and the Philippines have boosted their ties to a Strategic Partnership. India is now one of only five strategic partners of the Philippines.

India’s Strategic Partners in ASEAN:

Vietnam: Comprehensive Strategic Partner Defence, maritime security.
Indonesia: Comprehensive Strategic Partner Trade, energy, security.
Singapore: Strategic Partner in finance, defence training.
Philippines: Strategic Partner (2025) in Defence, PTA, maritime.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

Bilateral trade between the countries has crossed over $3 billion annually and is on a rising trajectory.
Decision to start negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to enhance bilateral trade further.
Both sides committed to expediting the review of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to further strengthen regional trade linkages.

This is especially relevant as reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. have impacted India and ASEAN exports, making regional trade cooperation more important.

Defence Cooperation

India’s indigenous defence industry is emerging as a key partner to Philippines’ ongoing military modernisation and regional maritime concerns.
The Philippines has acquired BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India in 2022.
The Philippines has expressed interest in other Indian systems like the Akash missile and air defence systems.
Agreement to conduct service-to-service talks for enhanced joint training and information exchange between their armed forces.

Maritime & Indo-Pacific Security:

Both leaders reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippines is seen as an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR vision.
Indian naval ships, including a hydrography ship, participated for the first time in a naval exercise in the Philippines during the visit.
The Philippines condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, expressing solidarity with India.

Digital and Scientific Collaboration:

India to support a pilot project to help the Philippines build its Sovereign Data Cloud infrastructure.
Ongoing joint research between the two countries in areas such as virology, AI, and additive manufacturing.

People-to-People & Connectivity Initiatives

Direct flights between India and the Philippines to begin in 2025.
India to offer free e-tourist visas to Filipino nationals for one year starting August 2025.

Strategic Importance of Elevated Partnership:

The partnership comes at a time when both countries are navigating economic challenges due to external trade disruptions and facing shared security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.

Strategic Indo-Pacific Engagement: Strengthens India’s Act East Policy by partnering with a key Southeast Asian nation amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.
Defence Diplomacy and Export Boost: Expands India's role as a defence exporter, with BrahMos as a flagship project, and supports the Philippines' military modernisation through indigenous Indian systems.
Economic Diversification through PTA: Launch of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations and ASEAN FTA review offers India a route to reduce dependence on traditional markets amid US tariff pressures.
Technological and Digital Collaboration: Positions India as a reliable digital partner through initiatives like the Sovereign Data Cloud and joint research in AI, virology, and additive manufacturing.
Maritime Security Collaboration: Enhances joint naval operations, coast guard interoperability, and supports freedom of navigation based on international law.

The elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership marks a major milestone in India-Philippines relations. The particular focus is to deepen defence and maritime cooperation, as both countries seek to navigate their security concerns due to China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

“From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past; it is a promise to the future.” - PM Narendra Modi

Gaza War and Diplomatic Isolation of Israel

Context: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session in September 2025, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows more humanitarian aid and commits itself towards long-term peace based on the two-state formula.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Balfour Declaration; Diplomatic Isolation of Israel; Gaza War.

Gaza War and Diplomatic Isolation of Israel

The Gaza war began in October 2023, when Hamas launched coordinated armed incursions on Israel from the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, Israel declared war and launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” launching airstrikes against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
As the 21-month-long war on Gaza rages on, over 58,000 people have been killed, including more than 17,000 children.
Israel is facing one of its biggest diplomatic crises with more and more countries in the West (Israel’s traditional allies) adopting a favourable position towards Palestinian statehood.
- Recently, the President of France declared to recognise Palestinian statehood in September.
- Canada and Portugal have also expressed their intention to do the same.
- The United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session.

Changing Diplomatic Positions of the Western Nations:

Of the 193 UN member states, 147 have already recognised the state of Palestine. Until now, powerful Western countries had resisted such recognition, insisting it should be part of a final diplomatic settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the position is beginning to shift.

Among the five members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China have already recognised Palestine. If France and the U.K. follow through with their recent statements, the U.S., Israel’s closest ally and patron, will be isolated at the UNSC.
France, the U.K. and Canada are also members of the G7 group of advanced economies, and their recognition could influence other countries to follow suit.
Britain’s move, in particular, carries historic weight, given its central role in the Israel-Palestine question. In the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Britain became the first major power to endorse the Zionist demand for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

About Balfour Declaration:

The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
The declaration was issued by Sir Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a Zionist and leader of the British Jewish community.
By the time the Balfour Declaration was issued, there were roughly 60,000 Jews in Palestine, accounting for over 9% of the total population. Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of the First World War, in the late 19th century.

108 years after the Balfour Declaration was issued, Britain' s announcement to recognise the state of Palestine, clearly reflects a change in the UK’s policy towards Israel and Palestine.

India’s Stand in Israel-Palestine issue

India announced its recognition of Israel in 1950 and has recognised Palestine in 1988.
Two-State solution: India consistently supports a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within a secure and recognised border, side by side at peace with Israel.
Focus on Practical solutions: Recently, at a United Nations conference (July 2025), India joined the call for Israel to end the war in Gaza and ensure access to food, for Hamas to return hostages, and for U.N. members to recognise the Statehood of Palestine. India advocated the need for practical solutions, not paper solutions, to bring about a Two-State solution through purposeful dialogue and diplomacy.

As Israel is facing accusations of committing genocide against Palestinians, and images of Gaza’s devastation and starving children are coming out, it becomes untenable for many Western nations to continue to back Israel unconditionally.

Also Read: Is Israel committing Genocide in Gaza?

Bairabi-Sairang Railway Line and Act East Policy

Context: Indian Railways recently commissioned a 51.38 km railway line to Sairang, located near Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. This is a significant step toward enhancing connectivity in the Northeast and advancing India’s Act East Policy.

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: About Bairabi-Sairang Railway project; Regional connectivity projects, Act East Policy.

Background of the Project

Before this project, Mizoram had just 1.5 km of metre-gauge track connecting Bairabi in Kolasib district, Mizoram to Silchar in Assam.
The gauge conversion and extension project was sanctioned in 2000, and the extension up to Sairang began in 2008-09.
However, progress was slow due to inclement weather, a difficult and landslide-prone terrain, manpower shortage, and issues with transporting construction materials.
This project is part of the Indian Railways’ larger goal from the early 2010s to connect all Northeastern state capitals to the National railway network.

Key Features of the Bairabi-Sairang Rail Line:

The total length is 51.38 km. Includes 48 tunnels with a combined length of 12.85 km.
Contains 142 bridges, including one with India’s tallest railway pier.
The total project cost is over ₹5,020 crore.
Received safety clearance and awaits formal inauguration.

Significance of the Project:

The Aizawl-Silchar highway via Sairang takes around five hours. Trains from Sairang, including a proposed Rajdhani Express could reduce travel time to 1.5 hours. The project will lower transportation costs and reduce truck dependency
It is expected to boost tourism, trade, and goods movement.
Sairang is also expected to be vital for transhipment of goods from the India-funded Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
Sairang railhead is strategic vis-a-vis the Act East Policy, envisaging rail and road connectivity to improve trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other East Asian countries, deepen diplomatic engagements, and build stronger security cooperation.

What is the Act East Policy?

The Act East Policy was announced in 2014.
It was a more ambitious version of the Look East Policy initiated in 1991.
It is a strategic and diplomatic initiative aimed at enhancing India’s engagement with the ASEAN region and the broader Indo-Pacific.
Objective: To transform the northeastern region into India’s gateway to the ASEAN bloc.

Infrastructure Push under Act East Policy:

The Centre has increased the budgetary allocations for the region by 300% from ₹36,108 crore during the 2014-15 fiscal to more than ₹1,00,000 crore during 2024-25.
More than 10,000 km of highways and 800 km of railway tracks were built, eight new airports established, and several inland waterway projects undertaken during this period.
Important projects include:
- Dimapur-Zubza (near Kohima) railway project in Nagaland (82.5 km)
- Imphal-Moreh plan in Manipur
- Asian Highway 1 from Assam to Moreh via Kohima and Imphal.

Challenges:

Ethnic conflicts: The ethnic conflict in Manipur has affected the proposed railway line between Imphal and Moreh.
Unrest in India’s neighbourhood: The connectivity projects to link the northeast with Southeast Asia have not progressed beyond India’s borders due to the unrest in India’s neighbourhood. E.g., Civil war in Myanmar; Fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh in August 2024.
Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link Stalled: Agartala-Akhaura railway to connect Tripura to Chittagong Port via Bangladesh is stalled due to the political turmoil and change in government in Bangladesh.
Kaladan Project Delayed: Kaladan Multi-Modal Project in Myanmar, aimed at reducing distance between Mizoram and Kolkata by 1000 km, is also delayed.

Indian PM’s visit to Maldives

Context: The Prime Minister of India visited Male, Maldives on July 25-26 for the 60th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Maldives. It also marks the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

This visit signals renewed effort to strengthen bilateral ties amidst regional concerns. Earlier, the Indian PM had emphasised that Maldives represents concrete expression of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.

Relevance:Mains: India and Neighbourhood relations: India-Maldives.

Key Highlights of Indian PM’s visit to Maldives

India reiterated its commitment to further deepen ties with Maldives in keeping with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Vision MAHASAGAR policies.
The leaders took stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership’, adopted during the State Visit of the President of Maldives to India in 2024.
There was a call to further strengthen defence and maritime security cooperation between the countries under the Colombo Security Conclave.
As Global South partners, the countries emphasised to continue working on issues such as climate change, promotion of renewable energy, disaster risk reduction and weather science.
The countries witnessed exchange of 6 MOUs in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, meteorology, digital public infrastructure, UPI, Indian pharmacopoeia and concessional Line of Credit.
India extended a new Line of Credit offering Rs 4850 crores (approx USD 550 million) in support of infrastructure development and other activities in Maldives.
An Amendatory Agreement for the existing LoCs was also exchanged. It reduces Maldives’s annual debt repayment obligations by 40%.
The countries exchanged Terms of Reference of the proposed Free Trade Agreement.

Ties between India and Maldives hit a rough patch over the India Out campaign that Mr. Muizzu had backed during his campaign (2023), and the Boycott Maldives social media campaign that followed over criticism of Mr. Modi by Maldivian Ministers.

India - Maldives: Evolution and Contemporary Issues

Importance of Maldives:

Strategic location: In the Indian Ocean, Maldives archipelago comprising 1,200 coral islands lies next to key shipping lanes of communication which ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan, and India. More than 97% of India’s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the region.
Member of SAARC: It is important for India to have the Maldives on board to maintain its leadership in the region. Maldives was the only SAARC country which seemed reluctant to follow India's call for a boycott of the SAARC summit in Pakistan after the Uri attack.
Blue Economy: Maldives has an intrinsic role in advancing blue economy through sustainable management and utilisation of marine resources.
Regional Security: India has the ambition to be a Net-security provider in the Indian Ocean region and this calls for close military and naval ties with Maldives so that India protects its own interests as well of its neighbours in the Indian Ocean region.

Area of Cooperation between India and Maldives

Economic Relations:

Tourism development: Maldives' economy is heavily reliant on tourism (over 28% of GDP). State Bank of India has supported economic development of Maldives since 1974 by providing loan assistance for promotion of island resorts, export of marine products and business enterprises.
Financial Assistance: India has provided substantial financial assistance to Maldives in the past, including-
- ₹3,000 crore currency swap arrangement under the SAARC framework.
- $1.4 billion financial assistance (2018) to help Maldives manage its mounting debt.
- India extended currency swap facility (2024) to help Maldives with its debt servicing and mitigate foreign exchange crises.
Livelihood development: India developing High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in areas of livelihood and income generation, health, education, gender and child empowerment, sports and sustainable development. Over 45 HICDPs have been implemented across Maldives.

Defence Relations:

Defence cooperation between India and Maldives ranges from-
- Providing training to Maldivian Defence Personnel in Indian Military Academy
- Supply of military equipment (E.g., Handover of two Dhruv helicopters and Dornier aircraft to Maldives National Defence Force for aerial surveillance)
- Provision of patrol vessels and coastal radar systems
- Joint combat exercises to help in maritime surveillance
Exercise DOSTI- Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Marine Pollution Response (POLRES), and Anti-piracy operations.
Exercise EKUVERIN: This bilateral annual exercise commenced in 2009 at Belgaum, India.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR):

Operation Cactus: India saved Gayoom’s regime from a coup in 1984.
2004 Tsunami Relief: India was the first country to respond with aid, naval and air force assistance.
COVID-19 pandemic: Supply of Made-in-India vaccines E.g., Covishield (first country to donate vaccines to Maldives.

People-to-People Relations:

Indians are the second largest expatriate community in the Maldives. About 25% of Doctors and Teachers in Maldives are Indian nationals.
India Cultural Center (ICC) in Male conducts courses in yoga, classical music and dance. Also, Hindi commercial films, TV serials and music are immensely popular in Maldives.

Present Challenges:

Chinese Investment & Maldives-China FTA:
- Maldives’ growth is driven by massive infrastructure projects funded by China, including the development of Hulhule Island, Friendship bridge connecting it to Male etc.
- Maldives has also signed an FTA with China. This raises concerns regarding Chinese debt-trap policy.
Political Instability: Internal political dynamics in Maldives lead to change in its foreign policy orientation. This has the potential to complicate its relations with India.
Religious Radicalisation: Its political instability has also challenged overall security of the Indian Ocean by increasing radicalisation, with reports of Maldivians joining the Islamic State.

Way Forward

Both countries need to enhance regional cooperation by using common platforms such as the Indian Ocean RIM Association and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
India needs to implement its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ with strategic sensitivity and keeping vigilance about China's growing influence.

2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

Context: India hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 14-15 July 2025.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About BIMSTEC and BIMSTEC Ports Conclave.

BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

India hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam.
Organised recently by Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA).
Aim: To operationalise the recently signed BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), facilitate dialogue on port-led development, and foster deeper integration in maritime trade, logistics, cruise tourism, and skill development.
Theme: Navigating the Future- Blue Economy, Innovation and Sustainable Partnerships.

Key Highlights of the Conclave:

Member countries pushed for greater collaboration between the members of the grouping.

In line with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the participants were in agreement on the need for deeper BIMSTEC collaboration in port-led growth, digital integration, and skill development to unlock regional prosperity.

Call to make the BIMSTEC maritime economy more innovative and inclusive. Despite the grouping’s 1.7 billion population and a combined GDP of $4.5 trillion, its intra-regional trade stands at just 7%, as against 25% in the ASEAN maritime zone.
Industry and government representatives called for:
- Unifying digital port platforms for seamless tracking and trade
- Creation of a regional skill certification framework for maritime professionals
- Promotion of coastal shipping and cruise tourism circuits to boost connectivity and culture.
The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways urged the member countries to ratify and implement the recently inked BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC).

BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC):

AMTC was signed during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand (April 2025).
The agreement seeks to facilitate dialogue on port-led development and foster greater integration of maritime trade, logistics, cruise tourism, and skill development.

Key initiatives:

The conclave also hammered out key initiatives, including :

Regional collaboration through the Kaladan corridor linking northeast India with Myanmar,
A BIMSTEC cruise tourism circuit.
Launch of a real-time maritime dashboard for regional project tracking.
Leveraging public-private partnerships to build world-class port and logistics infrastructure.

Significance of BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

Strategic Connectivity Boost: Strengthens multimodal links like the Kaladan project, enhancing access to India’s Northeast and deepening India-ASEAN connectivity.
Maritime Trade & Blue Economy: Supports India's SAGAR vision by fostering regional maritime trade, cruise tourism, and port-led development.
Geopolitical Leverage: Enhances India’s leadership role in the Bay of Bengal amidst growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Digital and Skill Diplomacy: Promotes digital port integration and regional skilling, aligning with India’s push for innovation and capacity-building in neighbourhood diplomacy.

About BIMSTEC

BIMSTEC stands for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
Established: 1997 through Bangkok Declaration.
Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
Objective: To promote regional cooperation in areas like trade, technology, transport, energy, tourism, fisheries, and security.
Permanent Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
BIMSTEC constitutes a unique link between South and South-East Asia, with:
- five members from South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka)
- two from South-East Asia (Myanmar and Thailand).

ICJ's Climate Ruling and its Significance

Context: Recently the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark advisory opinion in response to a 2022 UN General Assembly resolution led by Vanuatu.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: About ICJ and its ruling on Climate obligations.

Mains: Significance of ICJ ruling on Climate obligations.

The International Court of Justice held that:

Climate action was not a matter of choice or preference, but a legal obligation. The countries are under a legal obligation to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and could be held liable to pay compensation, if they failed to do so.
Rich and industrialised countries in Annexure I of the UNFCCC have an obligation to take the lead on emissions reduction, and facilitate technology and financial transfers to developing countries.
Failure to fulfil climate obligations may be deemed an internationally wrongful act, which could have legal consequences, including the liability to provide full reparation to countries that suffer on account of climate disasters, or other impacts of climate change.
Countries could be held liable even for the irresponsible actions of private businesses or corporations, if they had failed to exercise due diligence and not taken adequate regulatory or legislative measures to prevent the irresponsible behaviour of private actors.

The ruling is an advisory opinion, not a binding judgment. It does not impose immediate legal consequences on any country. Nonetheless, it can have significant implications for the global fight against climate change.

Significance of the Ruling:

Though non-binding, the ruling is the most authoritative interpretation of international climate law, and will likely guide national and international courts.
It declares that climate commitments under treaties like the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement are legal obligations, not just policy choices. The ruling puts the spotlight back on climate change, amid stalled global progress and missed 2030 emission reduction targets.
The ICJ recognises the right of climate-affected countries to seek full reparation, not just compensation.
Endorsed the concept of loss and damage in climate laws, calling upon developed countries to take the lead in raising financial and other support to help countries recover from impacts of climate change.
By asserting that climate action must be sufficient in scale, the ruling contrasts with the Paris Agreement’s “self-determined” approach to climate targets.
Enhances the negotiating strength of developing nations by legally framing the responsibility of richer countries. The ruling may trigger lawsuits by developing nations, and against corporate polluters for climate damages.

India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Context: India and the have signed a landmark free trade pact India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). It is expected to double bilateral trade to $112 billion by 2030, boost services exports, liberalise government procurement, and facilitate mobility.

Relevance of the Topic : Prelims: Key facts related to India-UK trade deal.Mains: Significance of India-UK trade deal.

Key Highlights of India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA):

What India Gains?

1. 99% Duty Free Access:

The UK will eliminate tariffs on about 99% of tariff lines for Indian goods. It will benefit key labour-intensive sectors- marine, textiles, chemicals, base metals. The sectors will now enjoy zero duties, down from rates as high as 20%.
India has secured duty-free access for sectors like rubber, plastics, auto, tea, coffee, and spices.
In processed foods, tariffs on 99.7% of lines (presently as high as 70%) have been scrapped.

2. Textiles:

India’s textiles and clothing sector get duty-free access to over 1100 product categories (E.g., ready-made garments, home textiles, carpets, handicrafts etc.). This does away with the disadvantage on tariff front that India had with countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia.
With duties removed, India is expected to gain at least 5% more market share in the UK within the next one to two years.

3. Agriculture:

Many agricultural and processed foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, spices like turmeric and pepper, and items like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses will get duty-free access to the UK.
Over 95% of tariff lines will be duty free, which is likely to boost agri exports by over 20% in three years. This will support India's goal of $100 billion agri-exports by 2030.
The FTA protects India’s sensitive sectors like dairy, apples, oats, and edible oils.

4. Marine Products:

Tariffs have been removed on key items like shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds- previously taxed between 4.2% and 8.5%. No tariffs for India’s marine products creates a $5.4 billion marine export opportunity for India.

5. Engineering:

India’s engineering exports to the UK will have duty-free access. With tariffs (presently up to 18%) gone, exports could nearly double to over $7.5 billion by 2029-30.

6. Pharmaceuticals:

The FTA does away with tariffs on generic medicine, thus enhancing their competitiveness in the UK, which is India’s largest pharmaceutical market in Europe.
Medical devices such as surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, ECG machines, and X-ray systems will now enjoy zero-duty access, making Indian products more cost-effective and attractive in the UK market.

7. Chemicals and Plastics:

India’s chemical exports to the UK may rise by 30-40%, estimated to reach $650-750 million in 2025-26.
The FTA gives duty-free access to plastics, and thus opens up strong opportunities in high-demand segments like films, sheets, pipes, and kitchenware in the UK.

8. Sectoral Boost:

Leather: In leather and footwear, the FTA does away with the 16% tariffs. It will add 5% market share in 1-2 years, and benefit MSME hubs like Agra, Kanpur, Kolhapur, and Chennai.
Gems and jewellery export is projected to double in 2-3 years as the FTA opens access to the UK’s $3 billion jewellery market.
India’s sports goods exports like soccer balls, cricket gear, rugby balls, and non-electronic toys will grow, boosting competitiveness against countries like China and Vietnam.

9. Benefits for Indian Professionals:

Double Contribution Convention: Indian professionals working temporarily in the UK will be exempt from paying social security for up to three years, reducing the financial burden on both employees and employers.
No Economic Needs Test: The FTA grants access to 36 service sectors without an Economic Needs Test for Indian firms and freelancers.
Indian professionals can now work in as many as 35 UK sectors for up to 2 years, even without the need for a local office.

What UK Gains?

India will reduce import tariffs on 90% of UK tariff lines, with 85% becoming fully tariff-free within 10 years.
India has cut tariffs on aerospace, automobiles, and electrical machinery with reductions ranging from as high as 110% and 11% to just 10% and 0%.
The import duties on UK-produced whisky and gin are lowered from 150% to 75% immediately, and will be followed by a further decrease to 40% within a decade.
The UK businesses will gain expanded access to public procurement opportunities in India. British companies will be able to bid on non-sensitive government tenders valued above Rs 2 billion.
The UK will be able to create over 2,200 jobs as a direct result of the trade agreement.
British consumers will benefit from cheaper prices and more choices on clothes, shoes, and food products.

The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at nearly USD 56 billion in FY2025. The deal will bring huge benefits to both our countries, boosting wages, raising living standards and putting more money in the pockets of working people.

The India-UK CETA will be implemented, once it is approved by the British Parliament, which may take a year or more.