Places in News

What is the Scarborough Shoal and what is China planning there?

Context: China has approved the creation of a national reserve at Scarborough shoal - one of Asia’s most contested maritime features and a diplomatic flashpoint between China and the Philippines.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Scarborough Shoal. 

Recent Developments: 

  • China has approved creation of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal that it says is to preserve 3,524-hectare area of the coral reef ecosystem. It would cover the entire north-eastern side of the triangle-shaped atoll, with close proximity to the sole entrance for larger vessels.
  • The Philippines has urged China to respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal, and any Chinese construction at Scarborough would be a red line.
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What is Scarborough Shoal? 

  • Chain of reefs in the South China Sea forming a triangular atoll with a central lagoon. It is a disputed atoll in South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines.
  • Located about 200 km west of Luzon, Philippines, it lies well within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under UNCLOS.
  • Coveted for its rich fish stocks, potential hydrocarbon reserves, and safe haven for vessels during storms. 
  • It is named Huangyan Island by China, while the Philippines calls it the Panatag Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc. 

Who does the atoll belong to? 

  • The Philippines and China both lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal, but sovereignty has never been legally established.
  • The shoal is effectively under Beijing’s control, with Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels maintaining constant presence.
  • China seized the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippines and has held it since then. Filipino boats continue to operate there, but they are dwarfed by China’s larger deployment and face restrictions.
  • The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016 ruled in favour of the Philippines on various South China Sea issues, but establishing sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal was not within its scope, leaving ownership unresolved. The ruling affirmed that the China blockade violated international law as it is a traditional fishing ground for multiple countries, including the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Context: Recently, Ethiopia has inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s biggest dam, despite protest from downstream Egypt. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. 

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

  • Africa’s largest hydroelectric project (largest dam by power capacity). 
  • GERD is built on Blue Nile (spreads over 2 kms), a tributary of the River Nile.
  • Location: Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, near the Sudanese border. 
  • Height: 145 m. It is designed to hold 74 billion cubic metres of water and generate 5150 megawatts (~5 GW) of electricity. 
  • Construction began in 2011, and completed in 2025. 
  • Significance: Electricity generation; Ethiopia can earn revenue by electricity export to neighbouring countries. 
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Associated Concerns

  • Threat to water security: Downstream countries like Egypt (dependent on the Nile for 97% of its water), and Sudan fear that the dam would adversely impact agriculture and undermine water supplies.
  • Risk of Military confrontation: Successive Egyptian presidents have even threatened military action if an agreement is not reached between the countries on fair water usage.
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Key facts about Nile River:

  • The Nile is the longest river in the world. It rises south of the Equator and flows northwards through north-eastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea. 
  • Length: ~6650 kms
  • The Nile has two major tributaries:
    • White Nile: begins at Lake Victoria and flows through Uganda and South Sudan. 
    • Blue Nile: begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows into Sudan from the southeast.
  • The two rivers meet at the Sudanese capital (Khartoum). 
  • The Nile River basin spreads in 11 African countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Nepal objects to India-China Trade through Lipulekh Pass

Context: Nepalese Prime Minister has voiced his concerns over India and China to resume using Lipulekh pass to carry out border trade. Nepal claims Lipulekh as its own territory, however, India has categorically dismissed it as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Lipulekh Pass. Mains: An important aspect of challenges associated with India-Nepal Relations. 

About Lipulekh Pass

  • The Lipulekh Pass is a Himalayan pass situated in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is located on the border between Uttarakhand, Nepal and Tibet. 
  • Lipulekh is strategically important to India as it provides access to Tibet and serves as a key route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
    • The pass is near the trading town of Taklakot (Purang) in Tibet and has been used since ancient times by traders, mendicants and pilgrims. 
    • It is also used by pilgrims to Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra. 
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Nepal’s claim to Lipulekh Pass and Kalapani Region:

  • Historical Basis: Nepal claims the southern side of the pass called Kalapani territory, based on the Treaty of Sugauli 1816 between British East India Company and Nepal. 
  • The treaty delimited the boundary along Kali river (Sharda/Mahakali river). It stated that Nepal would cede the territories west of the Kali river.
    • Nepal claims that the Kali river originates from Limpiyadhura, west of Kalapani and Lipulekh. On this basis, Nepal claims Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as its part. 
    • India claims that the Kali river originates at Kalapani village in Pithoragarh, where all its tributaries merge. 

Hence, the bone of contention is the differing interpretation of the origin of the Kali River. 

India’s stand on Lipulekh Pass: 

  • Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID-19 and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it.
  • India rejects Nepal’s objection to resumption of India-China border trade through the Lipulekh Pass stating that the arguments are not based on “historical facts”. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims by Nepal is untenable. 

In the recent past the official map of Nepal, included in the constitution of Nepal, shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani located to the east of the Mahakali River as integral parts of Nepal.  

African Kingdom of Eswatini

Context: The United States has deported few foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes to Eswatini, a small southern African kingdom ruled by Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Location of Kingdom of Eswatini. 

African Kingdom of Eswatini

  • Eswatini, formally Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is situated between South Africa and Mozambique.
  • It is one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies and the last in Africa. King Mswati III, who has ruled since 1986, holds full control of government functions and rules by decree. 
  • Political parties are banned from participating in the electoral process. Protests calling for democratic reforms have grown. The government has been widely accused of using security forces to suppress dissent. 
  • Social Issues: Over half of its 1.2 million population lives on less than $4 a day. The country has the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, with roughly 26% of adults living with the virus.
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US deportation of Foreign Nationals

  • The deportation to Eswatini is part of a wider US strategy to expand third-country deportations. Earlier, the US had sent deportees to South Sudan. Other nations reportedly approached for similar deals include- Rwanda, Benin, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Moldova. 
  • The deportees are flown to the the-world countries, as their home countries refuse to take them back. The convicts are held in isolation at correctional facilities, while arrangements are made for their eventual return to their countries of origin.
  • Rationale: The deportations are part of a wider effort by the US administration to ensure that people who terrorised American communities are removed. 

Congo and Rwanda sign a US-mediated Peace Deal

Context: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long deadly conflict in eastern Congo. The agreement helps the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About Rwanda-DRC Conflict and Peace Deal.

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Background of the Conflict

  • Rwanda has two major ethnic groups: Hutu (majority) and Tutsi (minority, traditionally elite class). 
  • Under Belgian colonial rule, the Tutsis were favored, creating deep resentment among Hutus. This set the stage for ethnic strife, culminating in the 1994 genocide.

1994 Genocide

  • In 1994, after the assassination of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana (a Hutu), radical Hutu militias launched a mass slaughter. Over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in 100 days.
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Spillover into the DRC

  • Following the genocide, Hutu perpetrators and civilians fled to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Among them were members of the Interahamwe, a brutal paramilitary force responsible for much of the genocide.
  • These elements later reorganised into an armed group known as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Based in eastern DRC, the FDLR has continued to carry out cross-border attacks against Rwanda, seeking to destabilise the Tutsi-led government in Rwanda.
  • Rwanda considers the FDLR a serious national security threat. It has conducted multiple cross-border military operations inside Congolese territory, often justifying them as pre-emptive self-defence.
  • Rwanda is frequently accused of violating Congolese sovereignty and of arming proxy rebel groups like M23 to counter the FDLR and maintain influence over eastern DRC, especially due to its mineral wealth.
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Key Provisions of the Rwanda-DRC Peace Agreement: 

  • Signed in Washington D.C. under the mediation of the United States.
  • The peace deal aims to restore stability in eastern DRC and prevent further cross-border conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Both Rwanda and the DRC agreed to immediately cease all hostilities and armed operations against each other.
  • Both sides pledged to withdraw any direct or indirect support to armed militias operating in eastern DRC, including M23 and FDLR.
  • The deal emphasises the use of diplomatic dialogue and regional cooperation to resolve future disputes. The agreement reaffirmed respect for national borders, stressing the importance of non-intervention in internal affairs.

Why did the US mediate the Rwanda-DRC Peace Deal?

  • Eastern DRC is rich in minerals like cobalt, coltan, lithium, and rare earth elements essential for Electric vehicles (EVs), Semiconductors, and Renewable energy technologies.
  • Peace in eastern DRC opens the door for the US companies to invest in mining and infrastructure.
  • By stabilising the region, the US creates an opportunity to reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates global supply chains for these minerals.

The mediation reflects the US’s intent to project soft power and reclaim its image as a global peace broker.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz critical for India?

Context: In response to the recent US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran’s Parliament has approved the closure of Strait of Hormuz. However, the final decision will be taken by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Strait of Hormuz. Mains: Importance of Strait of Hormuz.  

The ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran hold serious consequences for global energy markets, especially for countries like India, which rely heavily on oil and gas imports as Iran has reportedly threatened that it could consider closing the strait of Hormuz. 

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About Strait of Hormuz

  • Strait of Hormuz is a critical narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
  • It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Around 20% of the global oil and gas supply- including shipments from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran- transit this narrow channel daily.
    • If it is closed by Iran, oil prices could jump to over $120, or even $150 per barrel from $74 per barrel.
  • At just 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes only 3 kilometers wide in each direction, the strait is particularly vulnerable to disruption. 

Has the Strait ever been closed?

Despite past threats, Iran has never closed the Strait of Hormuz- even during major conflict- due to its global energy importance and the risk of strong retaliation from regional powers and the US. Iran might refrain from choking the Strait of Hormuz as: 

  • Rupture Iran's relationship with Oman (which owns the southern half of the strait) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC States).
  • Heavily impact China, Iran’s largest trading partner. China is the number one importer of oil, accounting for nearly three-quarters of Iran’s oil export. 
  • Impact Iran: Closure of its oil exporting terminal and associated economic hit would fuel popular discontent, which might impact both regime stability, and reformist tendencies for Iranian President.

Importance of the Strait of Hormuz for India: 

The Strait of Hormuz is vital for India due to its energy dependence in the region with most of this energy coming via the Strait of Hormuz.

  • Strategic Energy Chokepoint: India’s oil supply is heavily reliant on the region, with around 40% of its crude oil imports and 54% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. Any threat or blockade increases freight and insurance costs (risk premium), raising the landed price of oil and gas in India.
  • Global Price Surge Impact: Even without direct supply cuts, tensions cause global oil price spikes, which hurt India due to its heavy dependence on energy imports. This can affect India’s trade deficit, foreign exchange reserves, rupee stability, and inflation levels.
  • Indirect Impact via China: Even if India does not import Iranian oil (due to US sanctions), any disruption in Iran’s supply to China will push Chinese demand to India’s suppliers, tightening global supply and raising prices.

Conclusion: The Strait of Hormuz is a lifeline for India’s energy security. While immediate disruption is unlikely, continued tension in the region poses serious economic risks.

Chagos Archipelago: Location and Dispute

Context: The United Kingdom has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of British control over the Indian Ocean archipelago. Chagos was separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony.
The deal allows the UK and US to retain joint use of the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location Chagos Archipelago;  Diego Garcia; 2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement. 

Geography of Chagos Archipelago

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  • Chagos Islands - officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory - comprise seven atolls with about 60 individual islands. 
  • Location: Located in the Indian Ocean, about 1,600 km northeast of Mauritius.
  • Land Area: 56.1 sq km total, with Diego Garcia covering 32.5 sq km (which is comparable to Lakshadweep Island of India).
  • Largest Atoll: Great Chagos Bank (12,642 sq km), the world’s largest atoll structure.

About Chagos Islands dispute

  • Disputed Territory: Chagos Islands have been a point of contention between Mauritius and the UK since Mauritius gained independence in 1968.
  • Recognition by UK: In 2024, the UK recognised Mauritius' sovereignty over Chagos but retained control over Diego Garcia, the largest island.
  • Strategic Importance: Diego Garcia hosts a joint UK-US military base, crucial for military operations in Asia and the Indian Ocean.

British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) & Diego Garcia Base:

  • Formation of BIOT (1965): UK created BIOT, separating Chagos from Mauritius, and paid £3 million for it.
  • US-UK Secret Agreement (1966): Allowed the establishment of a US military base in Diego Garcia.

Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia

  • The base became fully operational in 1986.
  • Used in 1990-91 Gulf War, Iraq & Afghanistan wars and presently, it remains a key UK-US military outpost in the Indian Ocean.

Diplomatic developments: Mauritius has raised the issue of claim in international fora for decades.

  • 2017: UNGA sought an ICJ ruling on the archipelago’s status.
  • 2019 ICJ Ruling: Declared the UK must end its administration of Chagos “as rapidly as possible”.
  • UNGA Resolution (2019): Called for UK’s unconditional withdrawal within six months.

2024 UK-Mauritius Agreement

  • Terms of the Deal:
    • The UK recognised Mauritius’ sovereignty over Chagos.
    • Diego Garcia remains under UK control for 99 years for military operations.
    • Mauritius can resettle Chagossians on islands except Diego Garcia.

India has welcomed the treaty signed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, which restores Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.

The Chagos dispute has strategic implications for India amid growing China influence in the region. Since India has facilitated the agreement between Mauritius and the UK, it has strengthened India’s position as the leader of the developing world. 

New Caledonia’s Political Crisis

Context: Collapse of recent French-led negotiations to resolve New Caledonia's political future have deepened the territory's crisis. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts related to the location of New Caledonia.

Location of New Caledonia

  • New Caledonia is a French overseas territory located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and north of New Zealand.
  • It had Kanaks as the original inhabitants. 
  • It was colonised by France in 1853 and used as a penal colony. Indigenous Kanak people have long sought independence due to historical injustices and colonial trauma.
  • The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front emerged during this period as a powerful political force, advocating for complete independence.
  • The 1984-1988 conflict between Kanaks and pro-French groups nearly led to civil war.
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Noumea Accord (1998):

  • The Noumea Accord explicitly recognised the trauma inflicted upon the indigenous Kanak people. It offered a compromise in the form of significant autonomy, a local Congress, and restricted voting rights to long-term residents to protect Kanak political power.
  • It promised three referendums on independence held in 2018, 2020, and 2021. While all three rejected independence, the final vote was boycotted by pro-independence parties and its legitimacy has been contested.

Current Political Crisis: 

  • In 2024, France proposed unfreezing the electoral roll to allow voting rights to citizens who were either born or lived in the territory for at least 10 years. Kanaks opposed this as it would dilute their electoral power, thus marginalising them and undermining their future towards decolonisation. This resulted in riots and the proposal was later scrapped. 
  • Recently, the French government offered a new agreement- the “sovereignty in partnership” model. It aimed to provide New Caledonia with enhanced autonomy while maintaining ties with France. The proposal was rejected by the hardline loyalist factions in the island. Instead, the loyalist groups proposed a form of partition, with the pro-independence North and Loyalty Islands provinces having an association status, while the wealthier, loyalist-majority South Province would remain fully French. 

However, the recent negotiations have failed and left New Caledonia in a precarious position with provincial elections due in November 2025.

Alternative Shipping Route to Suez Canal 

Context: Despite a 15% Suez Canal transit fee discount and the US-Houthi ceasefire, shipping lines remain cautious about returning to the Suez Canal Route. Instead, the ships are taking the longer Cape of Good Hope route.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Suez Canal; Cape of Good Hope.

Suez Canal

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  • The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.
  • Built by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, and completed in 1869 but opened for navigation in 1879. The Canal was nationalised by Egypt in 1956.
  • Length: 193 km 
  • It enables direct shipping between Europe and Asia without circumnavigating Africa.
  • It links Europe with the Indian Ocean via the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea by cutting the travel distance by approximately 7,000 km.
  • Handles about 12-15% of global trade, including a significant portion of oil and gas shipments.
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Recent Developments

  • Because of the Houthi attacks starting in late 2023, many global shipping companies began avoiding the Red Sea and Suez Canal, rerouting their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, a much longer route.
  • As a result, Suez Canal revenues plunged from $10.3 billion in 2023 to $4 billion in 2024, and global shipping costs soared. To revive the traffic, Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has offered a 15% fee discount on transit fee to cargo ships of minimum 130,000 mt capacity.

Despite the ceasefire and discounts, most shippers stay on the longer Africa route. As the vessels go around Africa, it is leading to higher shipping costs, extended voyage durations by 10-14 days, higher fuel burn, and eventually higher freight rates. 

Operation Sindoor: India hits Pakistan’s terror bases

Context: In a swift military action under Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces carried out 24 precision strikes on nine different targets against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Locations in News; Operation Sindoor; Operation Abhyaas. 

Operation Sindoor

  • India exercised its right to respond to the Pahalgam terror attack, and the armed forces subsequently launched Operation Sindoor to destroy the camps used to train terrorists in Pakistan and PoK.
  • 9 terrorist camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen were selected based on credible intelligence inputs and targeted to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and their families.
terror camps

The Indian Air Force, in co-ordination with the Army, executed the attacks without intruding into Pakistan air space, unlike the two previous counter strikes carried out after the terror attacks on the Indian Army’s Brigade headquarters in Uri in 2016 and the CRPF convoy at Pulwama in 2019.  

India-Pakistan: History of Wars & Conflicts

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Faced with the prospect of an armed conflict with Pakistan, India conducted nationwide civil defence mock drills under ‘Operation Abhyaas.’ The drills were carried out in 244 districts to prepare the country’s readiness to deal with emergencies and terrorist attacks.

Also Read: Civil Defence Mock Drills in India 

India shuts Kartarpur Corridor

Context: Following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, India and the Pakistan-India border skirmishes, the Indian authorities have indefinitely shut the Kartarpur Corridor. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Kartarpur Corridor. 

About Kartarpur Corridor

Kartarpur Corridor
  • Kartarpur Corridor is a religious corridor connecting two gurdwaras (Sikh temples):
    • Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India. 
    • Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan (Darbar Sahib gurdwara is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev)
  • The crossing allows devotees from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan, 4.7 kilometres from the India–Pakistan border on the Pakistani side.
  • The corridor was first proposed in early 1999 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee then Prime Ministers of India, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.
  • In 2018, the foundation stone was laid, and the corridor was completed for the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak in 2019. 
  • The corridor enables visa-free cross-border pilgrimage for up to 5000 Indian devotees of all faiths daily.

Sandy Cay Reef

Context: China and the Philippines defended their claims to a disputed Sandy Cay reef in the South China Sea. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Sandy Cay Reef; Disputed islands in South China Sea. 

About Sandy Cay Reef

  • Sandy Cay Reef is a small coral reef in the South China Sea. It lies near Thitu Island, where the Philippines stations troops and maintains a coast guard monitoring base.
  • It consists of multiple shallow reef platforms with dynamic sandbanks.
  • The reef is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 
  • Note: Reef is a raised area on the ocean floor that is made of rock, coral, or sand.
Sandy Cay Reef

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