CURRENT CONTEXT : The USA has imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, affecting almost two-thirds of India’s exports by value to the US. IMPACT ON INDIA Exports: May fall to USD 49.6 billion in 2025-26 from nearly USD 87 billion in 2024-25 (GTRI estimate). Most Affected Sectors: Labour-intensive industries like gems & jewellery, textiles, apparel, shrimp, auto components. Competitiveness: Indian products to lose edge over exporters from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico. Foreign Inflows: Possible decline in FDI and volatility in FPI WAY FORWARD Financial Support: Reinstate Interest Equalisation Scheme for low-cost MSME credit. Targeted Credit: Extend special credit lines....Read More

Current Context Russia has decided to recruit 1 million Indian workers in 2025 to address acute labour shortages in construction, machinery, textiles, and electronics sectors. ABOUT INDIA–RUSSIA MANPOWER PARTNERSHIP Reason: Labour shortages in Russia and tightening immigration in Western countries (UK, US, Canada). Recruitment Sectors: Phase 1 → Construction and textiles Expansion → High-end machinery and electronics Process: Hiring under Russian immigration quotas and local labour laws. Diplomatic Support: India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, confirmed rising consular activities linked to this migration. ABOUT RUSSIA Official Name: Russian Federation Location: Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (largest country in the world....Read More

Current Context : India has extended UN-level privileges and immunities to IBCA officials under the UN (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947. ABOUT IBCA Launched: April 2023, during 50 years of Project Tiger. Nature: Treaty-based inter-governmental organisation for big cat conservation. Coverage: Seven Big Cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma. Membership: Open to all UN Member States – both range countries (where cats live) and non-range countries(supporters). Participants: 95 countries, conservation partners, NGOs, corporates. Implementation Agency: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under MoEFCC. Funding: India committed ₹150 crore (2023–2028) for corpus fund, infra, and recurring expenses. Members:....Read More

Current Context : Dubai Free Zones Council has launched the “One Freezone Passport” to allow businesses to operate across all free zones with a single license. ABOUT ONE FREEZONE PASSPORT Old System: Separate license required for each free zone. New System: One license valid across all free zones in Dubai. Benefits: Reduced cost and bureaucracy. Easier regulatory compliance. Access to tax exemptions and 100% foreign ownership. Immediate effect for new and existing firms. Alignment with D33 Economic Agenda: Goal: Double GDP by 2033, make Dubai one of top three global cities. Boosts global investor confidence. ABOUT FREEZONE Definition : A....Read More

Current Context: The President of South Africa announced the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments (GOCWI)as part of the G20 Presidential Legacy Initiative. ABOUT GOCWI Launched by: Global Water Partnership (GWP). Purpose: High-level platform to sustain political and financial momentum for water investments. GWP’s Global Transformation Agenda: Aim: Mobilise 15 billion USD for water security by 2030. Focus: Equitable, sustainable, and efficient management of water resources. Role of GOCWI: Forms a core pillar in the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments.Read More

Current Context: India rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) award concerning the Indus Waters Treaty interpretation. ABOUT PCA Nature: Treaty-based intergovernmental organisation facilitating arbitration and dispute resolution between states. Established: 1899 at the First Hague Peace Conference by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. Members: 125 contracting parties (including India). Headquarters: Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands.Read More

Current Context : Recently, Russia officially ended its commitment to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, citing recent United States military moves such as: Repositioning two nuclear submarines near Russian shores Deployment of Typhon missile system in the Philippines ABOUT INF TREATY Signed Between: United States and the Soviet Union Year of Signing: 1987 Main Provision: Destroy all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with range between 500–5,500 km Allow on-site verification inspections Significance: First treaty to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons Major step toward arms control and nuclear disarmament US Withdrawal: Already weakened in 2019 when the....Read More

CURRENT CONTEXT : Russia has signed a nuclear agreement with Niger, increasing its presence and influence in the Sahel region of West Africa. This move comes at a time when the region is already facing political instability, terrorism, and foreign competition for resources. ABOUT SAHEL REGION Location: A semiarid belt across western and north-central Africa Stretch: About 5,000 kilometres, from Atlantic Ocean (Senegal) to Red Sea (Eritrea) Region Type: Transitional zone between the Sahara Desert in the north and the humid savannas in the south COUNTRIES COVERED : Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea VEGETATION AND....Read More

Current Context : Turkey has launched its most powerful non-nuclear bomb called Gazap (meaning Wrath in Turkish) at the International Defence Industry Fair 2025 in Istanbul.  ABOUT GAZAP BOMB Weight and Design: The bomb weighs 970 kilograms and uses a special thermobaric (vacuum) explosion technique. It can release more than 10 fragments per metre, which is much higher than ordinary bombs. Destructive Power: When dropped, it creates very high temperatures (up to 3,000 degree Celsius) and powerful shock waves that can melt steel and concrete. It can destroy everything within a radius of 1 kilometre. Deployment: Currently, the bomb can....Read More

Current Context: E3 nations (UK, France, Germany) met Iran in Istanbul, warning of activating the “snapback mechanism” to reimpose UN sanctions if Iran doesn’t resume nuclear talks or cooperate with the IAEA. Iran warned that this could prompt withdrawal from the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and trigger harsh retaliatory steps. ABOUT E3 COUNTRIES & SNAPBACK MECHANISM E3 Group: Informal diplomatic trio — UK, France, Germany — formed during 2003 Iraq war and Iran nuclear negotiations. Snapback Mechanism: A clause under UNSCR 2231 (JCPOA, 2015) allowing automatic reimposition of sanctions if Iran violates commitments. Mechanism expires on 18 October 2025.Read More