General Studies Paper -2 Context: India will push its Indo-Pacific agenda through a meeting of Quad foreign ministers at the end of July in Tokyo. India plays a pivotal role through its engagements in various multilateral groupings like the Quad and BRICS. These platforms serve as critical arenas for India to assert its strategic interests, enhance its economic influence, and foster international partnerships. The Strategic Significance of Quad The Quad has emerged as a key platform for promoting a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region. Counterbalancing China’s Influence: For India, the Quad holds immense strategic significance, particularly in balancing....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: Recently, India hosted the first BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held in New Delhi, carrying particular weight given the major developments unfolding in neighbouring Myanmar. About the BIMSTEC The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a multilateral regional organisation that was established with the aim of accelerating shared growth and cooperation between littoral and adjacent countries in the Bay of Bengal region. It was founded as BIST-EC, in 1997, with the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration, with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand as members. It became BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar,....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to Russia for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Key Highlights PM Modi was conferred Russia’s highest national award “The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle” for his contribution to fostering India-Russia ties. The award was announced in 2019. India will set up two new consulates in the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg. Russia agreed to India’s demand to ensure early release and return to home of the Indian nationals working in the Russian military as support staff. India and Russia are working on the Eastern Maritime Corridor....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Russia. Key Highlights India and Russia are working on the Eastern Maritime Corridor and the two countries were discovering each other through the Ganga-Volga dialogue. The Eastern Maritime Corridor is a proposed sea route between Chennai, India, and Vladivostok, Russia, passing through the Sea of Japan, the South China Sea, and the Malacca Strait. India will set up two new consulates in the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg. India- Russia Relations Political Relations: A watershed moment in relations between India and the Soviet Union was....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailand wants to join BRICS grouping About Earlier, BRICS — an acronym that was originally used to refer to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — decided to expand its membership, inviting Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join the bloc. The name for the expanded group has not yet been officially announced, but it could be called “BRICS+.” China is a major trading partner for the region, and maintaining strong trade relationships with China is crucial. Joining BRICS could enhance these economic....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. About Belarus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), becoming its 10th member state. Belarus became a dialogue partner in the SCO in 2010 and an observer state in 2015. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 with six members. Objective: To enhance regional cooperation for efforts to curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central Asian region. Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran. Secretariat: Beijing Official languages: Russian....Read More

General Studies Paper-2 Context: The President of France and Prime Minister of India elevated the ‘Partnership for the Planet’ as one of the three pillars of the Indo-French Horizon 2047 Roadmap in 2023. Background The year 2023 marked 25 years of India-France Strategic Partnership. Pillars of Indo-French Horizon 2047; Partnership for security and sovereignty Partnership for the planet Partnership for the people Partnership for Environment Sustainability Four environment protection projects were signed between India and France in 2023. The First project is in Rajasthan for increasing forest cover, creating better conditions for wildlife to live and reproduce, while sustaining livelihoods....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: Recently, it is observed that China is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’, which India called it as Panchsheel. About India-China Relations India and China share a complex history of diplomatic relations, marked by territorial disputes, border tensions, and occasional military clashes. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1950, making India the first non-socialist bloc country to do so with the People’s Republic of China. Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence (aka Panchsheel) These were first formally enunciated in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: India has asserted that as the United Nations turns 80 next year, it is “high time” to reform the Security Council. About the UNSC The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It was established in 1945 as part of the UN Charter and is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. It is headquartered....Read More

General Studies Paper -2 Context: The recent visit of the Prime Minister of India to the United States led to a significant development in the field of military aerospace technology. The US administration offered to restart the decade-old plan to transfer jet engine technology to India. This move aims to strengthen bilateral defense ties and enhance India’s military capabilities. Overview of India and US Bilateral Relations Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered the Cold War era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range....Read More