General Studies Paper-3

Context: Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Ltd and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) completed 10 years on April 8, 2025.

About PM Mudra Yojana

• Mudra Vision: PMMY was initiated with the vision to ‘Fund the Unfunded’ – aiming to empower micro and small enterprises (MSEs) by facilitating access to collateral-free institutional credit of up to ₹10 lakh.
• The loans are disbursed through three products:
  • Shishu: Loans up to ₹50,000 for budding entrepreneurs.
  • Kishore: Loans between ₹50,000 and ₹5 lakh for growing businesses.
  • Tarun: Loans between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh for established enterprises.
  • Target: Small businesses in manufacturing, trading, processing, and services—a major employment segment after agriculture.
• Collateral-free credit up to ₹20 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) i.e. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).

MUDRA Scheme: Decade of Impacts

• Credit Flow: Around ₹57,000 crore in 2013 (Before MUDRA)
  • ₹32 lakh crore in 2014-15 and ₹5.41 lakh crore in the last nine years.
• Financial Inclusion: Over 52 crore loans worth ₹61 lakh crore have been sanctioned since its inception.
  • Around 30% of units financed under MUDRA were new or fresh to financing.
• Focus on Women and Marginalized Groups: Approximately 68% of loan accounts under the scheme belong to women, and 50% are loans to SC/ST and OBC entrepreneurs.
  • About 70% of the borrowers were women in the first year.
• Wide Accessibility: Loans are provided through a network of banks, NBFCs, MFIs, and other financial institutions, ensuring broad coverage across urban and rural areas.
• Economic Empowerment: The scheme has supported small businesses across sectors like retail, food processing, and services, fostering self-employment and job creation.
  • States like Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka have seen significant disbursals, contributing to regional economic growth.
• Some Major Achievements:
  • Empowerment of Nano Entrepreneurs: A significant chunk of beneficiaries are street vendors, artisans, and small service providers.
  • Women-Led Enterprises: More than 29 crore loans have been granted to women, boosting female entrepreneurship.
  • Digital Integration: PMMY integrated with platforms like Jan Dhan accounts and Aadhaar, ensuring transparency and efficiency in credit delivery.

Case Studies of Transformation

• Renu Devi from Bihar, who started a tailoring business with a ₹40,000 Shishu loan, now employs 3 others and runs a boutique.
• Naveen from Karnataka used a Tarun loan to set up a vehicle repair shop and expanded into auto parts retail.

Challenges

• Rising NPAs: Public Sector Banks have reported rising Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) under Mudra loans (NPA in these loans are around 2.2%).
• Lack of Impact Evaluation: There is insufficient third-party auditing or impact assessment of PMMY at scale.
• Success claims are mostly based on disbursement volumes rather than actual outcomes.
• Over-leveraging and Misutilization: Instances of borrowers using loans for consumption rather than productive use have raised concerns about loan effectiveness.
• Limited Tarun Loans: While most disbursements are under the Shishu category (low-ticket), Tarun loans have remained relatively underutilized—undermining high-growth potential entrepreneurs.

Future Roadmap

• Deepen Credit + Capability Linkages: Integrate MUDRA with Skill India, Start-Up India, and Livelihood Missions to offer a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Promote Financial Literacy: Embed credit counselling and digital literacy modules during loan disbursal to reduce defaults and enhance productive utilization.
• Encourage Tarun Category Lending: Design interest subvention, risk-sharing frameworks, or credit guarantee mechanisms to incentivize higher-value lending.
• Digitize Microcredit Processes: Expand UPI-linked MUDRA cards, mobile-based applications, and e-verification for faster processing, real-time tracking, and reduced transaction costs.
• Institutionalize Mentorship Networks: Facilitate local mentorship cells under the aegis of District Industries Centres (DICs) or MSME clusters for handholding new entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

• The PM Mudra Yojana has emerged as a silent revolution — empowering millions to dream big, act bold, and build their livelihoods.
• As India strides towards a $5 trillion economy, the scheme remains crucial in democratising capital, energising local enterprise, and scripting grassroots success stories across its villages and cities.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to pass 10 Bills pending with Tamil Nadu Governor effectively granting assent to them.

About

• The Court exercised its rare powers to do “complete justice,” bypassing the Governor’s role in the lawmaking process.
• The Supreme Court ruled that Governors cannot delay or withhold assent to Bills indefinitely once they are passed or re-passed by the state Assembly.
• The ruling set a timeline for the Governor to act on Bills:
  • One month for re-passed Bills.
  • Three months if the Bill is withheld contrary to Cabinet advice.
• Significance: The ruling redefines the relationship between the Centre and states, curbing the power of Governors and reinforcing the authority of state legislatures.

What is Article 142?

• Article 142 of the Indian constitution is a provision that empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing complete justice in any case or matter pending before it.
  • It also makes such decree or order enforceable throughout the territory of India.
• The importance of Article 142 lies in the following aspects:
  • It enables the Supreme Court to exercise executive and legislative functions in certain situations, such as issuing guidelines, directions, or orders to the government or other authorities.
  • It allows the Supreme Court to intervene in matters of public interest, human rights, constitutional values, or fundamental rights, and to protect them from any violation or infringement.
  • It enhances the Supreme Court’s role as the guardian of the constitution and the final arbiter of the law.
• Criticism: It may encroach upon the principle of separation of powers and the domain of the executive and the legislature, and may invite criticism of judicial overreach or activism.

How are the Bills Passed by the Governor?

• Article 200 provides that when a Bill passed by the State Legislature, is presented to the Governor, the Governor shall declare:
  • that he assents to the Bill;
  • or that he withholds assent there from;
  • or that he reserves the Bill for the President’s consideration;
  • or the Governor may return the Bill (other than a Money Bill) with a message for re-consideration by the State Legislature.
• Reconsidered Bill: If the bill is returned by the Governor for reconsideration and the Legislature passes it again without any change, the Governor is constitutionally bound to give assent.
• The Governor cannot then reserve it for the President’s consideration under Article 200.
• Reserving the Bill: If the Governor reserves a Bill for President’s consideration, the enactment of the Bill then depends on the assent or refusal of assent by the President.
• Article 201: The President shall, under Article 201—, either declare his assent or withhold his assent thereto.
  • Instead of following either of these courses, the President may (if the Bill is not a Money Bill) direct the Governor to return the Bill together with a message to the State Legislature for reconsideration.
  • The State Legislature shall then reconsider the Bill within 6 months of its receipt and, if it is again passed, it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration.
• In contrast with the power of the Governor regarding a reconsidered Bill, it is not obligatory for the President to give his assent to a reconsidered Bill.

Concerns of the States

• Interference in State Autonomy: States argue that the Governor’s role in reserving bills for the President undermines the autonomy of state legislatures, especially when the bills are in the State List.
  • Misuse of Discretion: There are concerns that Governors reserve bills contrary to the advice of the State Council of Ministers, leading to misuse of discretionary powers.
  • Subordination to Union Executive: States view the Governor’s ability to refer bills to the President as subordinating state legislative authority to the Union Executive.
  • Delays in Decision-Making: Many states complain of delays in the President’s decision on reserved bills, which affects the timely enactment of laws.
  • Lack of Clear Guidelines: States suggest that there should be clear guidelines for the Governor and Union Government to prevent arbitrary use of discretion.
  • Impact on Federalism: Some states believe that Articles 200 and 201, which allow the Governor to reserve bills, are inconsistent with the true federal structure of India.

Conclusion

• There were demands to establish clear, uniform guidelines for the Governor’s discretion in reserving bills, ensuring transparency and consistency in decision-making.
• Introducing time-limits on the duration of passage of bills will ensure timely formation and implementation of policy and will also strengthen the federal structure of India.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: India and Israel signed a Comprehensive Agriculture Agreement to boost bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, and the modernization of farming practices.

About

• Key Focus Areas:
• The agreement explicitly mentions areas like soil and water management, horticultural and agricultural production, post-harvest and processing technology, agriculture mechanisation, animal husbandry, and research and development.
• Centres of Excellence Recognition: India praises the 43 Centres of Excellence and highlights their pivotal role in the success of the agricultural projects.
• Five-Year Seed Improvement Plan: The discussion between both nations on a five-year seed improvement plan marks a significant new development.
• Global Commitments and Future Prospects:
• India reaffirmed commitment to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”) underlining India’s commitment to:
  • Global agricultural partnerships
  • Climate-smart solutions
  • Israeli delegation invited to World Food India 2025

Background

• India and Israel share a deep-rooted partnership in agriculture, formalized through various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Joint Working Groups over the past two decades.
• Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP) was launched in 2006 for providing training to farmers, demonstrations of modern farming techniques & opting best practices in horticulture (e.g., drip irrigation, precision farming).

Why is Israel a Key Partner for India in Agriculture?

• Israel is globally renowned for transforming arid land into green productive zones using:
• Drip and micro-irrigation systems
• Soil-less agriculture and hydroponics
• Greenhouse and polyhouse technologies
• Advanced agro-automation and remote sensing
• These innovations align with India’s goals of:
• Enhancing water-use efficiency (under PM-Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)
• Promoting sustainable agriculture
• Supporting small and marginal farmers (who form over 85% of the farming population)

India-Israel Bilateral Cooperation

Historical Ties:

• Began during Sino-India War (1962); Israel provided India arms support again during 1965 Indo-Pak war
• Israel was among the few nations not to condemn India’s Pokhran-II nuclear tests (1998)

Economic Relations:

• Trade Volume (2024): Over $5.65 billion (excluding defence)

India is Israel’s 3rd largest trade partner in Asia

• Major trade: Major exported items from India to Israel include Gems and Jewelry (US$ 351.56 million); followed by engineering goods (US$ 241.02 million), and electronic goods (US$ 97.50 million).
• I4F Fund (Israel-India Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund): Established with a joint contribution of $40 million over five years, I4F supports collaborative R&D projects.

Defence Cooperation:

• Israel is among India’s top four arms suppliers
• India imports:

1. Phalcon AWACS, Heron/Searcher drones
2. Barak missile systems, Spyder SAMs
3. Precision-guided bombs like Spice-2000, Crystal Maze

• Defence deals touch $1 billion/year

Recent Developments: In January 2025, the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the supply of over 70 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) for the Indian Navy, valued at approximately $400– million.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Sri Lanka, held a significant meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake in Colombo.

Key Outcomes of the Meeting

• PM Modi was conferred ‘Mithra Vibhushana’ the country’s highest civilian honour medal by the Government of Sri Lanka.
• Energy Cooperation: Both the nations inked an agreement to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub and jointly inaugurated the Sampur solar power project, aimed at boosting Sri Lanka’s clean energy capacity.
• A grid interconnectivity deal was also signed, opening the door for Sri Lanka to potentially export electricity to India in the future.
• Railway Connectivity: An upgraded northern railway line between Maho and Omanthai, enhancing connectivity between the North Central and Northern Provinces was jointly inaugurated, along with an upgraded railway signalling system at Anuradhapura railway station.
• Comprehensive MoU on defence cooperation: The umbrella agreement consolidates various existing defence-related understandings into a coherent framework, enabling structured dialogue.

India and Sri Lanka Relations

• Trade Relations: India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) in 2000 contributed significantly towards the expansion of trade between the two countries.
• India has traditionally been among Sri Lanka’s largest trade partners and Sri Lanka remains among the largest trade partners of India in the SAARC.
• India is also one of the largest contributors to Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka.
• Cultural relations: The Cultural Cooperation Agreement signed in 1977 forms the basis for periodic Cultural Exchange Programmes between the two countries.
• The Buddhist and Tamil links enhance people-to-people connect and soft power.
• Tourism: India has traditionally been Sri Lanka’s top inbound tourism market, followed by China.
• As per latest data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, India is the largest source for tourists in 2023.
• Maritime Security and Defence Cooperation: In 2011, a decision was taken to establish the Colombo Security Conclave which aims to further promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
• India and Sri Lanka conduct a joint Military exercise named ‘Mitra Shakti’, Trilateral Maritime Exercise “Dosti”, and a Naval exercise named SLINEX.
• Multilateral Forum Collaboration: India and Sri Lanka are member nations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, South Asian Economic Union and BIMSTEC, working to enhance cultural and commercial ties.

Areas of Concern

• The Fishermen Issue: Sri Lanka’s proximity to Indian territorial waters has often blurred the line for fishermen on both sides in pursuit of fish stock.
• Rise of China: China’s increasing strategic investments in vital maritime ports in the IOR has been an area of concern.
• Strategic infrastructure projects like Hambantota Port, leased to China for 99 years.
• Trade and Economic Imbalances: CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) talks stalled.
• Slow Progress in Development Projects: Indian-funded projects like Jaffna Cultural Centre, Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, and housing schemes face bureaucratic delays.
• Internal Instability in Sri Lanka: 2022 economic crisis led to massive unrest which caused a spillover effect on the Tamil Nadu coast and refugee inflow.

Way Ahead

• India–Sri Lanka relations, rooted in geography and history, must now evolve through shared economic prosperity, strategic cooperation, and people-centric development.
• The strengthened ties between both the nations will ensure mutual growth and regional stability in line with India’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR visions.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: On 8 April 2025, India marked 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY).

About the Scheme

• Launched: April 2015
• Objective: To provide collateral-free institutional credit to non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises.
• Tagline: Funding the Unfunded
• Implementation: Through MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency).
• Target: Small businesses in manufacturing, trading, processing, and services—a major employment segment after agriculture.
• Collateral-free credit up to ₹20 lakh is provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) i.e. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).
• Loan Categories under PMMY:
• Achievements (As of FY25)
• Loans sanctioned: Over 52 crore
• Loan value: ₹61 lakh crore

Need For Funding the Unfunded (MSME)

• Micro enterprises constitute a major economic segment in India and provide large employment after agriculture. This segment includes micro units engaged in manufacturing, processing, trading and services sector.
• It provides employment to nearly 10 crore people. Many of these units are proprietary/ single ownership or Own Account enterprises and many a time referred to as the Non-Corporate Small Business sector.

International Recognition

• IMF has praised PMMY across multiple reports:
• 2017: Helped women-led businesses access credit.
• 2019: Recognized its role in refinancing MSMEs.
• 2023: Highlighted over 2.8 million women-owned MSMEs.
• 2024: Acknowledged PMMY as key to formalisation and self-employment.

Challenges

• Risk of NPAs (Non-Performing Assets) in some sectors.
• Need for better credit appraisal and training of borrowers.
• Require complementary ecosystems (e.g., market access, digital literacy).

Conclusion

• In ten years, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has consistently demonstrated the power of financial inclusion and the strength of grassroots innovation.

General Studies Paper -3

Context: As satellite internet becomes a crucial component of global connectivity, and the competition to dominate satellite-based communications is not just about technological advancement but also about national security, economic influence, and digital sovereignty.

About Satellite Net 

• It is communications infrastructure in space that has the potential to connect underserved and unserved regions, transforming education, healthcare, and commerce, which are critical for national security.
• However, the ability to control satellite networks can influence military operations, surveillance, and emergency response systems.
• As nations race to secure orbital slots, frequency bands, and Low-Earth orbit (LEO)dominance, the competition extends to domains like:
  • Cybersecurity and surveillance;
  • Digital colonization risks;
  • Sovereignty over data and infrastructure;
  • Military dual-use of satellites;
• It is not only technological but deeply geopolitical, with ramifications across spectrum allocation, national sovereignty, data governance, and digital dominance.

Strategic Players

• United States: Dominates with SpaceX’s Starlink, boasting over 5,000 satellites in orbit.
• China: Developing its own LEO constellation called Guowang, aiming to avoid reliance on Western networks.
• Others: OneWeb (United Kingdom), Amazon’s Project Kuiper

India’s Satellite Internet Strategy

• India still has regions where fiber optic cables have never reached, and cellular towers remain sparse.
• India is planning satellite internet networks via Bharti-backed OneWeb and Jio’s collaboration with SES, positioning itself as a regional player.
• Recent partnerships between SpaceX and Indian telecom giants Airtel and Jio to expand Starlink services across India mark a fundamental shift in connectivity, sovereignty, and economic power.

Radio Frequency Spectrum and Sovereignty

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) governs spectrum access on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. It incentivizes a space race among major powers.
• For countries of the Global South, particularly India, it raises urgent questions about access parity.
• India has pushed for a more equitable model of spectrum distribution, echoing its calls for Global South-centric multilateralism.

Challenges and Concerns

• Monopoly Concerns in Satellite Internet: With around 7,000 satellites already in orbit, SpaceX enjoys a first-mover advantage in the LEO internet market.
  • The dominance of US-based Starlink raises concerns about digital influence, particularly as China develops its rival GuoWang constellation.
• Market Risks: A monopolistic structure could lead to concerns about competition, pricing, and dependency.
  • Private companies wielding nation-state levels of influence over critical infrastructure pose strategic risks, as seen when SpaceX briefly cut Ukraine’s Starlink access during military operations.
• Space debris: With tens of thousands of satellites expected, orbital crowding poses serious environmental and collision risks.
• Regulatory vacuum: International rules governing LEO satellite operations are underdeveloped, creating loopholes.
• Digital divide: While promising connectivity for underserved regions, satellite internet might exacerbate inequalities if monopolized.

Framework for Satellite Internet Geopolitics 

• Digital Sovereignty (High Economic Value, High Geopolitical Control): Nations achieve both profitable telecommunications and strategic independence.
• Example: China’s GuoWang constellation, a state-controlled satellite system ensuring economic benefits while maintaining complete national control.
• Market Dominance (High Economic Value, Low Geopolitical Control): A highly profitable system, but control remains outside the host nation’s hands.
• Example: Starlink (SpaceX), offering strong commercial potential worldwide but limiting host countries’ control.
• Strategic Asset (Low Economic Value, High Geopolitical Control): Satellites provide strategic value but lack commercial viability.
• Example: India’s limited indigenous satellite capacity, which is strategically vital but economically suboptimal.

Indian Perspective

• Technological Capability: ISRO’s SatCom division and private players like Tata, Reliance, and Bharti must scale domestic production and launch capacity to ensure self-reliance.
• Strategic Autonomy: India must avoid dependence on foreign orbital networks for critical services. Satellite-based internet must be embedded in national cyber strategy.
• Legal Frameworks: Updating the Satellite Communications Policy and Spacecom Policy is vital to regulate foreign players and protect digital sovereignty.
• Diplomatic Positioning: India can leverage forums like the Quad and BRICS to push for norms on fair access, orbital debris management, and peaceful space usage.

Conclusion 

• The race for satellite internet dominance is shaping global geopolitics, influencing digital sovereignty, economic dependencies, and national security.
• As India navigates this evolving landscape, balancing technological partnerships with strategic autonomy will be crucial for its future in the digital age.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: World Health Day, observed annually on 7 April, highlights pressing global health issues and mobilises action to improve public health outcomes.

About

• It was founded by WHO in 1950.
• The idea for World Health Day originated from the first World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1948.
• It is aimed at uniting governments, institutions, and communities to address global health priorities.
• 2025 Theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” focuses on maternal and newborn health, urging countries to reduce preventable deaths and prioritize women’s long-term well-being.
• India’s Commitment: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, strengthens efforts for equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare.
• According to WHO, close to 300,000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn.
• Based on current trends, 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030.

India’s Maternal Mortality and Child Mortality

• MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) in India dropped from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per 1,00,000 live births – a decline of 33 points.
• Infant & Child Mortality: IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) dropped from 39 (2014) to 28 (2020) per 1,000 live births.
• NMR (Neonatal Mortality Rate) reduced from 26 (2014) to 20 (2020) per 1,000 live births.

Challenges in India’s Healthcare

• Limited Access to Healthcare: Rural and remote areas often lack sufficient healthcare facilities and trained professionals.
• Poor Infrastructure: Inadequate medical infrastructure, including hospitals, equipment, and sanitation, especially in underserved regions.
• High Disease Burden: India faces a heavy burden of both infectious and non-communicable diseases, requiring diverse healthcare solutions.
• Financial Barriers: High out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare, leading to financial strain on low-income families.
• Inequality in Healthcare Access: Disparities in healthcare access based on geography and socioeconomic status.
• Shortage of Skilled Workforce: Insufficient number of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and specialists.
• Fragmented Health System: Lack of integration and coordination between public and private health sectors.

Government Initiatives

• Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR): Conducted at facility and community levels to identify causes of maternal deaths and implement corrective actions for improving obstetric care.
• Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal: A name-based digital platform to track pregnant women and newborns, ensuring timely antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Part of POSHAN Abhiyan; focuses on testing, treatment, and prevention of anaemia in adolescents and pregnant women.
• National Health Mission (NHM): Focused on improving maternal and child health, expanding digital health access, and enhancing infrastructure and services.
  • The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is a unified digital health ecosystem to securely connect patients, healthcare providers, and systems through an interoperable digital infrastructure.
• Disease Elimination & Control: India’s major strides in malaria elimination, with a 69% drop in cases and 68% reduction in deaths between 2017 and 2023.
  • India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024.
  • Under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), TB incidence fell by 17.7% between 2015 and 2023.
  • India has successfully achieved Kala-azar elimination as of 2024.

Conclusion

• Maternal and newborn health is crucial for several reasons, as it directly impacts the well-being of mothers, infants, families and communities.
• Prioritizing regular health check-ups throughout pregnancy can help with early detection and management of potential complications.
• India’s advancements in public health, especially in maternal and child care, reflect a strong commitment to equitable and inclusive healthcare.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thailand to attend the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

India-Thailand Strategic Partnership

• Historical Background : India and Thailand share a long history of warm and cordial relations, with diplomatic ties established in 1947.
  • Both countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of these relations in 2022.
• Cooperation areas :  bilateral ties cover a broad range of areas, including trade, investment, defence, security, connectivity, culture, tourism, education, science, and technology, as well as people-to-people exchanges.
  • Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy complements India’s ‘Act East’ policy, and Thailand is an important maritime neighbor to India.
• Multilateral framework : Regionally, Thailand plays a key role in various multilateral frameworks with India, such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit (EAS), BIMSTEC, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and ACMECS, reinforcing their strong and strategic partnership.
• Defence Cooperation: India and Thailand’s defence ties are formalized through the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation, signed on January 25, 2012.
  • These include regular defence dialogues, joint maritime patrols, annual staff talks, training exchanges, and participation in trilateral/multilateral military exercises.
• Economic & Commercial Cooperation: Bilateral trade between India and Thailand has significantly increased in recent years.
  • In FY 2023-2024, Thailand was India’s 21st largest trading partner, with a total trade value of approximately USD 14.94 billion.
  • In 2024, India became Thailand’s 11th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching around USD 17.5 billion.
• Cultural and Tourism Cooperation and Connectivity: The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Bangkok, opened in 2009, promotes cultural ties.
  • The India-Thailand Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2022-2027 was signed in December 2022.
• Tourism: India and Thailand are closely connected by over 400 weekly flights across 15 Indian cities.
  • In 2024, around 2.1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand, making up 6% of the total foreign visitors.
  • To enhance people-to-people ties, India offers a 30-day e-tourist visa to Thai nationals, and Thailand has extended a 60-day visa-free entry for Indian passport holders.
• Education Cooperation: The MoU on Education Cooperation was signed in 2005. India offers about 75 scholarships annually to Thai nationals and 1,000 Ph.D. fellowships to ASEAN countries, including 100 for Thailand.
• Indian Diaspora in Thailand: The Indian-origin population in Thailand is estimated at 4-5 lakh, including over 25,000 NRIs.
• Latest Developments: Both countries discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including defence, trade, education, health, culture, and security.
  • Several MoUs were exchanged, and a new India-Thailand Strategic Partnership was established, aimed at strengthening their relationship across various sectors.

General Studies Paper -2

Context: PM Modi attended the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit, hosted by Thailand, which is the current chair.

About

• Theme: “BIMSTEC: Prosperous, Resilient, and Open”
• Focus on shared growth amid global uncertainties.
• The BIMSTEC Summit is the first in-person meeting in seven years.
• The chairmanship of the regional grouping was handed over to Bangladesh.

India-led Initiatives:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a 21-point action plan.
• Mitigation and Disaster Management:
  • Establishing the BIMSTEC Centre of Excellence for Disaster Management in India to cooperate in disaster management, relief and rehabilitation.
  • Fourth joint exercises between BIMSTEC Disaster Management Authorities to be held in India this year.
• BODHI Program for skilling youth: BODHI [BIMSTEC for Organized Development of Human Resource Infrastructure] under which training and scholarships would be provided to professionals, students, researchers, diplomats and others.
  • 300 youths from BIMSTEC countries in India every year.
• To Strengthen people-to-people linkages: India to host BIMSTEC Athletics Meet (this year).
  • First BIMSTEC Games in 2027
  • BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival.
• Youth-focused initiatives: Young Leaders’ Summit, Hackathon, Young Professional Visitors program.
  • Pilot study on Digital Public Infrastructure, cancer care capacity building.
  • Proposal for BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Business Summit.
  • Proposed establishing connectivity between India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the payment systems of BIMSTEC member states.
  • Such integration would bring substantial benefits across trade, industry and tourism, enhancing economic activity at all levels.
• Space Sector: Build nano-satellites for the BIMSTEC member nations and also explore the setting up of ground stations and promote the use of remote sensing data.
• Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre: Proposed the establishment of a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre in India to enhance coordination in capacity building, research, innovation and maritime policies.

Summit Outcomes:

• BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030: It’s the first long-term plan to make BIMSTEC more prosperous, strong, and open by the year 2030.
  • The vision focuses on improving trade, transport links, and people’s safety and well-being
• Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC: This sets clear rules for how BIMSTEC will work, helping the group to function more smoothly and efficiently.
• Report by the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons’ Group: This report gives helpful suggestions for how BIMSTEC should move forward, in line with the 2030 vision.
• Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation: A new agreement was signed to improve sea transport between South and Southeast Asia.
  • This will help reduce shipping costs, make trade faster, and make it easier for goods and people to move across the region

About BIMSTEC

• It is a regional cooperation organization formed in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
• It unites South and Southeast Asian nations bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• Founding Members (1997): Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
• Current Members: It comprises seven member states, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Objective: To help countries in their economic growth, to support social development, and to encourage development in other areas, like science, technology and economic development.