Category: Polity and Governance

Context:

• The Supreme Court has asked the Centre if a new order allowing persecuted minorities entry to India violates the Assam Accord’s 1971 deadline.

About Assam Accord:

• Signatories: The Assam Accord was signed on 15th August, 1985, amongst the Union of India, the Govt. of Assam, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad. 
• Objective: The aim of the accord was to detect and deport all immigrants in the state who had come to the territory post-24 March 1971.
• Achievement: The signing of the Accord brought an end to the 6-year-long agitation, the Assam Movement (1979-1985), which was aimed at dispelling foreigners from the state of Assam.
• Cut-off date: It determined 1st January 1966 as the cut-off date for the purpose of detection and deletion of foreigners. It allowed for citizenship for all persons coming to Assam from “Specified Territory” before the cut-off date. 
• Application of Foreigners Act, 1946: It further specifies that all persons who came to Assam prior to 1st January 1966 (inclusive) and up to 24th March 1971 (midnight) shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1939.
• Deletion of names from electoral rolls: The names of foreigners so detected will be deleted from the Electoral Rolls in force. Such persons will be required to register themselves before the Registration Officers of the respective districts in accordance with the provisions of the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1939.
• Provision regarding voting rights: The Assam Accord does not call for their deportation, but they were to get voting rights only after expiry of 10 years from the date of their detection or declaration as foreigner. Foreigners who came to Assam on or after 25th March 1971 shall continue to be detected and expelled in accordance with law.
• Clause 6: It promises to provide constitutional, legislative, and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve, and promote the cultural, social, and linguistic identity, and heritage of the Assamese people.
• Significance: These safeguards aim to address concerns regarding the state’s demographic and cultural integrity amidst the influx of migrants.

Source:

• Hindustan Times

Category: Defence and Security

Context:

• The 10th edition of the India– Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI has commenced at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Garuda Shakti:

• • Countries involved: It is the joint exercise conducted between special forces of India and Indonesia.
  • Objective: The exercise aims to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the Special Forces of the two nations.
  • Significance: It helps in advancing defence cooperation and further strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.
  • Indian representation: The Indian contingent is represented by troops from THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (Special Forces), while the Indonesian contingent comprises personnel from the Indonesian Special Forces.
  • Scope: Its scope includes troop-level tactics, techniques and procedures in a counter-terrorism environment, covering unarmed combat techniques, combat shooting, sniping, heliborne operations and planning for drone, counter-UAS and loiter-munition strikes in semi-mountainous terrain.

• Focus areas:

• • Exchange of expertise and information on weapons, equipment and operational practices.
  • Validate joint training through a simulated real-world operational scenario.
  • Test the endurance, coordination and combat readiness of both contingents.

Source:

• PIB

Category: Environment and Ecology

Context:

• Migratory birds such as stork cranes, pelicans, painted storks and bar-headed geese returned to the Keoladeo National Park after heavy rains in the monsoon. 

About Keoladeo National Park:

• Location: It is situated in the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.
• Nomenclature: It was earlier known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It was renamed Keoladeo for the ancient temple in the park dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
• History: It was founded in the late 19th century as a hunting preserve by Suraj Mal, the maharaja of the Bharatpur princely state, and became a bird sanctuary in 1956. 
• Establishment: It was declared a national park in 1981.
• Area: It has an area of 29 sq.km.
• Uniqueness: It is the only one of its kind in India which is enclosed by a 2-meters boundary wall to fend off encroachments.
• Significance: It is a Ramsar site and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• Vegetation: Woodlands, swamps, and wet grasslands cover a large part of the park. The vegetation here is of a dry deciduous type, with medium-sized trees and shrubs found inside its forest. 
• Flora: Some of the trees which can be commonly spotted inside the park are kadam, jamun, babul, kandi, ber, kair, and piloo.
• Fauna: It is home to a range of mammals and reptiles—including pythons and other snakes, deer, sambars, blackbucks, jackals, monitor lizards, and fishing cats.
• Falls along Central Asian migratory flyway: It is strategically located in the middle of the Central Asian migratory flyway. It is home to more than 360 species of permanent and migratory birds. During the annual period of migratory visitors (about October to March), birds from throughout the world can be found in the park.
• Important species: Among those wintering in the park are waterfowl from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia, including species such as gadwalls, shovellers, common teals, tufted ducks, pintails, white spoonbills, Asian open-billed storks, Oriental ibises, and the rare Siberian crane.

Source:

• ETV Bharat

Category: Government Schemes

Context:

• The Department of Posts released a draft amendment to the Post Office Act, 2023, aimed at introducing an interoperable, standardised and user-centric DHRUVA system.

About DHRUVA System:

• Full Form: DHRUVA stands for Digital Hub for Reference and Unique Virtual Address.
• Development: It is developed by the Department of Posts and it sets the foundation for a nationwide Digital Address Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Objective: It envisions a standardized, interoperable, and geocoded digital addressing system that supports secure, consent-based, and seamless sharing of address information. 
• Builds upon DIGIPIN: It builds upon the earlier launch of the Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN)—the National Addressing Grid introduced by the Department of Posts.
• Related to AaaS: At its core is the concept of Address-as-a-Service (AaaS) — the array of services associated with address data management to support secure and efficient interactions between users, government entities, and private sector organizations.
• Significance: By recognizing digital addresses as core infrastructure, akin to Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI), DHRUVA sets out to streamline everything from e-governance and online commerce to urban planning and emergency services.
• User-centric design: The policy also places emphasis on user-centric design, ensuring that citizens have meaningful control over how their address data is used and shared.
• Control over data: Citizens will retain full control over their digital address identity, with options to manage access, update details, and share their verified address securely for various use cases. 
• Other features: It will also feature multilingual support, mobile-first access, and integration with identity systems like Aadhaar, thereby improving usability and accessibility for all demographics.

Source:

• The Hindu

Category: Economy

Context:

• In view of the evolving liquidity conditions, RBI announced to conduct Open Market Operation (OMO) purchases of government securities of ₹1,00,000 crore.

About Government Securities:

• • Nature: A G-Sec is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.
  • Objective: A G-Sec is a type of debt instrument issued by the government to borrow money from the public to finance its Fiscal Deficit.
  • Time-period: Such securities are short-term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91-day, 182 days and 364 days) or long-term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).
  • Issuing authority: In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).
  • Significance: G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.

• Types of G-Secs:

• • Treasury Bills (T-bills): Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. Instead, they are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
  • Cash Management Bills (CMBs): In 2010, the Government of India, in consultation with RBI introduced a new short-term instrument, known as CMBs, to meet the temporary mismatches in the cash flow of the Government of India.
  • Dated G-Secs: Dated G-Secs are securities that carry a fixed or floating coupon rate (interest rate) which is paid on the face value, on a half-yearly basis. Generally, the tenor of dated securities ranges from 5 years to 40 years.
  • State Development Loans (SDLs): State Governments also raise loans from the market which are called SDLs. SDLs are dated securities issued through normal auctions similar to the auctions conducted for dated securities issued by the Central Government.
• Issue Mechanism: The RBI conducts Open Market Operations (OMOs) for sale or purchase of G-secs to adjust money supply conditions. It sells g-secs to remove liquidity from the market and buys back g-secs to infuse liquidity into the market.
• Frequency: These operations are often conducted on a day-to-day basis in a manner that balances inflation while helping banks continue to lend.
• No direct involvement with public: RBI carries out the OMO through commercial banks and does not directly deal with the public.

Source:

• The Hindu

(GS Paper II & III – Governance, labour regulations, aviation policy, institutional challenges, safety standards, regulatory framework in transport sector)

Introduction (Context)

The recent disruption in India’s civil aviation sector, marked by large-scale flight cancellations by IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has brought regulatory implementation and corporate responsibility into sharp focus. 

The crisis emerged after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) began enforcing revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) intended to reduce pilot fatigue and enhance safety. 

What Are the New FDTL Norms?

The DGCA’s revised FDTL framework, notified in early 2024, sought to improve safety by addressing chronic pilot fatigue. Key provisions include:

• Increasing mandatory weekly rest for pilots from 36 to 48 hours.
• Extending “night hours” from 12 AM–5 AM to 12 AM–6 AM.
• Limiting night landings per pilot to two per week.
• Stricter caps on duty periods involving night operations.
• Rosters to be issued at least 15 days in advance and compulsory fatigue reporting.

These measures parallel global aviation best practices (FAA, EASA) and are essential to preventing fatigue-induced errors. Implementation was deliberately phased to allow airlines time to prepare.

Why IndiGo Was Hit Hardest

Despite long prior notice, IndiGo faced a severe staffing shortfall, exposing gaps in workforce planning:

1. Inadequate Pilot Strength: IndiGo’s fleet expansion was not matched with proportionate hiring. Its lean crew model, designed for maximal utilisation, collapsed once rest periods and night-duty limits became stricter.
2. Overdependence on Night Operations: A large share of IndiGo’s network involves late-night and early-morning flights. With night-duty norms tightened, existing crew could not legally operate many scheduled sectors.
3. Poor Transition Planning: Despite having more than a year to adjust, IndiGo allegedly maintained hiring freezes and failed to build buffer capacity. As FDTL rules kicked in, scheduling became unmanageable.
4. Lack of Contingency Preparedness: The absence of alternative planning, surge-hiring, or rostering buffers led to a domino effect: crew unavailability → mass delays → cancellations → nationwide disruption.

The crisis therefore reflects corporate mismanagement rather than flaws in safety regulations.

Impact: Passengers, Economy, and Aviation Ecosystem

1. Passenger Hardship: Thousands faced severe disruptions — missed exams, medical appointments, visas, funerals, and business commitments. Refunds, the standard compensation, often fail to cover consequential losses.
2. National-Level Disruption: IndiGo controls over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market. A breakdown in such a dominant airline creates macro-level ripple effects:

• sharp surge in airfares,
• capacity strain on other carriers,
• cascading delays across airports,
• increased burden on trains and road transport.

3. Reputational Damage: The incident dents public trust in both airline reliability and regulatory oversight mechanisms.

Governance and Regulatory Lessons

1. Regulation–Implementation Gap: Even well-crafted rules fail without enforcement audits. Regulators must assess industry preparedness before activating major reforms.
2. Need for Compliance Milestones: DGCA could enforce interim hiring targets, fatigue-risk audits, and progress reports to prevent last-minute collapse.
3. Balancing Safety and Service Continuity: Safety cannot be compromised, but sudden enforcement without ensuring workforce readiness undermines essential services. A calibrated roadmap linking rules with capacity benchmarks is crucial.
4. Strengthening Passenger Rights: The crisis highlights the inadequacy of India’s compensation framework. Globally, EU norms mandate compensation beyond refunds. India may need similar provisions, especially for overnight stranding or vulnerable passengers.
5. Oversight of Dominant Market Players: Large carriers must maintain resilience standards, including mandatory operational buffers, emergency staffing pools, and compliance reporting — particularly in sectors affecting public convenience.

Conclusion

The IndiGo meltdown underscores a fundamental governance lesson: regulations achieve their purpose only when supported by institutional preparedness, accountability, and robust monitoring. FDTL norms are essential for aviation safety, but IndiGo’s failure to plan, hire, and adapt converted a safety reform into a public crisis. India’s aviation sector, poised for global growth, must balance safety imperatives with service reliability, strengthen consumer protection, and ensure that dominant market players comply with resilience standards. 

UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. “Discuss how the IndiGo–FDTL crisis reflects gaps in regulatory implementation in India. Suggest policy measures to avoid such systemic failures.” (250 words)

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indigo-meltdown-flight-duty-time-limitations-fdtl-cancelled-flights-10403991/

(GS Paper II – International Relations, bilateral ties, strategic partnerships, defence cooperation, geopolitics and India’s foreign policy.)

Introduction (Context)

The friendship between India and Russia stands as one of the most enduring bilateral relationships in Asia. What began as an alliance during the Cold War has evolved into a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”, encompassing politics, defence, energy, economy, culture and more. 

In the context of a shifting global order — marked by great-power competition, economic realignments and regional instability — India-Russia ties continue to offer New Delhi strategic depth, energy security and diplomatic flexibility.

1. Historical Context and Evolution of Strategic Partnership

• The bilateral relationship traces back to the Cold War era, when the erstwhile Soviet Union was a key security partner for India. Over decades, cooperation deepened across defence, politics and economic support.
• In October 2000, the two countries signed the “Declaration on India–Russia Strategic Partnership.” Subsequently, in 2010, it was elevated to “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” reflecting deeper trust and broader cooperation.
• Institutional mechanisms such as annual summits, inter-governmental commissions (for trade, economy, science & technology), 2+2 ministerial dialogues, and regular high-level visits ensure continuity and structured engagement.

2. Key Areas of Cooperation
3. a) Defence & Security

• Defence has long been the backbone of the relationship. Joint exercises (e.g., INDRA — tri-service naval exercise) ensure operational interoperability.
• Under initiatives such as “Make in India,” both nations now co-produce defence hardware: from tanks and aircraft to the indigenous manufacturing of rifles (e.g., via the joint venture Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited — IRRPL).
• Beyond supplies, the cooperation is shifting towards joint R&D, co-development, and long-term strategic collaboration in defence manufacturing.

1. b) Energy, Nuclear, and Economic Cooperation

• Energy security remains central: Russia has been a reliable supplier of crude oil and natural gas, and provides critical support for India’s civil nuclear energy ambitions (e.g., projects like Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant).
• Economic ties have witnessed considerable growth: bilateral trade in FY 2024-25 reached a record high of approximately USD 68–69 billion.
• However, there remains a structural imbalance: Indian exports to Russia are still relatively modest (under USD 5 billion), while imports — especially energy and raw materials — dominate.
• Recognizing this, both sides during the 2025 summit adopted a “Programme 2030 for Strategic Economic Cooperation,” targeting enhanced trade, diversification beyond hydrocarbons, smoother supply-chains (fertilizers, critical minerals), labour mobility, and improved trade mechanisms (e.g., regulatory harmonization, payment systems).

1. c) Multilateral Cooperation & Global Strategy

• India and Russia coordinate closely in global fora such as BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), United Nations and other multilateral platforms, promoting a multipolar world order — a core shared objective. 
• Their strategic alignment helps in balancing great-power pressures, giving India diplomatic flexibility and Russia a reliable partner in Asia. 

1. d) Cultural, Educational & People-to-People Links

• The partnership is not limited to state-level deals. There is a robust foundation of cultural exchange, student mobility, academic cooperation, and mutual interest in arts, literature and traditional practices. Such interactions foster mutual understanding and goodwill, strengthening the “soft” dimension of the friendship. 

Recent Developments (2025) — Reaffirmation & New Strategic Economic Focus

The December 2025 state visit of President Putin marked a turning point: both countries reaffirmed their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” at the 23rd summit — coinciding with the 25th anniversary of its formalisation.

During the visit:

• A strategic economic roadmap (Programme 2030) was adopted to diversify trade beyond hydrocarbons, promote cooperation in fertilizers, critical minerals, shipping, labour mobility, and high-technology manufacturing.
• Mutual commitment was made to strengthen energy-security, nuclear cooperation, and co-development under “Make in India” framework.
• Leaders emphasized that despite global turbulence — including sanctions on Russia and Western pressures — India-Russia ties remain resilient, mutually respectful, and a stabilising factor in a multipolar world.

This recent shift underscores a broader transformation: from a defence-centric partnership to one increasingly driven by economic interdependence, diversification, and institutional depth.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

• Trade Imbalance & Export Deficit: Indian exports to Russia remain low relative to imports. Without diversification and facilitation of Indian goods — pharmaceuticals, agro-products, technology — the trade imbalance may deepen.
• Geopolitical Pressure & External Sanctions: Russia’s confrontation with the West — especially post-Ukraine conflict — can expose India to diplomatic and economic pressure, complicating India’s multi-alignment strategy.
• Dependence Risk: Over-reliance on Russia for defence and energy could limit India’s strategic autonomy. India must continue diversifying its suppliers and building indigenous capabilities.
• Need for Private Sector & People-to-People Engagement: Much of the relationship remains government-driven. Greater involvement of private businesses, academic and cultural institutions can deepen and sustain long-term ties beyond geopolitical flux.

Conclusion

The India–Russia friendship stands today at a critical juncture: a quarter-century of formal strategic partnership has matured into a broader collaboration across defence, energy, economy, technology and culture. The 2025 summit and the new Programme 2030 reflect a conscious shift toward economic diversification, making the relationship more resilient and future-ready. For India, maintaining this partnership offers strategic depth, energy security, and diplomatic flexibility in an uncertain global environment.

UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. “Critically evaluate the challenges to India–Russia strategic partnership in the current geopolitical environment, and suggest how India can maintain autonomy while sustaining this long-standing friendship.” (250 words)

Source : https://epaper.thehindu.com/reader