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Foreign Policy Watch: India-China

[18th October 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Better global governance led by China and India

op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: India & Its Neighborhood - Relations

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2023] Virus of Conflict is affecting the functioning of the SCO.” In the light of the above statement, point out the role of India in mitigating problems.

Linkage: This PYQ is important as it tests India’s diplomatic balance within the SCO, amid regional rivalries. The article connects by showing how the Xi–Modi meeting and Global Governance Initiative reflect India’s role in restoring trust and strengthening multilateralism within the SCO framework.

Mentor’s Comment

As the world enters a phase of geopolitical churn and institutional fatigue, the call for a reformed, people-centric global governance system grows louder. The 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic ties and the 80th year of the UN offer a historical moment: two Asian giants, once colonised, now rising powers, can redefine global order. For UPSC aspirants, this theme bridges multilateral diplomacy, global reforms, and India’s evolving foreign policy—key areas across GS Paper 2 and IR essays.

Introduction

The year 2025 marks a milestone in both bilateral and global history. India and China, home to over 2.8 billion people, commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, even as the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary. Against the backdrop of unilateralism and weakening multilateralism, the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by China, with India’s cooperation, offers a blueprint for a more equitable international order. As Asia’s two leading powers move from rivalry to partnership, their convergence could transform the world’s governance architecture, symbolising a decisive shift toward multipolarity and shared prosperity.

Why is the India-China cooperation in 2025 a landmark moment?

  1. Historical Context: The two leaders, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, have met 18 times since 2014, an unprecedented frequency symbolising sustained engagement despite border tensions.
  2. Symbolic Restoration: The bilateral meeting at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024) and now at the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin (2025) reflects a conscious reset in relations.
  3. Global Expectation: Their 19th meeting during the Tianjin Summit is being seen globally as a moment to restore balance to multilateral decision-making, especially amid Western dominance fatigue.
  4. Public Diplomacy: Both sides emphasise “partners, not rivals,” signaling a shift from competition to cooperation.

What is changing in the global governance discourse?

  1. Erosion of Trust: The early 21st century witnessed rising unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism, eroding faith in international institutions.
  2. UN at 80: The UN system, though foundational, now faces criticism for its limited representation of developing nations and sluggish response to global crises.
  3. Reform Imperative: The question before humanity is not just “who governs” but “how governance is shared.” The article highlights the need for reform without rupture, evolving existing systems rather than replacing them.
  4. Asia’s Moment: The decline of Western dominance and the rise of Asia and Eurasia are redefining the rules of the game, with India and China at the center.

What is the Global Governance Initiative (GGI)?

  1. New Vision: The GGI, announced by President Xi at the Tianjin SCO Summit, aims to correct the deficit in global governance by promoting a fair, inclusive order.
  • Five Core Principles:
    1. Sovereign Equality: Respect for all nations’ independence and dignity; greater democracy in international relations.
    2. Rule of Law: Equal application of international law and rejection of double standards.
    3. Multilateralism: Strengthening the UN as the core platform for global decision-making.
    4. People-Centric Approach: Governance should prioritise well-being, safety, and fulfillment of citizens globally.
    5. Real Results Orientation: Developed nations must shoulder more responsibility, while developing nations must cooperate for shared solutions.
    6. Essence: The GGI is not about creating parallel institutions but reforming and improving existing ones to respond effectively to modern challenges.

How can India-China cooperation strengthen multilateralism?

  1. Shared Responsibilities: Both countries, as major developing economies and SCO/BRICS members, bear the responsibility to defend international fairness and justice.
  2. Strategic Coordination: The leaders’ dialogue stresses communication on major international and regional issues to bridge divides in the Global South.

Complementary Visions:

  1. China’s “community of shared future for mankind”
  2. India’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (One Earth, One Family, One Future)
  3. Together, they embody the moral and developmental leadership needed for a post-Western global order.
  4. Practical Gains: Resumption of direct flights, maintenance of border stability, and enhanced trade cooperation show concrete steps toward normalisation.

What challenges lie ahead for India-China collaboration?

  1. Trust Deficit: Lingering border disputes and differing political models may slow strategic trust-building.
  2. Competing Ambitions: While both aspire to leadership in the Global South, perception management and narrative balance will be crucial.
  3. Western Reaction: The West may perceive India-China cooperation as a counterweight to transatlantic power, potentially complicating India’s strategic autonomy.
  4. Need for Institutionalisation: Long-term progress demands institutional mechanisms, track-II dialogues, multilateral coordination cells, and joint UN reform working groups.

Conclusion

The India-China partnership in 2025 signals more than a diplomatic milestone, it represents a potential rebalancing of world order. As the UN turns 80, the call for shared leadership between emerging powers grows urgent. If pursued with mutual trust and strategic maturity, the GGI-led collaboration can make the 21st century truly an Asian century rooted in equity, inclusivity, and sustainability. In a fractured world, cooperation, not competition, may be the only path to survival and progress.

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Internal Security Architecture Shortcomings – Key Forces, NIA, IB, CCTNS, etc.

Gorkhaland statehood, Government names ex-DY NSA as interlocutor

Explained | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution - historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

Introduction

India’s federal architecture is unique: it allows the creation of new states to accommodate cultural, linguistic, administrative, or developmental aspirations under Article 3 of the Constitution. Yet, every statehood movement also reflects deeper struggles over identity, representation, and development.

The Gorkhaland issue, revived by the Centre’s recent move to appoint an interlocutor, is one of the oldest and most persistent among these. While it directly concerns the Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas of West Bengal, it mirrors similar aspirations voiced across India, from Vidarbha to Bodoland, Harit Pradesh, and Kukiland.

The Gorkhaland Appointment: Why is this news significant?

The Centre’s decision to name ex-Dy NSA Pankaj Kumar Singh as interlocutor for Gorkha talks is a politically charged step:

  1. First formal engagement in years: It revives official talks after a long hiatus, moving beyond ad hoc arrangements like the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
  2. High-level signalling: The appointment of a senior security expert signals that the government sees the issue as sensitive, with implications for internal security and electoral politics.
  3. Identity at stake: It concerns recognition of the Gorkha community’s distinct identity, and a permanent political solution to decades of protests and autonomy struggles.
  4. Pre-election dimension: With West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, the move is seen as an attempt to politically engage the hill electorate, which has historically swung between national and regional parties.
  5. Potential precedent: Success in structured dialogue may offer a model for addressing other regional aspirations through negotiation instead of agitation.

Understanding the Gorkhaland Issue

Historical Context

  1. Origins: The demand for Gorkhaland dates back to 1907, when the Hillmen’s Association first sought a separate administrative unit for the Nepali-speaking people of Darjeeling under British rule.
  2. Post-Independence Phase: With linguistic reorganisation (1950s), Nepali-speaking Gorkhas felt their identity was inadequately represented in Bengali-dominated West Bengal.
  3. 1980s Uprising: The movement, led by Subhash Ghising’s Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), turned violent; it led to the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988 as a compromise.
  4. Second Wave: In 2007, Bimal Gurung formed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), renewing the demand; this led to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2011, but unrest persisted.
  5. Present Phase: The latest talks under an interlocutor aim to find a “permanent political solution” and recognition of 11 sub-tribes as Scheduled Tribes.

Key Demands

  1. Separate Gorkhaland State: Carved out of Darjeeling and parts of Kalimpong, to ensure administrative autonomy and cultural recognition.
  2. Scheduled Tribe Status: For 11 Gorkha sub-tribes to ensure constitutional protections and socio-economic inclusion.
  3. Constitutional Recognition: Safeguards for the political identity and rights of the Gorkha people under the Indian Constitution.

Statehood Demands in India: The Bigger Picture

India has witnessed over 30 major statehood demands since Independence. While the Constitution empowers Parliament to reorganize states under Article 3, these movements have tested the balance between administrative efficiency, cultural autonomy, and political representation.

Why Do Statehood Demands Arise?

  • Cultural & Linguistic Identity:
      1. Key reason: Desire for recognition of unique language, ethnicity, or cultural practices.
      2. Examples: Gorkhaland (Nepali-speaking identity), Bodoland (Bodo tribes), Vidarbha (Marathi dialect and identity).
  • Developmental Disparities:
      1. Economic neglect and poor resource distribution often drive demands.
      2. Example: Telangana’s movement was anchored in perceived neglect by Andhra’s political elite.
  • Administrative Efficiency:
      1. Smaller states are believed to ensure better governance and resource management.
      2. Example: Creation of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand in 2000.
  • Political Representation & Power-sharing:
      1. Regional elites demand greater political space or autonomy to reflect local aspirations.
  • Ethnic Security and Integration:
    1. Fear of cultural assimilation or discrimination by dominant groups drives ethnic-based mobilisation (e.g., Bodoland, Kukiland, Karbi Anglong).
Year Movement Outcome
1953 Andhra State (Potti Sriramulu movement) First linguistic state formed
1960 Maharashtra & Gujarat Bombay Reorganisation Act
1972 Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura New northeastern states created
1987 Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh Granted full statehood
2000 Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand Created for administrative and developmental reasons
2014 Telangana Result of sustained agitation
Ongoing Gorkhaland, Bodoland, Vidarbha, Bundelkhand Unresolved, periodic agitations

Constitutional Mechanism for Creating New States

Article 3 empowers Parliament to form new states by altering the boundaries or names of existing ones.

Procedure:

  1. Process: Bill introduced in Parliament → Referred to State Legislature for views (not consent) Passed by simple majority.
  2. Centre’s Discretion: State opinion is advisory, not binding — ensuring national flexibility but sometimes triggering discontent.
  3. Examples:
    • Telangana was created despite Andhra Pradesh’s legislature opposing it.
    • Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar through a parliamentary process.

Challenges and Implications of Statehood Movements

  1. Political Fragmentation: Multiplying small states may weaken national coherence and increase Centre-State friction.
  2. Administrative Burden: Creating new bureaucratic structures increases fiscal costs.
  3. Resource Distribution Issues: Conflicts over rivers, minerals, and forest resources (e.g., Telangana-Andhra).
  4. Ethnic Competition: One community’s recognition can fuel new demands from others.
  5. Positive Outcomes: Improved local governance, targeted development, and better representation when well-implemented (e.g., Chhattisgarh’s success in rural health and PDS).

Lessons from Gorkhaland and Other Movements

  1. Need for Institutional Dialogue: Interlocutors and commissions reduce the risk of violent agitation by creating formal channels for negotiation.
  2. Multi-stakeholder Approach: Engagement should include Centre, State, local bodies, and civil society, not just political parties.
  3. Development-Based Solutions: Autonomy and identity must align with socio-economic development for long-term peace.
  4. Model for Others: If successful, the Gorkhaland dialogue could serve as a precedent for resolving other autonomy demands peacefully.

Conclusion

The Gorkhaland issue is not merely a regional agitation; it is part of India’s broader story of balancing unity with diversity, integration with autonomy, and identity with development. The Centre’s interlocutor initiative provides a constitutional, consultative path forward, one that aligns with India’s ethos of resolving internal aspirations democratically.

As India continues to evolve, the challenge will be to ensure that new demands for statehood or autonomy are addressed through dialogue, data, and development, not through division or delay.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2013] Creation of a large number of smaller States would bring in effective governance at the State level. Discuss.

Linkage: This PYQ links directly with Gorkhaland and other statehood demands, testing ideas of better governance and federal balance. The article helps students with examples, chronology, and constitutional context to write precise GS II answers.

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Air Pollution

Rising carbon dioxide levels

Explained | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Introduction

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚), the most significant greenhouse gas responsible for climate change, has increased by a record amount between 2023 and 2024, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global average COâ‚‚ concentration reached 423.9 parts per million (ppm) in 2024, 3.5 ppm higher than in 2023, representing the steepest one-year increase since records began.

This unprecedented rise coincides with 2024 being the hottest year on record, with average global temperatures 1.55°C higher than pre-industrial levels, breaching the 1.5°C limit scientists consider critical to prevent irreversible impacts.

Why This Is a Big Deal

This spike is unprecedented in modern climate history. Never before have COâ‚‚ levels risen so sharply in a single year. It not only breaks the trend of relative stability observed over the last decade but also exposes the collapse of the global climate response despite the Paris Agreement. The rate of increase (3.5 ppm) is more than four times the average annual increase recorded between 2011 and 2020.

What makes this even more concerning is that both human-induced emissions (from fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activity) and natural feedback loops (like reduced ocean absorption and forest diebacks) are now amplifying each other, creating a self-perpetuating climate crisis.

What Is Driving the Surge in COâ‚‚ Concentrations?

  1. Record-breaking increase: Global average CO₂ near Earth’s surface reached 423.9 ppm in 2024, marking a 3.5 ppm rise, the largest annual jump ever.
  2. Failure of climate frameworks: Despite international efforts under the Paris Agreement, emissions continue to climb, reflecting inadequate implementation and weak compliance.
  3. Global warming feedback: Higher temperatures reduce oceans’ capacity to absorb CO₂ and increase droughts and wildfires, releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
  4. Burning of fossil fuels: Continued dependence on coal, oil, and gas remains the primary driver, responsible for more than 90% of anthropogenic COâ‚‚ emissions.

How Are Natural Sinks Losing Their Absorptive Power?

  1. Reduced ocean absorption: Warmer oceans have absorbed less COâ‚‚ in 2024 due to decreased solubility of gases in higher temperatures.
  2. Forest fires and droughts: A spike in wildfires and prolonged dry spells reduced the COâ‚‚-absorbing capacity of trees and grasslands.
  3. Feedback loops: The decline of natural sinks worsens COâ‚‚ imbalance, which in turn leads to even greater heat trapping and further degradation of these ecosystems.

How Do Other Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) Compare?

  1. Methane (CH₄): Second-most potent GHG, rose by 8 parts per billion in 2024 to reach 1,924 ppb, slightly below last decade’s average but still historically high.
  2. Nitrous oxide (Nâ‚‚O): Increased by 1 ppb to 338 ppb in 2024, contributing to long-term warming effects due to its 270-year lifespan.
  3. Relative potency: While CHâ‚„ and Nâ‚‚O are more heat-trapping per molecule, COâ‚‚ dominates because of its sheer volume and persistence in the atmosphere for thousands of years.

Why Is This Rise Unprecedented?

  1. Historical contrast: From the 1960s to 2010, CO₂ levels rose by 0.8 ppm per year; between 2011–2020, it increased by 2.4 ppm annually, far below the 2023–24 jump of 3.5 ppm.
  2. Crossing planetary limits: This rise pushed Earth past the 1.5°C warming threshold, previously considered a safe boundary.
  3. Interlinked causes: WMO attributes this to a mix of human emissions and natural COâ‚‚ variability, indicating global climate systems are destabilizing.

Challenges for Global Climate Action

  1. WMO warning: The new data underscores the difficulty in curbing GHG accumulation in the atmosphere.
  2. Failure of control mechanisms: Despite decades of negotiations, anthropogenic activities continue unchecked.
  3. Feedback intensification: Natural processes, once climate stabilizers, are now acting as amplifiers of warming.
  4. Paris Agreement setback: The emission reduction targets for 2030 are unlikely to be met, while global temperatures already breached the 1.5°C mark.

Conclusion

The record-breaking surge in CO₂ levels between 2023 and 2024 is not just a statistical anomaly, it’s a planetary red alert. The intertwining of human actions and natural feedback loops signifies that climate change has entered a runaway phase unless drastic global mitigation is undertaken. The failure to meet emission targets and the collapse of natural carbon sinks highlight that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat, it’s a present emergency demanding immediate collective action.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022] Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997.

Linkage: The article is important as it highlights the sharpest-ever rise in global COâ‚‚ levels, signalling a critical climate tipping point and the failure of existing global frameworks like the Kyoto and Paris Agreements to curb emissions. It links directly with the question by showing how unchecked greenhouse gases are intensifying global warming and threatening climate stability.

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Indian Air Force Updates

Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

Why in the News?

Defence Minister inaugurated the third production line of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Nashik.

About Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A:

  • Overview: Single-engine, 4.5-generation, supersonic multirole fighter aircraft developed indigenously under India’s LCA programme.
  • Developers: Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of DRDO and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • Purpose: Conceived in the late 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21 and Su-7 fleets of the Indian Air Force.
  • Operational Induction: Entered production for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2024 after extensive flight trials and certification.
  • Roles: Designed for air superiority, ground attack, close air support, and interception missions.
  • Manufacturing Hubs: Produced at HAL Bengaluru and HAL Nashik, with parallel assembly lines to meet IAF delivery targets.

Key Features of Tejas LCA-Mk1A:

  • Design: Tailless compound delta-wing configuration ensuring high agility, aerodynamic efficiency, and reduced radar cross-section.
  • Engine: Powered by General Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan, enabling speeds up to Mach 1.8.
  • Avionics: Equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Electronic Warfare Suite, and Onboard Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS).
  • Flight Control: Features Digital Fly-by-Wire System for enhanced stability and pilot control.
  • Weapons Integration: Can carry air-to-air, air-to-ground, and precision-guided munitions, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles.
  • Cockpit: Modern glass cockpit with Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls.
  • Payload & Range: Payload capacity over 4,000 kg across eight external hardpoints; combat radius around 500 km, ferry range up to 1,700 km.
  • Network Capability: Integrated with secure data link systems for real-time communication and situational awareness.
  • Maintenance: Modular design allowing easy servicing, high turnaround rate, and improved mission readiness for sustained operations.
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following aircraft:
1. Rafael 2. MiG-29 3. Tejas MK-1
How many of the above are considered fifth-generation fighter aircraft?
Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None*

 

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RBI Notifications

RBI’s Gold Reserve exceeds $100 billion

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

Why in the News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that India’s gold reserves surpassed $100 billion for the first time in history, reaching $102.365 billion in the week ending October 10, 2025.

India’s Gold Reserves and Composition (2025):

  • Total Holdings: As of March 31, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held approximately 879.58 metric tonnes of gold.
  • Valuation Milestone: In October 2025, the value of India’s gold reserves crossed USD 100 billion, reaching about USD 102.36 billion, the highest in history.
  • Forex Share: Gold’s share in India’s total foreign exchange reserves rose to 14.7 %, the highest since 1996–97, driven by valuation gains and steady accumulation.
  • Yearly Rise: Early in 2025, gold comprised 12.5 % of reserves, indicating a sharp increase through the year amid global market volatility.
  • Repatriation Move: During FY 2024–25, the RBI repatriated 100.32 tonnes of gold from overseas vaults to India, expanding domestic holdings.

Distribution of Gold Holdings (March 2025):

  • Domestic Holdings: About 200 metric tonnes held within India.
  • Overseas Holdings: Around 367 metric tonnes stored abroad.
  • Deposits with Foreign Institutions: Approximately 19 metric tonnes.
  • Trend Evolution: Gold share in reserves rose from 5.9 % (2021) to 11.7 % (2025) due to strategic diversification and valuation gains.

What are Gold Reserves?

  • A gold reserve is the gold held by a country’s central bank, acting as a backup for financial promises and a store of value.
  • India, like other nations, stores some of its gold reserves in foreign vaults to spread out risk and facilitate international trading.
  • India’s Gold Reserves:
    • As of the end of March 2024, the RBI held 822.10 tonnes of gold, with 408.31 tonnes stored domestically.
    • The share of gold in the total forex of India is around 7-8% as of 2023.

Where does the RBI store its gold?

  • India’s gold reserves are primarily stored in the Bank of England, which is known for its stringent security protocols.
  • The RBI also stores a portion of its gold reserves at the:
    1. Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel, Switzerland, and the
    2. Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the United States.
During India’s foreign exchange crisis in 1990-91, the country pledged some of its gold reserves to the Bank of England to secure a $405 million loan, according to reports.

Even though the loan was paid back by November 1991, India decided to keep the gold in the UK for convenience.

Why does the RBI store its gold in foreign banks?

  • Convenience: Storing gold overseas makes it easier for India to trade, engage in swaps and earn returns.
  • Averting Risks: There are risks involved, especially during times of geopolitical tensions and war.
    • The recent freezing of Russian assets by Western nations has raised worries about the safety of assets kept abroad and the RBI decision to shift a portion of the gold reserve to India could be prompted by these concerns.
  • Stable Prices: Unlike fiat currencies, which can be subject to inflation or devaluation due to various economic factors, the value of gold tends to be relatively stable over time, which makes it an attractive asset for central banks to hold as a reserve.

Benefits Offered by Gold Reserves

  • Control domestic gold prices: With its big stash of gold, the RBI can help control local gold prices by using some of it in India. Last financial year, the RBI added about 27.47 tonnes of gold to the total reserve, bringing it to 794.63 tonnes.
  • Security buffer: The increased gold reserve works as a hedge against any financial crisis and to take measures to control inflation as well as currency devaluation.
[UPSC 2015] The problem of international liquidity is related to the non-availability of:

(a) Goods and services

(b) Gold and silver

(c) Dollars and other hard currencies *

(d) Exportable surplus

 

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Global Geological And Climatic Events

Taftan Volcano, Iran 

Places in newsPrelims Only | Geography | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

Why in the News?

New satellite data in Geophysical Research Letters (October 2025) shows Iran’s Taftan volcano, dormant for 710,000 years, is reactivating.

Taftan Volcano, Iran 

About Taftan Volcano:

  • Location: Situated in southeastern Iran, about 56 km from the Pakistan border, within the Makran continental volcanic arc.
  • Elevation: Rises to 3,940 metres (12,927 feet), Iran’s only active volcano in the Makran arc.
  • Tectonic Origin: Formed by subduction of the Arabian oceanic plate beneath the Eurasian continental plate.
  • Volcanic Type & Composition: A stratovolcano composed mainly of andesitic and dacitic lava, with pyroclastic flows and volcanic breccias.
  • Structure: Features two summits, Narkuh and Matherkuh, and extensive ignimbrite and lava fans stretching over 30 km.
  • Hydrothermal Activity: Hosts sulfur-emitting fumaroles, visible from up to 100 km, sustained by an active hydrothermal system.
  • Eruptive History: Major activity phases around 8 Ma, 6 Ma, and 0.7 Ma; last lava flow dated to about 6,950 years ago.
  • Recent Observations: 2023–24 satellite data detected 9 cm ground uplift, indicating subsurface pressure buildup and reclassification from extinct to dormant.

Scientific Interpretation and Outlook:

  • Magma Dynamics: Uplift linked to gas accumulation or shallow magma intrusion at 490–630 m depth, possibly fed by deeper chambers (~3.5 km).
  • Current Status: No imminent eruption expected; likely pressure release via degassing or minor eruptions.
  • Monitoring Gap: Lack of ground-based GPS or seismic sensors; reliance on satellite InSAR data for deformation tracking.
  • Scientific Recommendations: Call for establishing a volcano observatory in southeastern Iran for real-time monitoring and gas analysis.
  • Regional Significance: Highlights Makran arc tectonic activity and underscores the need for international geophysical collaboration.
  • Research Importance: Taftan’s reawakening demonstrates the role of remote sensing in detecting hidden volcanic unrest and stresses continuous monitoring to assess eruption potential and regional hazard mitigation.
[UPSC 2024] Consider the following:
1. Pyroclastic debris 2. Ash and dust 3. Nitrogen compounds 4. Sulphur compoundsHow many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) only four*

 

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Foreign Policy Watch: United Nations

UN Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP)

IOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

Why in the News?

India has been elected as Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for a three-year term till 2028.

About UN-GGIM-Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP):

  • Objective: Maximises social, economic, and environmental benefits of geospatial data through regional collaboration, innovation, and policy harmonisation.
  • Overview: It is one of the five regional committees under the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM).
  • Function: Serves as the highest inter-governmental platform in the region for joint decision-making on geospatial data generation, governance, and utilisation.
  • Mandate: Coordinates geospatial policy, promotes data standardisation, and supports applications in sustainable development, disaster management, and environmental monitoring.
  • Establishment: Formed in 1995 as the Permanent Committee on GIS Infrastructure for Asia and the Pacific (PCGIAP); rebranded in 2012 following UN-GGIM’s global launch in 2011.
  • Membership: Comprises 56 national geospatial agencies from across the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Secretariat: Hosted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) since 2018, providing institutional and technical support.

India’s Role and Significance:

  • Leadership Role: India elected Co-Chair (2025–2028), reflecting global recognition of its geospatial governance and digital mapping expertise.
  • Strategic Influence: Strengthens India’s position in regional policy formation, data ethics, and standardisation frameworks.
  • Policy Alignment: Complements India’s National Geospatial Policy 2022, Digital India, and PM GatiShakti National Master Plan initiatives.
  • Regional Contribution: India to lead capacity-building, data interoperability, and open-access frameworks for disaster management and climate resilience.
  • Institutional Integration: Links ISRO’s remote sensing and Survey of India’s ground mapping to regional development goals.
  • Global Impact: Positions India as a knowledge hub in geospatial innovation and ensures its active role in defining global spatial data standards for sustainable growth.
[UPSC 2023]  Consider the following infrastructure sectors :

1. Affordable housing 2. Mass rapid transport 3. Health care 4. Renewable energy

On how many of the above does UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative focus for its investments?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three* (d) All four

 

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Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Blackbuck Re-Introduction in Chhattisgarh

Species | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

Why in the News?

Chhattisgarh launched a five-year Blackbuck Reintroduction Plan (2021–2026) at Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary to revive the species after 50 years of local extinction.

Blackbucks have vanished from Chhattisgarh by the 1970s, primarily due to poaching, habitat loss, and grassland encroachment.

About the Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra):

  • Habitat: Native to India and Nepal, commonly found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Physical Traits: Medium-sized antelope with males having spiral horns and black coats; known as the fastest land mammal in India.
  • Behaviour: Diurnal grazer that thrives in open plains and grasslands.
  • Ecological Role: Serves as an indicator species for grassland ecosystem health.
  • State Animal: Designated as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Cultural Symbolism: Represents purity in Hinduism and good fortune in Buddhism.
  • Legal Protection:
    • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
    • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
    • CITES: Appendix III.
[UPSC 2017] In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply?

Options: (a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger. *

(b) It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection; and how it is impossible to prevent its extinction.

(c) It is endemic to a particular region of India.

(d) Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.

 

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