BharatNotes Time needed: 3–4 hours | High-yield rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (15–20 questions per paper)
International Summits (2023–2026)
G20
| Year | Host | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | India — New Delhi (Bharat Mandapam), Sept 9–10 | Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"; African Union admitted as permanent member (G20 now 21 members: 19 countries + EU + AU) |
| 2024 | Brazil — Rio de Janeiro, Nov 18–19 | Theme: "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet" |
| 2025 | South Africa — Johannesburg, Nov 22–23 | Theme: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability"; first G20 on African soil; US absent; Argentina refused to sign declaration |
| 2026 | South Africa → USA (chair) | G20 2026 chaired by USA |
Prelims trap: African Union joined G20 at the 2023 New Delhi Summit — G20 is now 21 members (19 countries + EU + AU). AU represents 55 African states but is itself ONE member of G20.
SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
- India hosted SCO Summit 2023 virtually (July 4, 2023); PM Modi chaired
- SCO Summit 2024: Astana, Kazakhstan (July 3–4, 2024)
- SCO Summit 2025: Tianjin, China (Aug 31–Sep 1, 2025); theme: "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move"; Kyrgyzstan took over 2026 presidency
- SCO Summit 2026: Kyrgyzstan (2025–26 rotating chair; assumed at Tianjin Summit); summit location TBC; theme: "25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace"
- SCO members: 10 (China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan + Iran — 2023 + Belarus — 2024)
- HQ: Beijing; working languages: Chinese + Russian
BRICS
- Effective January 1, 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE joined (invited at 2023 Johannesburg Summit); Saudi Arabia deferred — membership not yet formalised
- BRICS 2024 Summit: Kazan, Russia (October 2024); theme: "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security"
- BRICS 2025: Brazil (chair); FM-level and other ministerial meetings held
- BRICS 2026: India (chair); theme: "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"; BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet hosted in New Delhi, May 14–15, 2026 (chaired by EAM S. Jaishankar)
Climate (UNFCCC)
| COP | Location | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| COP26 (2021) | Glasgow, UK (Nov) | India: Net Zero by 2070; Panchamrit targets; Glasgow Climate Pact; "phase down" (not phase out) coal |
| COP27 (2022) | Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Nov) | Loss and Damage Fund established; no new fossil fuel language |
| COP28 (2023) | Dubai, UAE (Nov 30–Dec 13) | First Global Stocktake; "transition away" from fossil fuels (NOT "phase out"); L&D Fund operationalisation begun; UAE Consensus |
| COP29 (2024) | Baku, Azerbaijan (Nov 11–24) | NCQG: $300 billion/year by 2035 (developed countries' floor); broader goal $1.3 trillion/year from all actors (Baku-to-Belém Roadmap); Article 6 rulebook finalised after 9 years; L&D Fund fully operationalised ($731 mn pledged); Philippines = Fund host |
| COP30 (2025) | Belém, Brazil (Nov 10–22) | Belém Package (29 decisions); adaptation finance tripled (target ~$120 bn/yr by 2035); 59 adaptation indicators adopted (Global Goal on Adaptation); no binding fossil fuel phase-out; 122+ NDCs submitted globally but emission gap remains — only 12% below 2019 by 2035 (Paris requires 43%); India did not submit updated NDC at COP30 |
Prelims trap: Loss and Damage Fund — established COP27 → operationalisation begun COP28 → fully operationalised COP29. "Transition away" from fossil fuels = COP28 (NOT "phase out"; NOT "phase down" — that was coal at COP26). NCQG = $300 bn/yr (developed countries' obligation) + $1.3 tn/yr (all actors' aspirational goal) — both agreed at COP29. Article 6 (international carbon markets) rulebook = COP29 after 9 years of negotiations. COP30 = Belém, Brazil (first COP in Amazon region).
India — Constitutional & Legal (2023–2026)
| Development | Date | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 106th Amendment (Women's Reservation) | September 2023 | 33% reservation in LS + State Assemblies; effective only after delimitation post-census |
| Article 370 SC verdict | December 11, 2023 | 5-judge bench (unanimous) upheld August 5, 2019 abrogation as constitutional |
| BNS / BNSS / BSA — new criminal laws | Notified Dec 25, 2023; in force July 1, 2024 | BNS replaced IPC 1860; BNSS replaced CrPC 1973; BSA replaced Indian Evidence Act 1872; key additions: community service as punishment, mandatory forensic investigation for 7+ year offences, organised crime provisions |
| CAA Rules notified | March 11, 2024 | Citizenship Amendment Rules 2024; fast-track citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan (entered India before Dec 31, 2014); first certificates issued May 2024 |
| One Nation One Election — Kovind Committee | Report submitted March 14, 2024; Cabinet accepted Sep 18, 2024 | Phase 1: simultaneous LS + State elections; Phase 2: local body polls within 100 days; Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill 2024 + UT Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 introduced Dec 17, 2024; referred to JPC (Chair: P.P. Chaudhary); not yet passed |
| J&K Delimitation | Completed May 2022 | Seats: 83→90; first J&K Assembly elections Sept–Oct 2024; Omar Abdullah (NC-led alliance) = Chief Minister; J&K statehood NOT yet restored as of May 2026 |
| Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 | Passed LS: Apr 3; RS: Apr 4; Presidential assent: Apr 5, 2025 (Act No. 14 of 2025) | Renamed "Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Act"; non-Muslim members on Waqf boards; government power to survey waqf properties; appeals to civil courts reinstated; Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill 2024 also passed |
| DPDP Rules, 2025 | Notified November 14, 2025 | Operationalises Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (enacted Aug 11, 2023); Data Fiduciaries must respond to requests within 90 days; 18-month phased compliance timeline; Data Protection Board = fully digital institution |
| Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 | Introduced Lok Sabha Aug 2025 | Removal of Ministers upon detention for 30+ consecutive days; PM/CM must resign after 30 days detention; referred to JPC (Chair: Aparajita Sarangi); not yet passed |
| Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 + Delimitation Bill, 2026 | Introduced Apr 16, 2026; negatived in Lok Sabha | Would have increased Lok Sabha to 850 seats (from 543), enabled delimitation on 2011 census, activated Women's Reservation (106th Amendment); bill voted down in Lok Sabha |
Prelims trap — new criminal laws: BNS/BNSS/BSA came into force July 1, 2024 (not 2023 — enacted Dec 2023, commenced July 2024). The IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act still apply to offences committed before July 1, 2024. BNS has 358 sections (vs IPC's 511); terrorism now defined in BNS for first time.
Prelims trap — Waqf: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament in August 2024, sent to JPC, and passed both Houses in April 2025. The official short title of the amending act remains Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (officially Act No. 14 of 2025). The renamed Act is called UMEED.
Prelims trap — 131st Amendment: The Delimitation Bill 2026 was negatived (voted down) in Lok Sabha — it did not pass. This means Women's Reservation under the 106th Amendment cannot be implemented until a fresh delimitation bill is enacted and delimitation completed (post-2027 Census).
Important Appointments (2024–2026)
| Post | Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RBI Governor | Sanjay Malhotra | Took over December 2024 (from Shaktikanta Das); former Revenue Secretary |
| Chief Justice of India (current) | Justice Surya Kant (from Nov 24, 2025) | 53rd CJI; first from Haryana; serves until Feb 9, 2027; preceded by B.R. Gavai (52nd; May 14–Nov 23, 2025; 2nd SC judge from SC community) |
| Chief Election Commissioner (26th) | Gyanesh Kumar (from February 19, 2025) | Replaced Rajiv Kumar (retired Feb 18, 2025); appointed under new CEC appointment law |
| CAG | K. Sanjay Murthy (from November 2024) | Replaced Girish Chandra Murmu |
| Foreign Secretary | Vikram Misri (from July 2024) | Replaced Vinay Kwatra |
| NSA | Ajit Doval | Reappointed for 3rd term (2024–2029) |
| NITI Aayog CEO | Nidhi Chhibber (additional charge, from Feb 25, 2026) | Succeeded B.V.R. Subrahmanyam (term ended Feb 24, 2026; 1988-batch IAS, Chhattisgarh); Chhibber: 1994-batch IAS, Chhattisgarh; earlier headed CBSE; holds additional charge pending regular appointment |
| 16th Finance Commission Chair | Dr Arvind Panagariya | Award period 2026-27 to 2030-31; report submitted November 17, 2025 |
Economy (2024–2026)
| Development | Details |
|---|---|
| India's GDP rank | IMF WEO April 2025: India 4th ($4.19T) > Japan ($4.18T); IMF WEO October 2025: India 5th; IMF WEO April 2026: India 6th ($4.15T) — slipped behind Japan ($4.38T) + UK ($4.26T) due to rupee depreciation (84.6→88.5/USD) + base year revision (2011-12→2022-23); projected to regain 4th by 2027 ($4.58T, ahead of UK $4.47T); fastest-growing major economy (6.5% growth) |
| Budget 2025-26 | Presented Feb 1, 2025; zero tax up to ₹12 lakh (new regime, ₹12.75L for salaried); fiscal deficit 4.4% of GDP; Capex ₹11.21 lakh crore |
| Budget 2026-27 | Presented Feb 1, 2026 (FM Sitharaman's 8th consecutive Budget); fiscal deficit 4.3% of GDP; capex ₹12.2 lakh crore; railways capex ₹2.77–2.93 lakh crore (record); income tax rebate up to ₹12.75 lakh; new schemes: Biopharma SHAKTI (₹10,000 cr), SME Growth Fund (₹10,000 cr) |
| GDP growth FY2025-26 | 7.6% real growth (new base year 2022-23); NSO revised base from 2011-12 → 2022-23 in Feb 2026; nominal GDP ₹345.47 lakh crore; fastest-growing major economy (World Bank, Apr 2026) |
| RBI repo rate | 5.25% (as of May 2026); 125 bps total cut during 2025 (from 6.50%); neutral stance; CPI inflation April 2026: 3.48% |
| UPI | FY2025-26: ₹314 lakh crore transaction value (24,162 crore transactions); up from ₹260 lakh crore in FY2024-25; IMF recognised as world's largest real-time payment system (49% of global transactions); live in 7 countries: UAE, Singapore, France, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Sri Lanka (PIB/NPCI, April 2026) |
| India Semiconductor Mission | 3 plants approved (Cabinet, Feb 29, 2024): Tata (Dholera, Gujarat) + Tata ATMP (Morigaon, Assam) + CG Power-Renesas (Sanand, Gujarat); ISM 2.0 (Dec 2025/Budget 2026-27): 10 more projects, ₹1.60 lakh crore |
| Forex reserves | All-time high: $728.49 billion (February 2026); fell to ~$697B (May 8, 2026) — RBI sold $100B+ defending rupee; India = 4th largest globally (after China, Japan, Switzerland) |
| India-UK Free Trade Agreement | Negotiations concluded May 6, 2025; formally signed July 24, 2025; 99% of India's exports → UK duty-free; target: $120 billion bilateral trade by 2030; ratification underway (not in force as of May 2026) |
| Global Innovation Index 2025 | India ranked 38th/139 (WIPO); leads Central & Southern Asia; 1st in ICT services exports — see Reports & Rankings table |
Environment (2024–2026)
| Development | Details |
|---|---|
| 99th Ramsar Site | Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, Aligarh, UP — notified April 22, 2026 (World Earth Day); India = highest in Asia, 3rd globally (UK: 176, Mexico: 144) |
| State with most Ramsar sites | Tamil Nadu — 20 sites (clear leader); UP = 12 sites (2nd) |
| 58th Tiger Reserve | Madhav National Park, Shivpuri, MP — March 9, 2025; MP has 9 tiger reserves (most in India) |
| 107th National Park | Similipal, Odisha — notified April 24, 2025; home to world's only known wild melanistic (pseudo-melanistic) tigers |
| 18th Biosphere Reserve / 13th UNESCO MAB | Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh — September 27, 2025; 7,770 sq km; includes Spiti Valley, Pin Valley, Chandratal |
| India's non-fossil capacity | Crossed 50% milestone — June 2025 (5 years ahead of NDC 2030 target); total installed capacity ~505 GW by Oct 2025 |
| Solar capacity | ~150 GW (March 2026); 45 GW added in FY2025-26 — highest ever single-year addition |
Prelims trap: Tamil Nadu has the most Ramsar sites (20). UP is 2nd with 12. Shekha Jheel (April 2026) brought UP's count to 12 — but TN still leads overall.
Prelims trap: Similipal became India's 107th National Park (not 106th) in April 2025.
Defence & Security (2024–2026)
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Divyastra (Agni-V MIRV) | March 11, 2024 | First MIRV test on Agni-V; Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha; India joins MIRV club (USA, Russia, China, UK, France) |
| INS Arighaat commissioned | August 29, 2024 | India's 2nd SSBN; home port Visakhapatnam |
| LCA Tejas Mk1A deliveries | 2024 | First aircraft delivered; 83-aircraft order (Feb 2021); GE-414 engine delays |
| Pahalgam Terror Attack | April 22, 2025 | 26 civilians killed at Baisaran meadow (~7 km from Pahalgam, Anantnag), J&K; terrorists from The Resistance Front (TRF), proxy of LeT; M4 carbines + AK-47s; deadliest civilian attack since 2008 Mumbai attacks |
| Operation Sindoor | May 7, 2025 | India struck 9 terrorist targets in Pakistan and PoK; precision strikes with BrahMos (Su-30MKI), SCALP-EG + HAMMER (Rafale); S-400 Triumf engaged PAF assets at ~300 km; 4-day conflict; ceasefire May 10, 2025 |
| Post-Sindoor measures | April 23 – ongoing | India suspended Indus Waters Treaty (1960) on April 23, 2025; trade with Pakistan suspended; Pakistan closed its airspace to India (extended to Jan 2026); India suspended Pakistani visas |
Operation Sindoor — 9 targets (for Prelims):
| Location | Camp / Facility | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Bahawalpur (Punjab, Pak) | Markaz Subhan Allah (JeM HQ) | JeM |
| Muridke (Punjab, Pak) | Markaz Taiba (LeT HQ) | LeT |
| Sialkot (Punjab, Pak) | Mehmoona Joya | LeT |
| Muzaffarabad (PoK) | Syedna Bilal Camp + Shawai Nalla Camp | JeM/LeT |
| Kotli (PoK) | Makaz Raheel Shahid + Markaz Abbas | Hizbul/JeM |
| Bhimber (PoK) | Markaz Ahle Hadith, Barnala | LeT |
| Tehra Kalan (PoK) | Sarjal Facility | JeM |
International reaction: US VP Vance initially called it "none of our business"; Trump announced ceasefire on May 10 (claimed mediator role — India rejected this, called ceasefire bilateral). UK, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, EU supported India's right to counter terrorism. UN called for "maximum restraint."
Prelims trap: Operation Sindoor = May 7, 2025 (day of strikes). Ceasefire = May 10, 2025. Indus Waters Treaty (1960) suspended April 23, 2025. BrahMos + SCALP + HAMMER weapons used; S-400 deployed for air defence.
Defence — 2026 developments:
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Agni-3 test | February 6, 2026 | Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (3,000–3,500 km range); tested from Chandipur, Odisha; Strategic Forces Command; routine operational validation |
| INS Aridhaman commissioned | April 3, 2026 | India's 3rd SSBN; Arihant-class; commissioned at Visakhapatnam; India now operates 3 SSBNs simultaneously (Arihant, Arighaat, Aridhaman); strengthens sea-leg of nuclear triad |
| NASM-SR maiden salvo | April 29, 2026 | Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range; first salvo launch (two missiles in quick succession) from Sea King Mk.42B helicopter; Bay of Bengal; range 55 km; developed by DRDO; produced by Adani Defence & Aerospace |
| DRDO scramjet combustor | May 9, 2026 | Actively cooled full-scale scramjet combustor sustained run of 1,200+ seconds — major milestone for India's hypersonic missile programme; DRDL, Hyderabad |
| Defence exports FY2025-26 | May 2026 | Record ₹38,424 crore (+62.66% over FY25's ₹23,622 crore); exports to 80+ countries; DPSUs ₹21,071 crore + private sector ₹17,353 crore |
| DAC clearance | March 27, 2026 | Defence Acquisition Council cleared proposals worth ₹2.38 lakh crore — includes additional S-400 system, Medium Transport Aircraft, Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft |
Prelims trap: India's three SSBNs as of April 2026: INS Arihant (1st, 2016) → INS Arighaat (2nd, Aug 29, 2024) → INS Aridhaman (3rd, Apr 3, 2026). NASM-SR is distinct from BrahMos — it is a short-range helicopter-launched anti-ship missile, 55 km range, produced by Adani Defence (not ISRO or HAL).
Space & Technology (2023–2026)
| Mission | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrayaan-3 | Landed Aug 23, 2023 | South polar region (~69°S); Vikram + Pragyan; India = 4th country for soft lunar landing; 1st ever near south pole |
| Aditya-L1 | Launched Sep 2, 2023; L1 orbit Jan 6, 2024 | India's first solar mission; L1 Lagrange point; 7 payloads |
| XPoSat | Jan 1, 2024 | India's first X-ray polarimetry satellite; world's 2nd after NASA's IXPE |
| RLV Pushpak (LEX-02) | March 22, 2024 | Reusable launch vehicle autonomous landing test; ATR, Chitradurga, Karnataka |
| SPADEX | Dec 30, 2024 | Space Docking Experiment; India = 4th country to demonstrate space docking (after USA, Russia, China); undocking achieved March 13, 2025 |
| EOS-09 / PSLV-C61 | May 18, 2025 | FAILED — PS3 stage anomaly ~203 seconds into flight; satellite lost; PSLV's rare failure; ISRO's 101st mission |
| PSLV-C62 / EOS-N1 | January 12, 2026 | FAILED — third-stage (PS3) roll-rate anomaly; EOS-N1 (Anwesha) + 15 co-passengers lost (16 total); 2nd consecutive PSLV failure (after C61 May 2025); same PS3 stage; Failure Analysis Committee (FAC) report due June 2026; return-to-flight targeted late-June 2026 |
| Gaganyaan G1 (uncrewed) | Targeted H2 2026 (second half) | Carries humanoid robot Vyommitra; delayed from earlier target (March 2026) due to PSLV-C62 failure analysis; crew module + service module integration ongoing; final crew egress trials completed Feb 2026; India's first uncrewed orbital test flight for human spaceflight programme |
| PFBR first criticality | April 6, 2026 | Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor, Kalpakkam; first criticality 08:25 PM IST; Stage 2 of India's 3-stage nuclear programme; not yet commercial |
Technology Milestones (2025)
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| First "Made in India" chips | India's first domestically manufactured chips (28–90 nm) rolled out from CG Power-Renesas pilot plant, Gujarat (August 2025); India transitions from "chip-less" to chip-manufacturing nation |
| First advanced chip design centres | India's first 3-nm chip design centres inaugurated in Noida and Bengaluru (2025) under the India Semiconductor Mission |
| VIKRAM3201 microprocessor | India's first Make-in-India 32-bit microprocessor qualified for harsh space environments |
| Global Innovation Index 2025 | India ranked 38th/139 (WIPO, Sept 2025); up from 81st in 2015 — see Reports & Rankings table |
New Schemes (2024–2026)
| Scheme | Launch | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana | Feb 15, 2024 | Rooftop solar; 1 crore households; up to 300 units free electricity/month |
| PM Internship Scheme | Oct 3, 2024 | 1 crore internships over 5 years in top 500 companies; ₹5,000/month stipend; Ministry of Corporate Affairs |
| Namo Drone Didi | 2024 | Drones for women SHGs in villages; agricultural use; training provided |
| PM JANMAN | Nov 2023 | Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs); 75 groups; housing, roads, connectivity |
| Lakhpati Didi | 2024 | Target: 3 crore SHG women earning ≥₹1 lakh/year (revised from 2 crore) |
| Biopharma SHAKTI | Budget 2026-27 (Feb 1, 2026) | Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation; ₹10,000 crore over 5 years; 3 new NIPERs + upgrade 7 existing NIPERs; develop India as global biopharma/biosimilars hub |
| SME Growth Fund | Budget 2026-27 | ₹10,000 crore dedicated fund for MSMEs; equity support to create future champions; channelled via SIDBI |
| India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (ISM 2.0) | Budget 2026-27 / Dec 2025 | 10 new semiconductor projects; ₹1.60 lakh crore total investment; focus on manufacturing semiconductor equipment and materials; full-stack Indian IP |
Budget 2026-27 key numbers: FM Nirmala Sitharaman's 8th consecutive Budget (Feb 1, 2026); fiscal deficit target 4.3% of GDP; total capex ₹12.2 lakh crore; railways capex ₹2.77–2.93 lakh crore (record); income tax full rebate for individuals up to ₹12.75 lakh/year (same as FY26).
Reports & Rankings (2024–2026)
| Report | Publisher | India / Key Data |
|---|---|---|
| Global Hunger Index 2024 | Welthungerhilfe | 105/127; "Serious" category |
| Global Hunger Index 2025 | Welthungerhilfe | 102/123; Score 25.8; "Serious" category; child wasting 18.7% (2nd highest globally) |
| HDI 2025 (data: 2023) | UNDP | Rank 130/193, HDI 0.685; Medium Human Development; up from 133rd in 2022 |
| EPI 2024 | Yale/Columbia | 176/180 |
| Press Freedom Index 2025 | RSF | 151/180 (improved from 159 in 2024) |
| Press Freedom Index 2026 | RSF (released May 2026) | 157/180 — dropped 6 places; RSF cited violence against journalists, concentrated media ownership, weaponisation of security laws |
| Global Innovation Index 2025 | WIPO | 38/139 (up from 39 in 2024; 81st in 2015) |
| Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 | Transparency International | 96/180 (score 38); down from 93rd in 2023; Denmark tops (score 90) |
| Living Planet Report 2024 | WWF | Global wildlife populations declined 73% since 1970 |
| World Happiness Report 2025 | UN SDSN / Gallup | India 118/147; Finland 1st (8th consecutive year since 2018) |
| SIPRI Military Expenditure 2025 | SIPRI (released April 2026) | India 5th globally ($92.1 bn; +8.9%); overtook UK; Order: USA $954B > China $336B > Russia $190B > Germany $114B > India $92.1B |
| India GDP growth FY2025-26 | NSO (new base 2022-23) | 7.6% real growth (revised up from 7.1% in FY25); nominal GDP ₹345.47 lakh crore; GDP base year shifted from 2011-12 → 2022-23 |
| World Bank India Update Apr 2026 | World Bank | India GDP 7.6% in FY26 (fastest-growing major economy); FY27 projection 6.6% |
| IMF WEO April 2026 — GDP rank | IMF | India 6th ($4.15T); behind USA, China, Germany, Japan ($4.38T), UK ($4.26T); rupee depreciation + base-year revision caused slip from 5th; projected 4th by 2027 |
Awards (2024–2026)
| Award | Recipient | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna 2024 | P.V. Narasimha Rao, M.S. Swaminathan, Chaudhary Charan Singh, L.K. Advani, Karpoori Thakur | 5 awarded in 2024 — most in a single year |
| Nobel Peace 2024 | Nihon Hidankyo (Japan) | Atomic bomb survivors' organisation |
| Nobel Literature 2024 | Han Kang (South Korea) | The Vegetarian |
| Nobel Economics 2024 | Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, James A. Robinson | Institutions and prosperity |
| Nobel Chemistry 2024 | David Baker + Demis Hassabis + John Jumper | Baker: computational protein design; Hassabis + Jumper: protein structure prediction (AlphaFold) |
| Dadasaheb Phalke 2022 | Mithun Chakraborty | Presented at 70th National Film Awards (Oct 8, 2024) |
| Dadasaheb Phalke 2023 | Mohanlal | Announced for 71st National Film Awards; presented Sep 2025 |
| Nobel Peace 2025 | María Corina Machado (Venezuela) | "For her tireless work promoting democratic rights and struggle for transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela"; prize received at Oslo ceremony (December 10, 2025) by her daughter Ana Corina Sosa on her behalf — Machado was in hiding inside Venezuela and arrived in Oslo only after the ceremony |
| Nobel Literature 2025 | László Krasznahorkai (Hungary) | "For compelling and visionary oeuvre that reaffirms the power of art" |
| Nobel Chemistry 2025 | Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, Omar Yaghi | Development of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) — molecular constructions for CO₂ capture, water harvesting from desert air |
| Nobel Physics 2025 | John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, John M. Martinis | Discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in electric circuits (foundational to quantum computing) |
| Nobel Medicine 2025 | Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi | Discoveries on regulatory T cells (Tregs) and their role in preventing autoimmune diseases |
| Nobel Economics 2025 | Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt | "For explaining innovation-driven economic growth"; Aghion + Howitt: theory of growth through creative destruction |
| Bharat Ratna 2025 | Not awarded | No Bharat Ratna announced in 2025; last: 2024 (5 awardees — most in single year) |
| Bharat Ratna 2026 | Not awarded (as of May 18, 2026) | No announcement made |
| Padma Vibhushan 2026 | Dharmendra (posthumous, film); V.S. Achuthanandan (posthumous, former Kerala CM); N. Rajam (violin); K.T. Thomas (former SC judge); P. Narayanan (writer) | 5 Padma Vibhushan; announced January 25, 2026 |
| Padma Bhushan 2026 | Alka Yagnik (singer); Mammootty (actor); Uday Kotak (industry); Vijay Amritraj (tennis) | 13 Padma Bhushan total; ceremony May 27, 2026 |
| Padma Shri 2026 — Sports | Rohit Sharma (cricket); Harmanpreet Kaur (cricket); Savita Punia (hockey) | 113 Padma Shri total; 19 women; 16 posthumous |
Sports (2023–2026)
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| ICC ODI World Cup 2023 | Australia won (beat India in final, November 2023) |
| T20 World Cup 2024 | India won (beat South Africa in final, Barbados); Rohit Sharma captain; unbeaten run |
| Paris Olympics 2024 | India: 6 medals (1 silver: Neeraj Chopra — 89.45m; 5 bronze); competed in 16 sports |
| FIDE World Chess 2024 | Gukesh D (India) — youngest ever World Chess Champion (age 18); beat Ding Liren; Singapore |
| Chess Olympiad 2024 | India won both Open and Women's gold; Budapest, Hungary |
| ICC Champions Trophy 2025 | India won (beat New Zealand by 4 wickets in final; Dubai, March 9, 2025); India played in Dubai (not Pakistan); unbeaten throughout; 3rd Champions Trophy title (first team to win 3); Rohit Sharma Player of the Match in final |
| ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 | India won maiden title (beat South Africa by 52 runs in final; DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, Nov 2, 2025); Shafali Verma top scorer; Deepti Sharma Player of Tournament; first Asian women's team to win a global cricket title |
| ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 | India won (beat New Zealand by 96 runs in final; Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, March 8, 2026); India posted 255/5 (highest T20 WC final total); NZ bowled out 159; India's 3rd T20 WC title (2007, 2024, 2026); first team to defend T20 WC title; first host nation to win T20 WC; co-hosted by India + Sri Lanka (Feb 7 – Mar 8, 2026) |
| Commonwealth Games 2026 | Glasgow, Scotland; July 23 – August 2, 2026 (upcoming); 10 sports (reduced from usual 20+); cricket and hockey axed; includes 6 Para Sports; Opening Ceremony at OVO Hydro; Scottish Government took over hosting after Victoria (Australia) cancelled in 2023 |
Prelims trap: Neeraj Chopra won silver (not gold) at Paris 2024 — Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) won gold (92.97 m); India = 6 medals (1S + 5B); 71st in medals table. Gukesh D is the youngest-ever FIDE World Chess Champion. India won ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai (not Pakistan). India's Women's ODI World Cup 2025 = India's first-ever Women's World Cup title. T20 WC 2026 Player of Tournament: Sanju Samson (scored 89 in the final). India's 3 T20 WC titles: 2007 (South Africa) → 2024 (West Indies) → 2026 (India/Sri Lanka). CWG 2026 = Glasgow (Scotland took over from Victoria/Australia which cancelled in 2023); cricket + hockey NOT included in the 10-sport programme.
India — Foreign Relations
| Bilateral | Key Development |
|---|---|
| India-US | iCET (Critical & Emerging Technologies); MQ-9B drone deal; GE-414 engine deal for Tejas; Quad active |
| India-Russia | Continued discounted oil imports; Modi visit Moscow July 2024 |
| India-China | LAC disengagement at Depsang + Demchok (October 2024); patrolling resumed; Wang Yi visited India August 2025 — expert group on boundary delimitation + border management working group established; post-Sindoor complication: China sided with Pakistan diplomatically during May 2025 conflict, straining the 2025 thaw |
| India-Maldives | President Muizzu requested Indian troops withdrawal; India complied Jan 2024; gradual normalisation |
| India-Pakistan | Pahalgam attack (Apr 22) → Indus Waters Treaty suspended (Apr 23) → Operation Sindoor (May 7) → Ceasefire (May 10, 2025); trade + airspace suspended; IWT remains "in abeyance" until Pakistan ends cross-border terror |
| India-Canada | Diplomatic crisis (Sept 2023 — Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing); ambassadors exchanged again by mid-2025; partial normalisation ongoing |
| India-UK | FTA signed July 24, 2025 (negotiations concluded May 6, 2025); 99% of India's exports → UK duty-free; bilateral trade target $120 billion by 2030; not yet in force (ratification underway) |
| India-Nordic | 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Oslo, May 18–19, 2026; first Indian PM visit to Norway in 43 years; all 5 Nordic PMs participated (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden); focus: renewable energy, blue economy, Arctic cooperation, defence, space |
More Current Affairs 2025–26
India — Bilateral Summits 2025–26
| Development | Date | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| India–Saudi Arabia Summit | April 22–23, 2025 | PM Modi's 3rd visit to Saudi Arabia; co-chaired 2nd meeting of India–Saudi Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) with Crown Prince MBS in Jeddah; SPC expanded to 4 Ministerial Committees (added Defence + Tourism); energy agreements (two new refineries in India), AI, cybersecurity, space, health; joint statement condemned Pahalgam attack | India-Saudi SPC 2nd meeting; April 2025; 4 Ministerial Committees |
| India–UAE Strategic Agreements | May 2026 | $5 billion in defence, energy, and shipping agreements during PM Modi's Abu Dhabi visit; MoU on Strategic Petroleum Reserves; long-term LPG supply agreement | India-UAE: $5 billion pacts; defence + energy; Abu Dhabi |
| PM Modi 5-Nation Tour | May 15–20, 2026 | UAE → Netherlands → Sweden → Norway → Italy; 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Oslo (May 18–19) — first Indian PM visit to Norway in 43 years; all 5 Nordic PMs participated | India-Nordic 3rd edition = Oslo, Norway, May 2026 |
Awards & Honours 2025
| Award | Recipient / Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna 2025 | Not awarded in 2025 — no Bharat Ratna was announced for the year 2025 | Last Bharat Ratna: 2024 (5 awarded — most in a single year: PV Narasimha Rao, MS Swaminathan, Chaudhary Charan Singh, L.K. Advani, Karpoori Thakur) |
| Padma Vibhushan 2025 | 7 awarded; includes D. Nageshwar Reddy (gastroenterology/medicine) | Total 2025: 7 Padma Vibhushan + 19 Padma Bhushan + 113 Padma Shri; ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, May 27, 2025 |
| Padma Bhushan 2025 — Science | Vinod Dham (Indian-American; "Father of the Pentium Chip"; Science and Engineering) | Recognised for advisory role in India's semiconductor mission |
| Padma Shri 2025 — Sports | Harvinder Singh (para-archer; Haryana; gold medal, Paris Paralympics 2024; first para-archer to receive Padma Shri) | Historic first; para-sport recognition |
| Padma Shri 2025 — Sports | Ravichandran Ashwin (cricketer; off-spin bowler; retired international career) | Recognised for outstanding cricket career |
Prelims trap: No Bharat Ratna was awarded in 2025. The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour — it is not awarded every year. The last round (2024) awarded 5 in one year, the most ever in a single year.
New Schemes & Programmes (2025–26)
| Scheme | Launch | Key Details | Prelims Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWAMIH Fund 2 | February 1, 2025 (Budget 2025-26) | Corpus: ₹15,000 crore; target: complete ~1 lakh stalled housing units; priority debt financing for stressed, brownfield, RERA-registered projects; operationalised by SBICAP | SWAMIH 2 = ₹15,000 crore; stalled housing; RERA-registered |
| Fund of Funds (FFS) for Startups | Budget 2025-26 | Corpus: ₹10,000 crore; equity support to early-stage startups; channelled via SIDBI to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) | FFS = ₹10,000 crore; SIDBI → AIFs → startups |
| Platform Workers on e-Shram | Budget 2025-26 | Registration of gig/platform workers on e-Shram portal; identity cards; healthcare under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (₹5 lakh/family/year) | First formal social security recognition for gig workers |
| One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) | 2025 | Provides institutional access to global academic journals/research through a unified digital platform; supports universities, colleges, research institutions; reduces access inequality between elite and smaller institutions | ONOS = national access to international academic journals |
Prelims trap: SWAMIH Fund 2 (₹15,000 crore, Budget 2025-26) is distinct from SWAMIH Fund 1 (launched 2019 for the same purpose but smaller scale). Both are for completing stalled real estate projects.
India — Demographic Snapshot 2025
| Indicator | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) | ~146.39 crore (1.464 billion); 18.3% of world population | UNFPA World Population Report 2025 |
| Global rank | 2nd most populous (overtook China in 2022/2023) | UN data |
| Median age | ~28 years (nearly a decade younger than China) | UN 2023 data |
| Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 1.975 children per woman (2023) — below replacement level of 2.1 | UN/UNFPA |
| Census status | Next census: Phase 1 (households) in 2026; Phase 2 (demographics) in February 2027 — delayed from 2021 due to COVID + administrative reasons | CNN/PIB April 2026 |
Prelims trap: India's TFR (1.975) is now below the replacement level of 2.1 — meaning India's population growth is slowing. India will still be the most populous country for several decades due to population momentum, but long-term aging trends are beginning.
Prelims trap: The India Census 2021 was delayed due to COVID-19 and is now rescheduled for 2026–27 — Phase 2 (demographic data collection) expected February 2027. This means no fresh census-based data for several years.
Updated Rankings — Comparison Table
| Report | 2024 Rank (India) | 2025 Rank (India) | Change | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Hunger Index | 105/127 ("Serious") | 102/123 ("Serious", score 25.8) | Improved by 3 | Welthungerhilfe / Concern Worldwide |
| HDI | 134/193 (HDI 0.676) | 130/193 (HDI 0.685) | Improved by 4 | UNDP |
| Press Freedom Index | 159/180 | 151/180 | Improved by 8 | RSF (Reporters Without Borders) |
| Global Innovation Index | 39/133 | 38/139 | Improved by 1 | WIPO |
Prelims trap: India's HDI rank in the 2025 Human Development Report is 130/193 — not 132 or 134. The HDR 2025 uses 2023 data. India's HDI value is 0.685 — still in "Medium Human Development" category (just below the 0.700 threshold for "High").
Prelims trap: India's Press Freedom Index 2025 rank is 151/180 (Reporters Without Borders / RSF) — an improvement from 159 in 2024. The 2026 RSF Index (released May 2026) shows India at 157/180 — a drop of 6 places.
Operation Sindoor — Extended Prelims Module
The Defence section above covers the core dates and targets. This section adds the diplomatic/legal dimensions high-yield for Prelims.
Post-Sindoor Diplomatic Measures
| Measure | Date / Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Indus Waters Treaty suspended | April 23, 2025 | India put IWT "in abeyance"; India's legal basis: rebus sic stantibus (fundamental change of circumstances) under Article 62, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT); India invoked changed circumstances — Pakistan's sustained cross-border terrorism since 1960 signing |
| Kartarpur Corridor | Suspended May 7, 2025 | MHA suspended Kartarpur Sahib Corridor services indefinitely from May 7, 2025 (day of Operation Sindoor strikes); Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed "until further notice" |
| Attari-Wagah Beating Retreat | Suspended May 7; resumed May 21, 2025 | BSF suspended the ceremony post-Operation Sindoor; resumed May 21, 2025 — but in modified form: troops will not shake hands with Pakistani Rangers, gates remain closed during flag-lowering |
| Trade & airspace | Suspended April–May 2025 | India suspended all trade with Pakistan; Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft (extended); India suspended Pakistani visas |
| UNSC | Pakistan raised at UNSC (July 2025) | Pakistan holds UNSC non-permanent seat (2025–26 term); raised Operation Sindoor under its UNSC Presidency (July 2025); India rejected Pakistan's "false and self-serving account" at UNSC; India stated it acted in line with the UNSC's own call for perpetrators to be brought to justice |
Prelims trap — IWT legal angles:
- IWT signed September 19, 1960; brokered by the World Bank; allocated eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) → India; western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) → Pakistan
- India invoked Article 62 VCLT (rebus sic stantibus — fundamental change of circumstances); India is not a signatory to VCLT (this is a counter-argument Pakistan can raise)
- IWT has no unilateral exit clause — Article IX requires parties to exhaust dispute-resolution mechanisms first (Permanent Indus Commission → neutral expert → arbitration at Hague)
- India termed suspension as placing treaty "in abeyance" (not formal termination); IWT remains suspended as of May 2026
Bangladesh Political Crisis (2024–2026)
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-quota protests begin | June 2024 | Students protested Supreme Court's reinstatement of 30% civil service quota for descendants of 1971 Liberation War freedom fighters; students demanded merit-based appointments |
| Sheikh Hasina resigns & flees | August 5, 2024 | Mass uprising; Hasina fled Dhaka by helicopter to India (undisclosed location); 1,000+ estimated killed in security crackdown before resignation; ended 15-year rule |
| Muhammad Yunus sworn in | August 8, 2024 | Nobel laureate (Nobel Peace Prize 2006 — for Grameen Bank / microcredit); sworn in as Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government (title: Chief Adviser, not PM); 20 Cabinet Advisers |
| Anti-Hindu violence | August–December 2024 | Hindu homes, temples, businesses targeted; Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 2,010 incidents (Aug 4–20); Chinmoy Krishna Das (Hindu religious leader) arrested on sedition charges → protests in India |
| India-Bangladesh strain | Late 2024 | India granted Hasina refuge; Bangladesh demanded extradition; Bangladeshi mission in Agartala attacked (Dec 2, 2024); India-Bangladesh relations at historic low |
| Hasina convicted | November 17, 2025 | International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Bangladesh convicted Hasina on 3 of 5 charges of crimes against humanity; sentenced to death; Bangladesh sent extradition request to India (Dec 2024); India "examining" request (as of May 2026) |
| Bangladesh elections 2026 | February 12, 2026 | First election since 2024 uprising; BNP-led alliance won landslide — 212/299 seats (BNP party alone: 209; alliance partners: 3); Tarique Rahman (son of Khaleda Zia) set to become PM; Yunus congratulated winner; BNP had been out of power for 17 years |
| Bangladesh-Pakistan/China pivot | 2024–2025 | After Hasina's fall, Bangladesh moved closer to Pakistan and China; Dhaka invited Pakistani delegations; suspended India's preferential treatment; China deepened infrastructure investment |
Prelims trap: Muhammad Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 (not Economics) — for founding Grameen Bank (1983) and pioneering the concept of microcredit. His title in Bangladesh's interim government was "Chief Adviser" (not Prime Minister — Bangladesh has a parliamentary system where the PM leads; the interim setup used "Chief Adviser"). The protest was against the 30% freedom fighter descendants' quota in civil services, not against any other quota.
State Assembly Elections 2024–26 — Complete Table
Delhi and J&K are covered in the Constitutional section above.
| State | Voting | Result | Winner / CM | Key Seat Tally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haryana | Oct 5, 2024 | BJP hat-trick | Nayab Singh Saini (BJP) continues as CM | BJP 48/90; Congress 37; others 5 |
| Maharashtra | Nov 20, 2024 | Mahayuti landslide | Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) sworn in Dec 5, 2024 (3rd term) | Mahayuti 235/288: BJP 132 + Shiv Sena (Shinde) 57 + NCP (Ajit) 41; MVA 50 |
| Jharkhand | Nov 13 + 20, 2024 | JMM-INDIA retained | Hemant Soren sworn in Nov 28, 2024 | JMM alliance 56/81: JMM 34 + Congress 16; NDA 24 |
| Bihar | Nov 6 + 11, 2025 | NDA landslide | Nitish Kumar (10th term); later to RS → Samrat Chaudhary became Bihar's first BJP CM (April 2026) | NDA 202/243; RJD-led MGB = 35 |
| West Bengal | April–May 2026 | BJP ends TMC 15-year rule | BJP wins majority; Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur; results May 4, 2026 | BJP 206/294; TMC reduced |
| Tamil Nadu | April–May 2026 | TVK debut — largest party | Actor Vijay's TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) emerged single-largest party with 107/234 seats in its debut election; VS Babu (TVK) defeated CM MK Stalin in Kolathur; results May 4, 2026 | TVK 107; DMK alliance reduced |
| Kerala | April–May 2026 | Congress-UDF landslide | Congress-led UDF won 102/140 seats (INC: 63, IUML: 22, others) — most decisive mandate since 1977; ended decade of LDF rule; results May 4, 2026 | UDF 102; LDF 35; BJP 3 |
| Assam | April–May 2026 | BJP 3rd consecutive term | BJP won majority on its own (82/126 seats); NDA total ~102 with BPF + AGP; results May 4, 2026 | BJP 82/126 |
Prelims trap: In Maharashtra (2024), BJP alone won 132 seats — Mahayuti total was 235. Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana) is from OBC community (Teli) — first OBC CM of Haryana. Tamil Nadu 2026: TVK is actor Vijay's party, contesting its first-ever election — becoming single-largest party (107/234) is unprecedented for a debut; TVK's VS Babu defeated CM MK Stalin in Kolathur. West Bengal 2026: BJP won 206/294 — ends Mamata Banerjee's 15-year rule (TMC won 2011, 2016, 2021). Kerala 2026: UDF won 102/140 — most decisive mandate since 1977; INC alone won 63 seats.
International Affairs — Missing Topics
Israel-Gaza
| Event | Date | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa files ICJ case | December 29, 2023 | Case name: "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)"; filed at International Court of Justice, The Hague |
| ICJ provisional measures | January 26, 2024 | ICJ ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts under Genocide Convention; did NOT order ceasefire; ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid |
| Gaza Ceasefire Phase 1 | January 15, 2025 (announced); January 19, 2025 (effective) | Mediators: USA, Qatar, Egypt; Phase 1 ran Jan 19 – Mar 18, 2025; Israel released ~1,900 Palestinian prisoners; Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages; IDF withdrew from populated Gaza areas |
| Phase 2 / ongoing | 2025 | Phase 2 negotiations stalled repeatedly; Israel resumed military operations in Gaza after Phase 1 ended; humanitarian crisis continues; no comprehensive settlement as of May 2026 |
Prelims trap: The ICJ case is a Genocide Convention case — not the Rome Statute / ICC (International Criminal Court). ICJ ≠ ICC. ICJ handles state-vs-state disputes; ICC prosecutes individuals. Both are at The Hague. The ceasefire mediators were Qatar + Egypt + USA (not the UN or Russia).
Russia-Ukraine War — Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full-scale invasion | February 24, 2022 (Crimea annexation: 2014) |
| Ukraine & NATO | Ukraine is not a NATO member — Russia demands permanent non-membership |
| 2025 peace talks | Trump envoy (Steve Witkoff) presented peace plan; Zelenskyy rejected territorial concessions without security guarantees |
| 3-day ceasefire | May 9, 2026 — fragile; both sides accused each other of violations |
| India's position | "Dialogue and diplomacy"; continued discounted Russian oil imports; Modi visited Moscow July 2024 |
Prelims trap: Ukraine is not a NATO member. Russia's full-scale invasion = February 24, 2022. India has NOT condemned Russia at UNGA (abstained repeatedly).
Syria — Assad's Fall (December 2024)
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Assad regime collapses | December 8, 2024 | HTS-led rebel offensive captured Damascus in 11 days; Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia; ended 54 years of Assad family rule |
| HTS leader | Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known by nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani) | Led Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS); declared head of post-revolutionary caretaker government from Dec 8, 2024 |
| Syria's interim president | January 29, 2025 | Ahmad al-Sharaa appointed President of Syria at the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference (People's Palace, Damascus) |
Prelims trap: HTS = Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra — a former Al-Qaeda affiliate; al-Sharaa distanced HTS from Al-Qaeda). Assad fled to Russia (not Turkey or Iran). Syria's civil war began in 2011 — Assad had survived for 13 years before the December 2024 collapse.
Myanmar
| Development | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| India scraps Free Movement Regime (FMR) | February 8, 2024 | MHA announced abolition of FMR with Myanmar; FMR allowed residents within 16 km of the India-Myanmar border to move freely without visa; reason: national security + demographic pressure in northeast India states |
| Border fencing | 2024 onward | India decided to fence the entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border; opposed by Mizoram and Nagaland (ethnic kin ties across border) |
| Prelims trap: India-Myanmar FMR was scrapped on February 8, 2024 — not 2023. The FMR covered 16 km on each side. India shares its longest land border with Bangladesh (4,156 km); Myanmar border is 1,643 km (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram). |
Sri Lanka
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| AKD wins presidency | September 21, 2024 | Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) won Sri Lanka's presidential election; won on second-count preference votes with 55.89%; first leftist president in Sri Lanka's history |
| NPP sweeps parliament | November 14, 2024 | National People's Power (NPP) coalition won 159/225 parliamentary seats — absolute majority; enabled strong reform mandate |
| AKD background | — | Leader of NPP (National People's Power) coalition; also leads JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna — a Marxist-Leninist party that previously led two armed insurrections in 1971 and 1989); first JVP leader to reach the presidency through the ballot |
Prelims trap: AKD's formal party is JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna), but the electoral coalition is NPP (National People's Power) — a broader alliance. The presidential election was September 21, 2024; parliamentary election was November 14, 2024. Sri Lanka's economic crisis was triggered by forex reserve depletion + COVID-19 + debt — the 2022 Aragalaya uprising ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Ease of Doing Business — Critical Prelims Trap
Prelims trap: The World Bank Ease of Doing Business index was discontinued in September 2021 — do not cite post-2020 EoDB ranks. It was replaced by the Business Ready (B-READY) framework (piloted 2023). This is a frequent UPSC trap where candidates may expect a current EoDB rank — there is none.
Key International Appointments (Updated May 2026)
| Post | Current Holder | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| UN Secretary-General | António Guterres (Portugal) | 9th UNSG; 2nd term: Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2026; election process for successor begins 2026 |
| WHO Director-General | Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia) | 2nd term: Aug 16, 2022 – Aug 15, 2027; first African WHO DG; cannot serve a 3rd term; successor election process began April 2026 |
| IMF Managing Director | Kristalina Georgieva (Bulgaria) | 2nd term: Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2029 (first term Oct 2019–Sep 2024); first Eastern European IMF MD |
| INTERPOL Secretary General | Valdecy Urquiza (Brazil) | Took over November 7, 2024; succeeded Jürgen Stock (Germany, 10 years); first non-European/American INTERPOL chief since 1923 |
| World Bank President | Ajay Banga (USA/India-origin) | Took office June 2023; first person of Indian origin to lead World Bank |
Prelims trap: Valdecy Urquiza replaced Jürgen Stock as INTERPOL SG in November 2024 — Stock had completed two full terms (10 years). Urquiza is from Brazil — a notable shift from European dominance of the post. INTERPOL HQ: Lyon, France. WHO DG Tedros's 2nd term ends August 2027 — election for his successor is underway.
India — Key Appointments (Updated May 2026)
| Post | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice of India (52nd) | B.R. Gavai | Oath: May 14, 2025; retired Nov 23, 2025; 2nd SC judge from Scheduled Caste community |
| Chief Justice of India (53rd / Current) | Justice Surya Kant | Oath: November 24, 2025; will serve until Feb 9, 2027; first CJI from Haryana |
| Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) | General Anil Chauhan (until May 30, 2026) → Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (from May 31, 2026) | Anil Chauhan = 2nd CDS (since Sep 30, 2022); Subramani appointed May 9, 2026; was Military Adviser, NSC Secretariat |
| Chief of Army Staff (COAS) | General Upendra Dwivedi | 30th COAS; took charge June 30, 2024; retires July 2026 |
| Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) | Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (until May 31) → Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan (from May 31, 2026) | Swaminathan: 27th CNS; appointed May 9, 2026; was Western Naval Commander; serves until Dec 31, 2028 |
| Chief of Air Staff (CAS) | Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh (AP Singh) | 28th CAS; took charge September 30, 2024 |
Prelims trap: India's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post was created on January 1, 2020 — first CDS was General Bipin Rawat (died in helicopter crash December 8, 2021); second CDS is General Anil Chauhan (Sep 2022–May 2026); third CDS will be Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani from May 31, 2026. CDS also serves as Secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence.
Prelims trap: The 53rd CJI is Justice Surya Kant (not B.R. Gavai — Gavai was 52nd). Justice Surya Kant is the first CJI from Haryana. B.R. Gavai was notable as only the second CJI from the Scheduled Caste community (after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who retired 2010).
Current Affairs Hooks That Test Static Concepts
UPSC paper-setters use a recent event to test the underlying static constitutional/legal/treaty concept. This section maps the hook to the underlying concept.
IWT Quick Reference (Operation Sindoor context)
Full Post-Sindoor details in the Operation Sindoor section above. Key static facts for Prelims:
IWT signed Sep 19, 1960; brokered by World Bank; eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) → India; western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) → Pakistan. India ~20% of flow, Pakistan ~80%. India's legal basis for suspension: Article 62 VCLT (rebus sic stantibus); India is not a VCLT signatory. Dispute mechanism: Permanent Indus Commission → Neutral Expert → PCA, The Hague.
16th Finance Commission — Quick Reference
Full details in Appointments table (Dr Arvind Panagariya). Static facts for Prelims:
Article 280 constitutes Finance Commission every 5 years; Chairman + 4 members. FC-XVI award period: 2026-27 to 2030-31; states to receive 41% of divisible pool (same as 15th FC). Finance Commission is a constitutional body — NOT statutory, NOT permanent; recommends but Cabinet decides.
ONOE (One Nation One Election) Hook → Key Constitutional Articles
The hook: Kovind Committee report (March 14, 2024) recommended simultaneous elections.
What UPSC tests — ONOE constitutional framework:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Article 83 | Duration of Houses of Parliament — Lok Sabha: 5 years from first sitting (unless dissolved earlier) |
| Article 172 | Duration of State Legislatures — 5 years from first sitting |
| Article 356 | President's Rule — can dissolve state assembly; complicates ONOE |
| New Article 82A | Kovind Committee recommends inserting Article 82A to govern transition to simultaneous elections |
| Amendments needed | Amendment to Articles 83, 172, + new Article 82A; no ratification by states required for Phase 1 |
| Phase 1 (Kovind report) | Simultaneous LS + all State Assembly elections |
| Phase 2 (Kovind report) | Local body elections within 100 days of LS + State elections |
| Status (May 2026) | The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill introduced in Lok Sabha December 2024; referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC); JPC report pending |
Prelims trap: ONOE requires amendment of Articles 83 and 172 + insertion of new Article 82A — a total of 18 constitutional amendments according to the Kovind Committee. Phase 1 amendments do not require state ratification; Phase 2 (local bodies) may require state legislation.
Waqf Amendment Act 2025 Hook → Waqf Board Static Concept
The hook: Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 — LS passed April 3, 2025; RS passed April 4, 2025; President's assent April 5, 2025; officially renamed UMEED Act.
What UPSC tests — Waqf static framework:
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Waqf | Islamic endowment of property/assets for religious or charitable purposes; inalienable under Muslim law |
| Waqf Act 1995 | Statutory framework for administration of waqf properties in India; established Waqf Boards at state level |
| State Waqf Boards | Statutory bodies (NOT constitutional) under state governments; manage and protect waqf properties; one per state |
| Central Waqf Council (CWC) | Statutory body under Ministry of Minority Affairs; advisory body; oversees and advises State Waqf Boards |
| Article 26 | Fundamental right of every religious denomination to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; core constitutional challenge to the Waqf Amendment Act |
| Supreme Court stay | SC stayed certain provisions of the 2025 Amendment in April 2025, pending constitutional challenge |
| Key amendment changes | Non-Muslim members on State Waqf Boards; District Collector to determine if land is waqf or government land; "Waqf by user" doctrine modified |
Prelims trap: Waqf Boards are statutory bodies — NOT constitutional bodies. Central Waqf Council is under Ministry of Minority Affairs — NOT Ministry of Law or Home Ministry. Article 26 (freedom to manage religious affairs) is the primary constitutional challenge — NOT Article 25 (freedom of religion, which is individual).
DPDP Act 2023 Hook → Data Protection and Privacy Rights
The hook: Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDP Act) passed August 2023; rules being notified; Data Protection Board being constituted.
What UPSC tests — DPDP static framework:
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passed | August 2023; India's first comprehensive personal data protection law |
| Replaces | Section 43A and Section 72A of IT Act 2000 (which had limited data protection provisions) |
| Data Protection Board (DPB) | An adjudicatory body — resolves disputes, imposes penalties; it is NOT a regulator like SEBI/TRAI; does not make policy |
| Constitutional basis | Right to privacy as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 — established by the Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India (2017) — 9-judge bench, unanimous |
| Consent framework | Explicit consent required for processing personal data; specific purposes; right to withdraw consent |
| Data Principal | The individual whose data is being processed (= data subject in GDPR terminology) |
| Data Fiduciary | Entity that processes personal data (company, organisation) |
| Significant Data Fiduciary (SDF) | High-impact entities (large user base or sensitive data) with additional obligations; designated by Central Government |
| DPDP Rules 2025 | Notified by MeitY November 14, 2025 (Gazette notification Nov 13); details consent management, processing norms, DPB procedures; substantive provisions come into force May 14, 2027 (18-month phased timeline); three enforcement dates: Nov 14, 2025 / Nov 14, 2026 / May 14, 2027 |
Prelims trap: The Data Protection Board is an adjudicatory body — it hears grievances and imposes fines; it is NOT a sectoral regulator making policy (unlike SEBI or TRAI). The constitutional underpinning is Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty), expanded to include privacy in Puttaswamy 2017. India's previous Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 was withdrawn in 2022 — DPDP Act 2023 is the operative law.
India — Major Legislative Reforms (Static Tests)
Criminal Law Reforms — BNS, BNSS, BSA (Effective July 1, 2024)
Three colonial-era criminal laws were replaced by new legislation. All three received Presidential assent on December 25, 2023 (Lok Sabha: December 20; Rajya Sabha: December 21) and came into force July 1, 2024:
| New Law | Hindi Full Name | Replaced | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNS | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 | Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) — 511 sections | 358 sections across 20 chapters |
| BNSS | Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 | Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) — 484 sections | 531 sections across 39 chapters |
| BSA | Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 | Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA) — 167 sections | 170 sections across 12 chapters |
Hindi name meanings (Prelims favourite): "Nyaya" = Justice; "Nagarik Suraksha" = Citizen Protection; "Sakshya" = Evidence; "Adhiniyam" = Act/Statute; "Sanhita" = Code/Compendium.
Key changes in BNS — section-wise:
| Change | Section | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Sedition removed; replaced | Section 152 BNS | IPC Section 124A (Sedition) repealed. Section 152 criminalises acts that "excite or attempt to excite secession, armed rebellion, subversive activities, or separatist feelings" — word "sedition" is absent; punishment: 7 years to life imprisonment |
| Terrorism defined | Section 113 BNS | First time terrorism is defined in India's main penal code (UAPA defines it separately but is a special law); covers acts threatening unity, integrity, sovereignty, security or economic security of India; punishment: death or life imprisonment if death results, otherwise 5 years to life |
| Organised crime defined | Section 111 BNS | First statutory definition in the main criminal code; covers syndicates committing kidnapping, extortion, contract killing, cyber-crime, drug/human trafficking etc.; punishment: death or 3–10 years + fine of Rs 1–10 lakh |
| Petty organised crime | Section 112 BNS | Separately penalises smaller criminal gangs/groups |
| Community service | Section 4(f) + 6 sections | Added as a new type of punishment (Section 4(f)); applicable for exactly 6 minor offences — public servant in unauthorised trade (S.202), non-appearance on proclamation (S.209), attempt to commit suicide to compel public servant (S.226), theft below threshold (S.303(2)), and two other petty theft provisions (S.355, S.356(2)) |
| Hit-and-run | Section 106 BNS | Two-tier: S.106(1) — rash driving causing death, reports to police: up to 5 years; S.106(2) — flees scene without reporting: up to 10 years imprisonment + fine (S.106(2) implementation currently deferred after transporters' protests) |
| Adultery decriminalised | No BNS counterpart | IPC Section 497 (adultery) has no equivalent in BNS — formalising Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Joseph Shine v. Union of India |
Key changes in BNSS — section-wise:
| Change | Section | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Zero FIR | Section 173 BNSS | FIR can be filed at any police station regardless of jurisdiction; registered with a zero number, then transferred to the jurisdictionally correct station; was only a judicial direction earlier, now statutory |
| E-FIR | Section 173 BNSS | Electronic FIR filing permitted for cognizable offences; must be signed by complainant within 3 days |
| Forensic mandatory | Section 176(3) BNSS | For offences punishable with 7 years or more, forensic expert must visit the crime scene and collect forensic evidence; videography on mobile/electronic device mandatory; to be phased in within 5 years |
| 90-day chargesheet deadline | Section 187 BNSS | For offences punishable with life imprisonment or death: chargesheet within 90 days of arrest; for lesser offences: 60 days; if not filed → accused entitled to default bail (statutory right, cannot be defeated by subsequent filing) |
| Trial in absentia | Section 356 BNSS | Court may try a proclaimed offender (absconder) in their absence; trial commences after 90 days from framing of charges; deposition of witnesses may be recorded through audio-video means |
| Handcuffs permitted | Section 43(3) BNSS | Handcuffs may be used during arrest or production before court for specific serious offences: organised crime, terrorism, drug offences, illegal arms, murder, rape, acid attack, human trafficking, sexual offences against children, offences against the State, and escaped custody |
| Audio-video recording of search & seizure | Section 105 BNSS | Mandatory audio-video recording (preferably mobile phone) of entire search and seizure process — including preparation of list and witness signatures; recording must be forwarded to Magistrate without delay |
| Victim's right to trial update | Section 193 BNSS | Victim must be informed of progress of investigation; victim can approach Magistrate if police refuses to file chargesheet |
| Police custody extended | Section 187 BNSS | Police custody (remand) can now be taken in parts — total 15 days but not necessarily at the start of judicial custody (departure from CrPC interpretation) |
Key changes in BSA:
| Change | Section | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic records = primary evidence | Section 57 BSA | Four new explanations (4–7) added: electronic/digital records stored simultaneously in multiple files = each file is primary evidence; video recordings simultaneously stored and broadcast = each stored copy is primary evidence; records from proper custody presumed primary unless disputed; even temporary/automated files count |
| Certificate for electronic records | Section 63 BSA | Replaces IEA Section 65B certificate; simplified — certificate can be given by person managing device; electronic records now admissible without onerous procedural certification |
| Confession to police inadmissible | Section 23 BSA | S.23(1): Confession to a police officer is inadmissible; S.23(2): Confession while in police custody (even to a non-police person) inadmissible; Exception: information in custody that leads to discovery of a fact — that portion admissible (mirrors IEA Section 25–27 combined) |
| Joint trial documents | Section 24 BSA | Confession by co-accused relevant against others in a joint trial |
| Hearsay exception | Multiple sections | Dying declarations, entries in books of account, public documents — all retained with updated language |
Prelims traps — read carefully:
Effective date vs assent date: Presidential assent = December 25, 2023; effective = July 1, 2024. Questions often conflate these two dates.
Hindi names — exact terms matter: BNS = Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (NOT "Nyaya Dand Sanhita" — the originally proposed name was changed); BNSS = Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Nagarik = citizen, Suraksha = protection); BSA = Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (NOT "Sakshya Sanhita" — this law is titled "Adhiniyam" not "Sanhita").
IEA had 167 sections (not 166): The BSA has 170 sections replacing the IEA's 167 — net addition of 3 sections.
Sedition is NOT renamed: Section 124A IPC used the word "sedition." Section 152 BNS does not use the word "sedition" at all — it criminalises secession, armed rebellion, and subversive activities. Critics call it "Sedition 2.0" because it is arguably broader than the original.
UAPA vs BNS terrorism: UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) still exists and is the primary anti-terror law. BNS Section 113 adds terrorism to the general penal code — both coexist; UAPA offences are tried by designated NIA courts.
Forensic mandatory = 7 years, not 3 or 5: Section 176(3) threshold is offences with punishment of 7 years or more — a common trap that substitutes different year thresholds.
90-day chargesheet = only for life/death offences: For lesser offences the deadline is 60 days, not 90. The 90/60 distinction is a standard MCQ trap.
Zero FIR existed before BNSS but only as a judicial direction; BNSS Section 173 makes it a statutory right for the first time.
Uttarakhand — First State to Implement UCC (January 27, 2025)
- Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024: Passed by Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly February 2024; President's assent March 11, 2024; rules notified and implemented January 27, 2025
- Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to implement a UCC
- What it covers: Marriage (mandatory registration within 60 days), divorce, inheritance and succession, adoption — uniform provisions across all religions (except tribes, who are exempt)
- Constitutional basis: Article 44 (Directive Principle) — "State shall endeavour to secure for citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India"; UCC is a DPSP, not enforceable, but not prohibited
- Article 371 exemption: Tribal communities (Scheduled Tribes under Article 342) are exempt from Uttarakhand UCC provisions
- Supreme Court challenge: Several petitions filed; SC agreed to hear constitutionality challenges
Prelims trap: Uttarakhand UCC implemented January 27, 2025 — NOT merely passed or assented to. It is the first state in independent India to implement UCC (Goa has its own Portuguese Civil Code from colonial era, but that is not the same as a post-independence UCC). Article 44 is a DPSP — implementing UCC is a state's right, not an obligation. Scheduled Tribes are exempt from the Uttarakhand UCC.
Events & Conventions (Current Affairs Hooks)
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2025 — 18th Convention
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Convention number | 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention |
| Dates | January 8–10, 2025 |
| Location | Bhubaneswar, Odisha (Janata Maidan) |
| Inaugurated by | PM Narendra Modi |
| Theme | "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat" (contribution of the Indian diaspora to India's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047) |
| Chief Guest | President of Trinidad and Tobago (representing the Caribbean Indian diaspora) |
| What PBD is | Biennial convention by Ministry of External Affairs to engage with Indian diaspora worldwide; started 2003 (PM Vajpayee); held on January 9 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in 1915 |
Note: January 9 is observed annually as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) to mark Gandhi's return from South Africa (1915), but the full convention is biennial — 18th in 2025 (Bhubaneswar), 19th will be in 2027. No convention in 2026.
Prelims trap: PBD 2025 was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha — not Delhi or Varanasi. Theme = "Diaspora's Contribution to a Viksit Bharat." The convention is held every two years (biennial) — not annually. It is organised by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), not Ministry of Culture. 2025 = most recent convention; next = 2027.
Major Global Conflicts (2020–2026)
UPSC tests: India's position, UN resolutions/bodies involved, key dates, peace processes. Each conflict below is trimmed to only Prelims-relevant facts.
1. Russia-Ukraine War (Feb 2022 – Present)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full-scale invasion | February 24, 2022 (distinct from 2014 Crimea annexation) |
| Ukraine & NATO | Ukraine is NOT a NATO member — Russia's core demand |
| Russia's 4 annexed oblasts | Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson — via Sep 2022 "referendums"; internationally condemned |
| Black Sea Grain Initiative | Brokered by UN + Turkey; signed July 22, 2022; Russia withdrew July 17, 2023 |
| Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant (ZNPP) | Europe's largest nuclear plant; under Russian military control since March 2022; IAEA monitoring (does not control it); all 6 reactors in cold shutdown |
| 3-day ceasefire | May 9–11, 2026 — fragile; prisoner swap 1,000 each; no comprehensive peace deal |
| India's position | Abstained on all major UNGA resolutions; continued discounted Russian crude imports; Modi visited Moscow July 2024; "dialogue and diplomacy" |
Prelims trap: Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by UN + Turkey (NOT USA/EU). ZNPP under Russian military control; IAEA monitors but does NOT control it. Ukraine not a NATO member.
2. Israel-Gaza War (Oct 7, 2023 – Present)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hamas attack | October 7, 2023; ~1,195 Israelis/foreign nationals killed; 251 taken hostage |
| ICJ case | South Africa v. Israel — filed Dec 29, 2023 under Genocide Convention; ICJ provisional measures Jan 26, 2024: ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts + allow humanitarian aid; did NOT order ceasefire |
| ICC warrants | November 21, 2024 — warrants for PM Netanyahu + former Def Min Gallant; charges: starvation as war crime + crimes against humanity |
| Ceasefire Phase 1 | Announced Jan 15; effective January 19, 2025; mediators: USA + Qatar + Egypt; ran Jan 19–Mar 18, 2025 |
| Lebanon-Hezbollah front | Israel offensive Sep–Nov 2024; ceasefire Nov 2024 |
| UNRWA | US suspended funding 2024; operations severely constrained; UNRWA = UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees |
| Status (May 2026) | Phase 2 stalled repeatedly; Israel resumed operations post-Phase 1; no comprehensive settlement |
| India's position | Condemned Oct 7 as terrorism; mixed UNGA votes (voted for Dec 2023 humanitarian ceasefire resolution; abstained Oct 2023 + Sep 2024 resolutions); two-state solution in principle |
Prelims trap: ICJ ≠ ICC — both at The Hague but different. ICJ = state-vs-state (South Africa filed here); ICC = individual criminal liability (Netanyahu warrant issued here). Ceasefire mediators = USA + Qatar + Egypt, not the UN.
3. Israel-Iran "12-Day War" (June 2025) ⚡ NEW
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Background | After Oct 7, Iran increased uranium enrichment to 60% purity (near weapons-grade); 275 kg enriched uranium by Feb 2025; IAEA declared Iran in breach of non-proliferation obligations (June 12, 2025) |
| Israel strikes Iran | June 13, 2025 — large-scale Israeli strikes targeting nuclear scientists, military leadership, nuclear infrastructure |
| US strikes Iran (Operation Midnight Hammer) | June 22, 2025 — USAF + Navy struck Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities with bunker-buster bombs + Tomahawk missiles |
| Duration | Conflict lasted ~12 days (referred to as the "12-Day War") |
| Ceasefire | US + Israel + Iran agreed 2-week ceasefire: April 7, 2026; mediator: Pakistan (via Oman channel); ceasefire violated by both sides; nuclear deal negotiations ongoing but stalled — Iran "unyielding" on nuclear programme (VP Vance, Apr 12) |
| Iran's nuclear status | Post-strikes, Iran suspended nuclear talks; JCPOA remains defunct since US withdrawal in 2018; US-Iran nuclear negotiations resumed but unresolved as of May 2026 |
| India's position | Called for de-escalation; no direct role; strategic petroleum reserve concerns given Iran = key oil supplier |
Prelims trap: JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) — USA withdrew in 2018 (Trump 1st term); never rejoined. US struck Iran's nuclear sites under code name "Operation Midnight Hammer" in June 2025 — the first direct US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Facilities targeted: Fordow + Natanz + Isfahan. April 7, 2026 ceasefire mediated by Pakistan (with Oman channel) — not the UN or Qatar.
4. Sudan Civil War (Apr 2023 – Present)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parties | SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces, Gen. al-Burhan) vs RSF (Rapid Support Forces, "Hemedti") |
| Start | April 15, 2023 |
| RSF origins | RSF evolved from Janjaweed militias — same group responsible for Darfur genocide (2003–08) |
| External backers | UAE → RSF; Egypt + Turkey → SAF |
| Territorial control | SAF retook Khartoum (January 2026); RSF controls most of Darfur |
| Displacement | World's largest displacement crisis (UNHCR): 11.6 million IDPs; ~4 million fled to neighbours |
| India's response | Operation Kaveri (Apr–May 2023) — evacuated ~4,000 people; 17 IAF flights + 5 naval sorties |
| Key bodies | UNHCR; African Union; IGAD |
Prelims trap: India's Sudan evacuation = Operation Kaveri (not Operation Ganga = Ukraine 2022; not Operation Devi Shakti = Afghanistan 2021). Sudan = world's largest displacement crisis per UNHCR. RSF = evolved from Janjaweed.
5. Yemen / Houthi Red Sea Crisis (2014 – Present)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Houthi Red Sea attacks | Began November 19, 2023 — solidarity with Gaza; targeted vessels with Israeli affiliation |
| Operation Prosperity Guardian | US-led multinational naval coalition; India did NOT join |
| US-UK airstrikes on Houthis | Began January 11–12, 2024 |
| US-Houthi ceasefire | Brokered by Oman, effective May 6, 2025; Houthis halted attacks on US vessels only (not Israel) |
| Red Sea economic impact | 90% drop in Red Sea container shipping; rerouted via Cape of Good Hope (+11,000 nm, +10 days, +$1 mn fuel/voyage) |
| India's response | Deployed 12+ warships independently; declined to join Prosperity Guardian (strategic autonomy) |
Prelims trap: Red Sea attacks started November 2023 (NOT January 2024 — that's when US-UK airstrikes began). Ceasefire brokered by Oman (not Qatar, not the UN). India not a member of Operation Prosperity Guardian.
6. Myanmar Civil War (Feb 2021 – Present)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coup | February 1, 2021 — Tatmadaw (SAC) detains Aung San Suu Kyi + NLD government |
| Operation 1027 | Launched October 27, 2023 — Three Brotherhood Alliance offensive; junta lost 180+ outposts |
| Territorial control (2026) | Junta controls < 40% of townships |
| ASEAN 5-Point Consensus (5PC) | Adopted April 2021 — (1) end violence (2) dialogue (3) Special Envoy (4) humanitarian aid (5) Envoy visits; widely regarded as FAILED — junta implemented none |
| India's response | Scrapped Free Movement Regime (FMR) on February 8, 2024; fencing entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border |
Prelims trap: FMR scrapped February 8, 2024 (not 2023). Myanmar coup = Feb 1, 2021. ASEAN 5PC = failed. India-Myanmar border = 1,643 km across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram.
7. Ethiopia-Tigray War (Nov 2020 – Nov 2022)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Active war | November 2020 – November 2022 |
| Peace deal | Pretoria Agreement, November 2, 2022 — brokered by African Union |
| Death toll | 300,000–600,000 (combat + conflict-induced famine/disease) |
| 2026 flare-up | Clashes resumed January 2026 in western Tigray |
| Key body | African Union — brokered Pretoria Agreement |
Prelims trap: Pretoria Agreement brokered by African Union (AU) — not UN, not USA. Tigray death toll = 300,000–600,000 (one of the deadliest wars in recent decades). Do NOT confuse with Sudan-Darfur genocide.
8. Taiwan Strait Tensions (Ongoing)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | No active war; PLA exercises intensified 2022–2025 |
| Major exercises | Aug 2022 (post-Pelosi visit); May 2024 ("Joint Sword-2024A"); Dec 2025 ("Justice Mission 2025") |
| TSMC | Taiwan produces ~90% of world's advanced chips (< 5 nm) — global semiconductor risk |
| India's position | Has NOT used "One China policy" phrase since 2008–09; maintains economic/tech ties with Taiwan via TECC (Taipei Economic and Cultural Center — de facto embassy) |
Prelims trap: India deliberately avoids "One China policy" since 2008–09. TECC = Taiwan's de facto representative office in India (third TECC opened in Mumbai, October 2024).
9. South China Sea (Ongoing)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2016 PCA ruling | Philippines v. China — ruled July 12, 2016 by Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under UNCLOS Annex VII; China's Nine-Dash Line has "no lawful effect"; China rejected ruling |
| Active flashpoint | Second Thomas Shoal — Philippines holds grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre; China Coast Guard water-cannons + rams Philippine resupply vessels (2023–24) |
| Scarborough Shoal | Seized by China 2012 |
| India's position | Endorsed 2016 arbitral award in July 2023 India-Philippines joint statement (significant shift); supports freedom of navigation |
Prelims trap: 2016 ruling = PCA under UNCLOS — NOT an ICJ case. China rejects the ruling. India explicitly endorsed it in July 2023 — a policy shift from previous ambiguity.
10. Armenia-Azerbaijan / Nagorno-Karabakh
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final offensive | Azerbaijan launched September 19, 2023; Armenian forces surrendered within 24 hours |
| Artsakh dissolved | Republic of Artsakh dissolved effective January 1, 2024 |
| Exodus | ~100,400 ethnic Armenians fled via Lachin corridor (Sep 2023) |
| Peace deal | Armenian PM + Azerbaijani President signed at White House, August 8, 2025 (brokered by Trump); includes "TRIPP" corridor (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) through Armenia to Nakhchivan |
| OSCE Minsk Group | Dissolved under August 2025 deal; had co-chaired by France, Russia, USA since 1994 |
Prelims trap: OSCE Minsk Group dissolved August 2025 — Russia's mediator role bypassed by Trump-brokered deal. The corridor is officially called TRIPP. ~100,400 Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh (not Armenia proper).
Quick Reference: All Conflicts (May 2026)
| Conflict | Start | Status (May 2026) | Key Body | India's Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia-Ukraine | Feb 24, 2022 | Ongoing; fragile 3-day ceasefire May 2026 | IAEA (ZNPP); UNGA; UNSC (Russia veto) | Abstained all UNGA resolutions; "dialogue and diplomacy" |
| Israel-Gaza | Oct 7, 2023 | Ongoing; Phase 2 stalled | ICJ (Genocide Conv.); ICC (Netanyahu); UNRWA | Mixed votes; condemned Hamas; two-state solution |
| Israel-Iran | Jun 13, 2025 | 2-week ceasefire Apr 7, 2026 (violated); nuclear deal talks stalled; Pakistan = mediator | IAEA (Iran breach); no UNSC resolution | Called for de-escalation; no direct role |
| Sudan | Apr 15, 2023 | Ongoing; SAF retook Khartoum Jan 2026 | UNHCR; African Union | Operation Kaveri (Apr–May 2023; ~4,000 evacuated) |
| Myanmar | Feb 1, 2021 (coup) | Ongoing; junta < 40% townships | ASEAN 5PC (failed) | Scrapped FMR Feb 8, 2024; fencing 1,643 km border |
| Yemen/Houthis | 2014 (war); Nov 2023 (Red Sea) | US-Houthi ceasefire May 6, 2025 (via Oman) | Prosperity Guardian (India not member) | Independent naval deployment; declined US coalition |
| Ethiopia-Tigray | Nov 2020 | Ended Nov 2022 (Pretoria Agreement); flare-up Jan 2026 | African Union | No direct role |
| Taiwan Strait | Recurring | No active war; exercises ongoing | No formal body | No "One China policy" phrase since 2008–09; TECC ties |
| South China Sea | Ongoing | Active flashpoint: Second Thomas Shoal | PCA 2016 ruling (China rejects) | Endorsed 2016 award — July 2023 India-Philippines statement |
| Armenia-Azerbaijan | Sep 19, 2023 (final) | Peace deal Aug 8, 2025 (White House; TRIPP) | OSCE Minsk Group (dissolved) | No direct role |
