UPSC Key: India-Singapore ties, PVTGs and Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki militant groups

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story: The prime Ministers of India and Singapore Thursday agreed to adopt a forward-looking and substantive roadmap aimed at setting the vision and direction for the next phase of bilateral relations — and deepen cooperation in eight key areas: economy, skills development, digitalisation, sustainability, connectivity, healthcare and medicine, people-to-people and cultural exchanges; and, defence and security.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?

— Where is Malacca strait?

— What is the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty?

— What are the different areas of cooperation between India and Singapore?

— What is the strategic significance of Singapore for India?

— Is Singapore a member of ASEAN?

— Learn about India-ASEAN cooperation?

Key Takeaways:

— Pointing out that bilateral ties had been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during his visit to Singapore last year, Modi said, “…today, we have prepared a detailed roadmap for the future of our partnership.

— He said the Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership agreement signed last year has given a new direction to research and development. The increased participation of Singaporean companies in the ‘Semicon India’ conference is a significant development, Modi said.

— According to a joint statement, the two leaders agreed to “support the growth of India’s semiconductor industry and ecosystem, including through cooperation under the India-Singapore Semiconductor Policy Dialogue; facilitating partnerships with Singapore companies; advancing resilient semiconductor supply chains…”

— On defence and security, the statement said they will deepen technology cooperation in emerging areas such as Quantum Computing, AI, Automation and Unmanned Vessels.

— It also said that “Singapore acknowledges with appreciation India’s interest in the Malacca Straits Patrol”. Both sides agreed to continue cooperation in maritime security and submarine rescue, and strengthen cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness.

— The joint statement said they agreed to explore collaboration opportunities in “critical and emerging technologies, to promote innovation, inclusive and sustainable economic growth” under the Joint Working Group on Digital Technologies.

— Singapore will assist in establishing a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Chennai in the field of advanced manufacturing, Modi said.

— On counter-terrorism cooperation, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism, including cross-border terror, in all forms and reiterated a zero-tolerance approach.

— They also agreed to strengthen cooperation under the bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, which facilitates cooperation in criminal investigations and proceedings.

— According to the PM, they decided that the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and FTA with ASEAN will be reviewed in a time-bound manner to boost trade.

Do You Know:

— The year 2025 marks the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore.

— Singapore stands as India’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks as the sixth-largest globally. The significance of this relationship is evident in the robust trade and investment flows between the two countries.

— Over the years, Singapore has become a leading source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India, contributing a cumulative USD 160 billion since 2000.

— ASEAN is central to India’s ‘Act East’ policy, which focuses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. It was formulated as the next step to the ‘Look East’ Policy which originated in the 1990s.

— The India-ASEAN relationship subsequently gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions, including the establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation. India is part of the ASEAN Plus Six grouping, which includes China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Explained: All about ASEAN and East Asia Summits, to be attended by PM Modi

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(1) What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north? (UPSC CSE 2014)

1. Bangkok

2. Hanoi

3. Jakarta

4. Singapore

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 4 – 2 – 1 – 3

(b) 3 – 2 – 4 – 1

(c) 3 – 4 – 1 – 2

(d) 4 – 3 – 2 – 1

 

FRONT

Kukis have agreed on free movement, says Govt ahead of PM’s Manipur visit

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

What’s the ongoing story: DAYS ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Manipur, the Centre on Thursday claimed that Kuki civil society groups had agreed to allow free movement in Manipur.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the reasons for the ethnic clash in Manipur?

— Why is Manipur under the President’s Rule?

— What do you understand about the Free Movement regime?

— Why is the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar suspended?

— What is the demand around Meiteis be designated as a Scheduled Tribe?

Key Takeaways:

— The Centre also announced the signing of a new Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, under which they would relocate their camps from near Meitei areas and agree to “the territorial integrity of Manipur”.

— The start of free movement between the Kuki and Meitei areas would be the most significant step towards normalcy in the state that has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May 2023.

— If the Kuki side agrees to free movement, Delhi could then push the Meiteis to replicate the gesture. Currently, the communities are unable to pass through each other’s areas.

— “Buffer zones” refer to the areas between Meitei-inhabited and Kuki-Zo-dominant parts, which are heavily manned by security forces to keep the peace.

— On the SoO agreement, the statement said, “Side by side, a tripartite meeting among representatives of the MHA, government of Manipur, and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) was also held at New Delhi today. The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations Agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules), to be effective from the day of signing of the agreement, for a period of one year.”

— According to the MHA, the revised ground rules in the agreement include respecting the territorial integrity of Manipur (some sections of the Kukis have been seeking a separate administrative zone) and working for a negotiated solution towards peace in Manipur.

— The MHA said the KNO and UPF had agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict, to reduce the number of designated camps, to deposit their weapons at the nearest CRPF/BSF camps, and to submit their cadres to stringent physical verification to de-list foreign nationals, if any.

— Currently there are 14 SoO group camps in Manipur. While many are stationed deep in the hills, some are in the areas where the hills meet the Valley. Meitei groups have alleged that these camps have been used to launch attacks in the Valley, a charge denied by the Kukis.

Express Network: Centre claims deal secured with Kukis, but before PM’s Manipur visit, Naga ‘trade embargo’ a hurdle

— The United Naga Council (UNC) that wields significant influence in the Naga areas of the state has announced a “trade embargo” beginning September 8 over the raising of the India-Myanmar border fence and the suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar.

— The FMR, which allowed the free movement of people across the India-Myanmar border up to 16 km, has been a prickly issue for both Kukis and Nagas, along with the border fencing.

— Due to shared ethnicity and familial relations across the border, both tribal groups have opposed the scrapping of the FMR and the construction of the border fence, with Kukis even likening it to the Berlin Wall.

— However, Meiteis in the Valley have alleged that FMR and a non-fenced border led to illegal immigration and illicit drug trade. They have even blamed this for precipitating the ethnic strife that has torn the state in the past two years.

Do You Know:

— The border between India and Myanmar was demarcated by the British in 1826, without seeking the opinion of the people living in the region. The border effectively divided people of the same ethnicity and culture into two nations without their consent. The current India-Myanmar Border reflects the line the British drew.

— People in the region have strong ethnic and familial ties across the border. In Manipur’s Moreh region, there are villages where some homes are in Myanmar. In Nagaland’s Mon district, the border actually passes through the house of the chief of Longwa village, splitting his home into two.

— Apart from facilitating people-to-people contact, the FMR was supposed to provide impetus to local trade and business. The region has a long history of trans-border commerce through customs and border haats. Given the low-income economy, such exchanges are vital for the sustenance of local livelihoods.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Who are the Meitei, Manipur’s valley-dwellers with an old and rich history?

📍What is the India-Myanmar border Free Movement Regime, which the Centre is planning to end?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) Department of Border Management is a Department of which one of the following Union Ministries? (UPSC CSE 2008)

(a) Ministry of Defence

(b) Ministry of Home Affairs

(c) Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways

(d) Ministry of Environment and Forests

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍Border management is a complex task due to difficult terrain and hostile relations with some countries. Elucidate the challenges and strategies for effective border management. (UPSC CSE 2016)

In GST 2.0 calculus, behavioural nudges — packaged foods to ACs

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: Catalysing a behavioural change. That’s a key objective underpinning the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, alongside the much-needed simplification of the rate structure and an implicit hope of a belated consumption push, one of the top officials behind the rate rationalisation exercise told The Indian Express.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the key outcomes of the 56th GST Council meeting?

— What is the Consumption pattern change? Have you witnessed any of it?

— What is behavioural nudge?

— How is this GST reform aiming to do that?

— What is the compensation cess?

Key Takeaways:

— Even before the final nod to the current round of rate tweaks, it had triggered an unintended behavioural change: the offtake of products such as consumer durables and cars seeing a marked decline, as consumers chose to wait for the promise of lower taxes to kick in, while insurance policy renewals were being delayed.

— Many FMCG dealers also refused to stock up from companies in anticipation of rate cuts. That is perhaps one reason why the Centre was keen the Council pushes through the proposal in one day flat.

— The new rates definitely would be a step in line with tackling the multiple classification disputes. Take for instance, papad, bread (branded or otherwise), that faced zero GST, but pizza bread, plain chapatti or roti used to be charged 5 per cent GST while paratha attracted 18 per cent tax.

— Now, all the Indian breads, whether it is pizza bread, khakhra, chapathi, roti, paratha, parotta or by any name, will be exempt.

—  Or the case of various categories of popcorn – salted, regular, salted and spiced, and caramelised – that faced GST rates of 5 per cent, 12 per cent or 18 per cent and now all would be at a uniform rate of 5 per cent.

— For instance, GST has been reduced to 5 per cent for packaged namkeens, bhujia, sauces, pasta, instant noodles, chocolates, coffee, preserved meat, cornflakes, butter, ghee, in what seems to be a push towards packaged, higher quality products.

— “That 1 rupee rate for a sachet captured more market base than a Rs 20 shampoo bottle. And, the consumption even turned much more favourable for sachets as people realised its utility is much more because the 1 rupee sachet could be used multiple times. This led to consumption pattern changes,” the official said.

— The tax reduction on small cars and small capacity motorcycles will definitely be a boost to the automobile sector, especially in a segment where sales have been flagging over the last 24 months.

— Large engine capacity motorbikes – those above 350 cc that used to attract an effective tax rate of 31 per cent earlier (28 per cent GST and 3 per cent cess) – will now be taxed at 40 per cent, effectively putting them in the same category as “sin goods”, like tobacco and pan masala.

— The rationalisation of GST on air-conditioners and televisions from 28 to 18 per cent could directly boost consumption, especially going into the festive season. This also seems to factor in the reality of ACs becoming more ubiquitous now.

ECONOMY: The GST cut effect – 60 bps push to GDP growth, 100 bps fall in retail inflation

— The immediate impact of the GST rate cuts will be lower prices, which will then incentivise higher purchases by households. Economists think India’s headline retail inflation rate could ease by 100 bps or more if companies fully pass on the tax benefits to consumers. ICICI Bank, for instance, sees the overall impact on CPI inflation at 110-120 bps.

— It’s not just the tax cuts themselves that will encourage buying. According to Madhavi Arora and Harshal Patel of Emkay Global Financial Services, the end of the compensation cess from September 22 – except for tobacco and related products – will be a “de-facto demand boost for the economy”.

— The government expected to collect Rs 1.67 lakh crore as compensation cess in the current fiscal. This, however, is to be strictly used to repay the Rs 2.69 lakh crore it had borrowed in the pandemic-hit 2020-21 and 2021-22 to bridge the shortfall in cess that was being used to compensate states for weak revenue growth.

EDITORIAL: GST 2.0 is a timely reform

— Aditi Nayar writes: GST rationalisation is a welcome and well-timed move. Its positive implications for consumer demand and producer sentiment will help to absorb a portion of the negative impact of US tariffs and penalties. Private sector capex decisions may get a boost for domestic consumption-oriented sectors.

— However, exporters may still feel jittery about embarking on fresh capex. The revenue foregone will need to be offset through other streams or expenditure rationalisation. The final size of the fiscal stimulus remains to be gauged.

Do You Know:

— Compensation cess was introduced to help states make up for the revenue they lost during the initial 5 years of GST implementation. This came under the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017. Subsequently, its levy was extended till March 2026, to service the loans raised during the Covid years for providing GST compensation to the states.

— FM said that, “ Pan masala, cigarettes, gutkha, and other tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, products like zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi will continue at their existing rates of GST and compensation cess, where applicable, until the loan and interest payment obligations under the compensation cess account are completely discharged.”

— She said after the loan repayments are met, there will not be any cess and those items that attracted the compensation cess will attract a special rate of 40 per cent.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍What is GST Council, and what were key decisions taken during its 56th meeting? Here’s everything you need to know for UPSC exam

📍GST rate changes: Why was this done, who is impacted how, explained in 5 points

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India.

2. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves.

3. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

📍Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (UPSC CSE 2019)

EXPLAINED

What’s in new Foreigners Act

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story: Over the past few days, the government has notified various Rules and Orders under The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which came into effect on September 1.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Know the important provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025

— Who is a ‘foreigner’ according to the Constitution?

— What is the significance of introducing digital and electronic records in this?

— Examine the role of the judiciary in addressing issues of illegal immigration in India

— What is the CAA 2019?

— What is the detention camps for illegal foreigners?

Key Takeaways:

— The new set of Rules and Orders give effect to a sweeping overhaul of India’s system for regulating the entry, stay, and exit of foreign nationals, and identify exemptions available to certain classes of foreigners.

— The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, was passed by Lok Sabha on March 27 and by Rajya Sabha on April 2, and received the assent of the President on April 4.

— The Act replaced The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920; The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939; The Foreigners Act, 1946; and The Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000, consolidating India’s regime for the entry, stay, movement, and exit of foreigners under a single statute.

— Exemptions for certain categories of entrants, such as Tibetan refugees, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, etc., were scattered across multiple orders, and were often not readily accessible or clear.

— Important provisions of The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, along with the Rules and Orders, include:

— Possession of valid documents: All entrants must possess a valid passport or travel document and, if a foreigner, a valid visa — unless explicitly exempted by the Act or by special orders of the central government.

— Entry and exit only via notified posts: The Act lists designated immigration posts, including all major airports, seaports, land border posts, and rail posts, through which foreigners can legally enter and exit India

— Powers of the Immigration Officer: Officers at notified immigration posts have the final authority on entry, exit, and admissibility, and the power to validate or refuse entry or exit on national security grounds.

— Exempted categories: Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan entering India via designated land or air borders (except through China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan), or possessing valid passports for air entry to other destinations.

— Exempted: Minority community refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who fled religious persecution and entered India on or before December 31, 2024, even if without valid travel documents or with documents that subsequently expired.

— Under The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, (CAA) the entry cutoff date for acquiring Indian citizenship for these minorities is December 31, 2014. This date has not been altered, but special protection from prosecution or detention has been granted to minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh for entering India after the cutoff date.

— Apart from consolidating scattered laws, the Act and Rules introduce the following:

— Digital and electronic records: The digital notification through portals and mobile apps that is required of accommodation providers, hospitals, and universities will create a robust database for enforcement and public health management, and making citizenship decisions.

— With clearly designated officers and electronic records, the margin for error or ambiguity is expected to be reduced. Several offences can now be compounded quickly by paying the prescribed fines, reducing the burden on courts and making resolution more efficient.

— The listed exemptions for Tibetans, Sri Lankan Tamils, and the minority communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have done away with the scope for discretion on a case-to-case basis

Do You Know:

— The CAA benefits thousands of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014, and seek citizenship of India. This group of people has been living in India illegally or on long-term visas (LTV).

— The CAA aims to give citizenship to the target group of migrants even if they do not have valid travel documents as mandated in The Citizenship Act, 1955. The CAA presumes that members of these communities who entered India faced religious persecution in these countries. The law has also cut the period of citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to five.

— Under the CAA Rules, immigrants from these countries are only supposed to prove the country of their origin, their religion, the date of their entry into India, and the knowledge of an Indian language to apply for Indian citizenship.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍As Assam faces Supreme Court heat, why deporting 63 ‘foreigners’ is easier said than done

📍Home Ministry asks states, UTs to set up detention camps for illegal foreigners

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

(4) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2021)

1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile.

2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State.

3. A foreigner once granted citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 2 and 3

Who are particularly vulnerable tribal groups, which the govt wants to be counted separately in the Census?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

What’s the ongoing story: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) wrote to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) last month, requesting them to consider enumerating particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) separately in the upcoming Census.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is the role and function of the RGI?

— What is the criteria adopted by the government to identify PVTGs?

— What are the challenges faced by the PVTGs?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government for PVTGs?

— Know about the important commissions formed in this regard

— What is the PM JANMAN scheme?

— Over the years, the criteria for identifying PVTGs have been questioned, especially the marker of geographical isolation. Why?

Key Takeaways:

— In its letter, the MoTA has asked the RGI to capture the number of PVTG households, individuals, and their distinctive demographic, cultural and socio-economic features. The ministry said that such information would help in the better implementation of targeted schemes for PVTGs, such as the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).

— PVTGs are a sub-category of Scheduled Tribes (STs), which show either a declining or stagnant population, geographical isolation, use of pre-agrarian practices (such as hunting and gathering), economic backwardness, and relatively low literacy.

— This category was created based on the recommendations of the Dhebar Commission (1960-61) — led by former Member of Parliament U N Dhebar — which had investigated the various issues faced by STs, and in consultation with state governments.

— The Commission identified the disparity in socio-economic and living conditions between different tribal groups, and said that some tribal groups were more vulnerable than others.

— Initially, 52 groups were identified as PVTGs (then known as Primitive Tribal Groups) during the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-1979), the MoTA told the Rajya Sabha in a written response to a query on March 19, 2025.

— In 2006, the Centre added 23 more tribal groups to PVTGs, taking the total to 75. PVTGs are currently spread across 18 states, and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

— The MoTA told Lok Sabha in December 2016 that out of 75 PVTGs in the country, 40 have been scheduled as ‘single entry’. This means that they are explicitly listed in the notified list of STs under Article 342 of the Constitution.

— In November 2023, the government rolled out the Rs 24,104 crore PM JANMAN scheme with an aim to improve the socio-economic status, health, education, livelihoods and amenities for PVTGs in more than 200 districts.

— To implement the scheme, the MoTA, along with state governments, collected habitation level data in a survey to estimate the PVTG population. This exercise also involved the identification of infrastructure gaps in PVTG habitations.

— As per the survey, there were an estimated 47.5 lakh PVTGs across India. At 13.22 lakh, Madhya Pradesh had the highest estimated population of PVTGs, followed by Maharashtra with an estimated population of 6.7 lakh, and Andhra Pradesh had about 5.18 lakh PVTGs.

— Government officials said that having an exact number along with demographic data would plug major gaps in the implementation of government schemes, especially in health and education initiatives. It will also help in understanding if PVTG classification criteria are still relevant, according to officials.

Do You Know:

— PM JANMAN was launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November 2023 at Khunti, Jharkhand targeting 75 PVTGs communities. It aimed at providing PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

— The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Counting of PVTGs — What you should know for UPSC exam?

📍Knowledge Nugget: PM-JANMAN and DhartiAaba – Key Tribal welfare schemes for UPSC exam

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: (UPSC CSE 2019)

1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.

2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.

3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.

4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2, 3 and 4

(c) 1, 2 and 4

(d) 1, 3 and 4

ALSO IN NEWS
PM Modi and EU leaders discuss early conclusion of FTA, end to war in Ukraine	Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Union’s top leaders, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa, Thursday discussed “early conclusion of the India-EU FTA and implementation of the IMEEC corridor” and efforts for “an early end to the conflict in Ukraine”. Modi’s phone conversation with von der Leyen and Costa took place when the EU leaders were in Paris with others of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ and Zelenskyy, discussing security guarantees for war-torn Ukraine. They also discussed the concluding of India-EU FTA negotiations by end of 2025 and holding an India-EU summit by early 2026.
Emergency arms contract to be cancelled if no delivery within a year	Defence procurements via the emergency route will have to be compulsorily delivered within a year of signing the contract, failing which the contract would be cancelled. The decision has been taken following concerns that many of the procurements made through the emergency route earlier, particularly during the months of the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, were not delivered on time, defeating the very purpose of emergency procurement.

 

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

1. (c)    2. (b)    3. (a)     4. (a)     5. (c)

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