UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October (2025)
• India–ASEAN Summit 2025
India–ASEAN Summit 2025
• The EU–India New Strategic Agenda 2025
The EU–India New Strategic Agenda 2025
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• European Union’s Proposed Ethanol Ban
European Union’s Proposed Ethanol Ban
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)
Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
• PM SHRI scheme
PM SHRI scheme
• Dogri Language
Dogri Language
• Ollo tribe
Ollo tribe
• Appointment of Chief Justice of India
Appointment of Chief Justice of India
Mapping:
• Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
India–ASEAN Summit 2025
Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings
Source: IE
Context: Prime Minister of India virtually addressed the 22nd India–ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepen cooperation in maritime security, digital inclusion, and resilient supply chains.
• He also announced that 2026 will be celebrated as the “ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation.”
About India–ASEAN Summit 2025:
History of India–ASEAN Cooperation:
• Early Engagement (1990s): India’s formal engagement with ASEAN began in 1992 as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner, which evolved into a Full Dialogue Partnership in 1996.
• Act East Policy: India’s Look East Policy (1991) transitioned to Act East Policy (2014), strengthening strategic, economic, and cultural integration.
• ASEAN Summits & Institutional Mechanisms: India has been a regular participant in ASEAN Summits since 2002, and the partnership was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022.
• Free Trade Agreement (2009): The ASEAN–India FTA in Goods (AITIGA) and later Services & Investment Agreements (2015) expanded bilateral economic ties.
• Shared Heritage: India and ASEAN share deep civilisational links through Buddhism, maritime trade routes, and cultural exchange dating back to the Gupta and Srivijaya periods.
Opportunities in India–ASEAN Relations:
• Maritime Security Cooperation: Strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific offers scope for joint patrols, maritime domain awareness, and naval exercises.
• Economic Integration: The review of AITIGA provides an opportunity to enhance market access, reduce non-tariff barriers, and boost regional trade.
• Digital & Green Economy: Collaboration in digital public infrastructure, renewable energy, and green technologies can drive sustainable growth.
• Connectivity & Infrastructure: Projects like the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Corridor strengthen physical and economic connectivity.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Shared values and heritage offer avenues for people-to-people exchange, tourism, and education partnerships.
Initiatives Taken So Far:
• ASEAN–India Plan of Action (2026–2030): Focuses on trade, investment, education, food security, and innovation.
• ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA): Currently under review to increase economic synergy.
• Maritime Cooperation: Declaration of 2026 as ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation to deepen oceanic security and blue economy initiatives.
• Financial & Developmental Assistance: India’s ₹500 crore ASEAN–India Fund supports connectivity, agriculture, and capacity building projects.
• Cultural & Educational Ties: Initiatives like ASEAN–India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT), ICCR scholarships, and digital education cooperation have expanded regional soft power engagement.
Challenges Associated:
• Trade Imbalance: ASEAN accounts for 11% of India’s trade, yet imports far outweigh exports, reflecting limited value addition.
• Slow Progress in AITIGA Review: Protectionist tendencies and procedural delays hinder deeper integration.
• China Factor: ASEAN’s economic dependence on China complicates India’s strategic outreach in the Indo-Pacific.
• Connectivity Bottlenecks: Delays in the IMT Highway and Kaladan project limit India’s logistical advantage.
• Divergent Priorities: ASEAN’s principle of neutrality and India’s strategic tilt toward Quad sometimes lead to hesitation in collective alignment.
Way Ahead:
• Accelerate Economic Integration: Fast-track the AITIGA review and expand cooperation in services and digital trade.
• Enhance Maritime Presence: Operationalise joint naval exercises and blue economy partnerships under the 2026 maritime framework.
• Deepen Connectivity: Expedite physical, digital, and energy connectivity corridors linking Northeast India with Southeast Asia.
• Institutional Strengthening: Regular Track 1.5 and 2 dialogues to enhance strategic trust and policy coordination.
• Balanced Diplomacy: Maintain ASEAN centrality while ensuring inclusive Indo-Pacific cooperation that complements Quad initiatives.
Conclusion:
India–ASEAN relations embody a civilisational continuum and strategic necessity in the Indo-Pacific century. To realise their full potential, both sides must move from dialogue to decisive action, aligning trade, security, and digital priorities. The “ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation 2026” should serve as a launchpad for a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready regional partnership.
The EU–India New Strategic Agenda 2025
Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interest
Source: TH
Context: The European Union and India, under the New Strategic EU–India Agenda (2025) adopted in October, agreed to link the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
About The EU–India New Strategic Agenda 2025:
What It Is?
• The EU–India New Strategic Agenda (2025) is a forward-looking framework jointly adopted by the European Union (EU) and India, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen cooperation for the next decade.
• It builds upon the 2020 EU–India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025, expanding collaboration into emerging areas like green transition, digital governance, defence, and global connectivity.
Objective:
The primary goal of the agenda is to elevate the EU–India relationship into a transformative global partnership by:
• Promoting sustainable prosperity and climate action through joint clean energy transitions.
• Enhancing strategic autonomy and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
• Deepening technological and digital collaboration to shape ethical and inclusive innovation.
• Strengthening people-to-people ties, education, and mobility for mutual growth.
• Establishing institutional and regulatory frameworks for equitable global governance and trade.
Key Features of the EU–India New Strategic Agenda (2025)
• Five-Pillar Structure: The agenda is structured around five key pillars — (i) Prosperity & Sustainability, (ii) Technology & Innovation, (iii) Security & Defence, (iv) Connectivity & Global Issues, and (v) Enablers across pillars — ensuring holistic engagement across economic, political, and social dimensions.
• Carbon Market Linkage: A landmark feature is the decision to link India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (ICM) with the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), enabling carbon price deductions at EU borders — a milestone in North–South climate cooperation.
• Green Partnership Expansion: Focus on renewable energy, green hydrogen, sustainable finance, and carbon neutrality pathways through technology transfer and co-investment.
• Digital and Technological Cooperation: Includes joint initiatives in semiconductors, 5G/6G standards, AI ethics, quantum computing, and data protection frameworks aligned with privacy and transparency principles.
• Defence and Maritime Security Cooperation: Establishes a Security and Defence Partnership, promoting joint naval exercises, cybersecurity collaboration, and maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific.
• Connectivity and Global Gateway Projects: Supports infrastructure connectivity through the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative and India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to enhance regional trade and supply chain resilience.
Significance of the EU–India Carbon Market Linkage:
• Trade Relief for Exporters: Deductions of Indian carbon prices from EU border levies will prevent double taxation under CBAM.
• Climate Cooperation: It aligns India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) with EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), promoting credible carbon pricing.
• Model for Global South: Sets a precedent for equitable North–South carbon market cooperation in line with climate justice.
• Strategic Trust: Reinforces EU–India partnership in sustainable trade, energy transition, and technology exchange.
Challenges to India’s Carbon Market:
• Institutional Weakness: India’s CCTS lacks legally binding emission caps and independent verification systems, unlike the EU’s mature ETS.
• Price Disparity: Indian carbon prices (–10/tonne) are far lower than EU’s (–80/tonne), risking non-recognition of Indian credits.
• Policy Contradiction: Linking with CBAM, which India previously opposed as protectionist, raises political and legal tensions at WTO.
• Sovereignty Risks: CBAM indirectly allows EU oversight over India’s domestic carbon pricing policy.
• Industrial Resistance: Indian industries may resist dual compliance burdens, lobbying to weaken carbon norms domestically.
Way Ahead:
• Institutional Strengthening: Establish independent carbon regulators and enforce compliance-grade emission caps.
• Price Alignment: Negotiate a floor carbon price and sectoral contracts aligning with CBAM benchmarks.
• Technical Collaboration: EU to provide capacity-building support and knowledge-sharing for verification and reporting systems.
• Legal Clarity: Develop a bilateral CBAM adjustment protocol to prevent trade disputes and protect exporters.
• Political Diplomacy: Use the linkage to champion a fair carbon transition framework for developing countries within WTO norms.
Conclusion:
The EU–India carbon linkage represents a bold experiment in green diplomacy, offering India a chance to align climate ambition with trade advantage. Yet, its success depends on trust, transparency, and parity in carbon governance. If operationalised effectively, it can redefine global climate cooperation between developed and developing economies.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
European Union’s Proposed Ethanol Ban
Context: The European Union (EU) is considering a ban on ethanol-based products after the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) flagged potential carcinogenic risks from prolonged exposure.
About European Union’s Proposed Ethanol Ban:
What it is?
• The proposal by the European Union seeks to restrict or phase out ethanol-containing products, including fuel additives, industrial solvents, and personal care products, following ECHA’s assessment that ethanol exposure may pose cancer risks.
Reason for the Ban:
• Health Concerns: ECHA’s scientific review links long-term ethanol exposure to potential carcinogenicity, particularly through by-products like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, both associated with cancer.
• Environmental Impact: Burning ethanol-blended fuels can increase emissions of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), despite reducing others like carbon monoxide.
• Regulatory Caution: The EU aims to align chemical safety regulations with its Zero Pollution and Green Deal commitments, prioritising public health over industrial use.
Implications:
• Global Trade Impact: A ban could affect India’s ethanol export market, especially biofuel and chemical industries.
• Energy Security Concerns: India’s E20 (20% ethanol-petrol blend) target by 2025 may face scrutiny and require stricter emission studies.
• Industrial Adjustments: Companies may need to shift toward non-alcohol-based sanitisers and alternative biofuels.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 3 – Environment: The issue relates to the impact of industrial emissions, sustainable fuel use, and pollution control norms, helping analyse the trade-offs between biofuel benefits and carcinogenic risks from ethanol combustion.
• The issue relates to the impact of industrial emissions, sustainable fuel use, and pollution control norms, helping analyse the trade-offs between biofuel benefits and carcinogenic risks from ethanol combustion.
• GS Paper 3 – Economy: It connects to India’s energy security and biofuel policy, especially the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) and its role in achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat in clean energy transition.
• It connects to India’s energy security and biofuel policy, especially the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) and its role in achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat in clean energy transition.
• GS Paper 4 – Ethics: Raises questions of corporate responsibility and environmental ethics, examining how governments and industries must balance innovation, profit, and public health safety while adopting new technologies.
• Raises questions of corporate responsibility and environmental ethics, examining how governments and industries must balance innovation, profit, and public health safety while adopting new technologies.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS)
Source: PIB
Context: The Government of India has approved the first batch of seven projects worth ₹5,532 crore under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), projected to generate ₹36,559 crore in production.
About Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS):
What it is?
• A flagship initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to strengthen India’s component-level manufacturing ecosystem and reduce dependence on imports for key electronic parts.
Launched in:
• Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, the scheme aims to make India self-reliant in critical electronic components and materials.
Objective: To promote domestic manufacturing of sub-assemblies, bare components, and capital equipment, enhance domestic value addition (DVA), and integrate Indian firms with Global Value Chains (GVCs) in electronics and semiconductors.
Tenure:
• Turnover-linked incentive: 6 years (with 1-year gestation).
• Capex incentive: 5 years.
Features:
• Investment Support: Offers differentiated turnover-linked, capex, and hybrid incentives to offset manufacturing disabilities.
• Target Segments: Focuses on PCBs, Camera Modules, Copper-Clad Laminates, Polypropylene Films, and capital equipment.
• Strategic Impact: Aims to meet 100% domestic demand for Copper Clad Laminates, 20% for PCBs, and 15% for Camera Modules.
• Employment Generation: Expected to create 91,600 direct jobs and strengthen local R&D capacity.
• Complementary Ecosystem: Works in tandem with PLI for Electronics and India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to build an end-to-end manufacturing chain — from devices to materials.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
Source: IE
Context: The Government of India has launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–31) to boost domestic pulses production, enhance farmer income, and reduce dependence on imports.
About Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses:
What it is?
• A national initiative to make India self-reliant in pulse production by increasing domestic output, improving productivity, and ensuring price stability through integrated value-chain development.
Launched in: Formally launched by Prime Minister of India on October 11, 2025, following its announcement in the Union Budget 2024–25.
Implemented by: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in collaboration with NAFED, NCCF, and state governments through a cluster-based approach.
• To raise pulses production from 242 lakh MT (2023–24) to 350 lakh MT (2030–31), enhance farmer profitability, promote climate-resilient varieties, and reduce import dependency from nations like Myanmar and Canada.
Key Features:
• Duration & Funding: Six-year mission (2025–26 to 2030–31) with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore to achieve 45% higher production and 13% expansion in area.
• Focus Crops: Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masoor—covering 34% of pulse area—with special push in both traditional and non-traditional regions (NE, rainfed, rice-fallow zones).
• Cluster-Based Implementation: District clusters of 10+ hectares (2 hectares in hilly areas) for focused interventions on input support, technology, and marketing.
• Comprehensive Support: Focus on climate-resilient seed development, protein enrichment, post-harvest storage, and 100% assured procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor by NAFED and NCCF under PM-AASHA.
• Higher Farmer Assistance: ₹10,000/ha for Front Line Demonstrations (FLD) of new technologies (higher than ₹9,000 earlier under NFSM).
• Digital Verification: Use of Aadhaar-based biometric/facial authentication for farmer registration and procurement transparency.
• Integration with National Priorities: Linked with PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Aspirational Districts Programme to promote balanced regional development.
PM SHRI scheme
Source: DH
Context: Kerala, after long opposing the PM SHRI scheme over its links with NEP-2020, has now agreed to sign the MoU with the Centre to avail ₹1,500 crore in pending Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds.
About PM SHRI scheme:
What it is?
• A Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched to upgrade 14,500 schools into model institutions that demonstrate best practices under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, integrating technology, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Launched in: September 2022 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Implemented by: Jointly by the Department of School Education & Literacy (MoE) with participation from States/UTs, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
Objective:
• To provide high-quality, holistic, and skill-based education through experiential learning; align school infrastructure and pedagogy with NEP 2020 and serve as “lighthouse schools” for others to emulate.
Funding Pattern:
• Total Outlay: ₹27,360 crore (2022-27)
• Centre–State Share: 60:40 (General States/UTs with legislature); 90:10 (NE & Himalayan States, J&K); 100% Central for UTs without legislature
Key Features:
• Infrastructure Upgrade: Smart classrooms, computer labs, integrated science labs, skill labs, and Atal Tinkering Labs.
• Green Initiatives: Emphasis on solar power, rainwater harvesting, and waste management for eco-friendly campuses.
• Competency-Based Learning: Shift from rote methods to inquiry-driven, experiential pedagogy.
• Holistic Assessment: Continuous, competency-linked evaluation instead of exam-centric grading.
• Teacher Empowerment: Dedicated modules for digital pedagogy and professional growth.
• Inclusive Education: Special facilities for barrier-free access, gender equity, and multilingual learning.
• Selection Process: Competitive challenge-mode through UDISE+ data, field verification, and expert committee approval.
Dogri Language
Source: TH
Context: A recent sociolinguistic study in Jammu has raised alarms over the declining use of Dogri language, revealing that urban youth show near-zero proficiency in reading or writing Dogri.
About Dogri Language:
What it is?
• Dogri is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Jammu region of India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and an official language of J&K since 2020.
Origin:
• A descendant of Sanskrit, Dogri evolved from the Old Indo-Aryan (1200–250 BCE) through Middle Indo-Aryan (400 BCE–1100 CE) into its modern form. The word “Dogra” or “Duggar” appears as early as 1317 CE in Amir Khusrow’s Nuh Sipihr.
History:
• Once the official script of the Dogra princely state under Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1857–85 CE), it was written in Dogra Akkhar but later replaced by Devanagari script in the 20th century.
• Dogri gained constitutional recognition in 2003, marking a milestone in India’s linguistic preservation.
Spoken among: Dogri is spoken by approximately 2.6 million people, primarily across Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and northern Punjab, with smaller communities in Pakistan and among the Indian diaspora.
Features:
• Linguistic Traits: Uses 10 vowels and 28 consonants with tonal variations (level, falling, rising).
• Phonological Patterns: Displays nasalization, metathesis, and tone-based sound differentiation.
• Vocabulary Influence: Incorporates borrowings from Persian and English while retaining Sanskritic roots.
• Geographical Variation: Dialectal diversity exists between hill regions and plains of Jammu.
Reasons for Decline:
• Policy Neglect: Late recognition and minimal government promotion compared to Urdu or Hindi have eroded institutional support.
• Urban Detachment: Surveys show only 4% of urban respondents can write Dogri, reflecting its shrinking space in education and administration.
• Generational Disconnect: Younger generations show zero literacy proficiency, viewing Dogri as culturally nostalgic but economically irrelevant.
Ollo tribe
Source: TP
Context: The Assam Rifles’ Khonsa Battalion has launched a skill-based empowerment programme under Operation Sadbhavana for women of the Ollo tribe in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.
About Ollo tribe:
Who they are?
• The Ollo tribe, also known as Lazu Naga, is a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group native to the Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Myanmar’s Naga Self-Administered Zone.
• They are culturally affiliated with the Tangshang Naga group and have a distinct clan-based social order.
Habitat:
• The Ollo inhabit 12–13 villages in the Lazu Circle of Tirap district, a region bordering Myanmar.
• Their settlements are found across the Indo-Myanmar frontier, reflecting cross-border ethnic continuity.
History:
• Historically, the Ollo were a headhunting community governed by hereditary chiefs (Lowang) and leaders (Ngongpa) under a patrilineal social system.
• Despite external influences such as Christianity and urbanisation, they have preserved oral traditions, ancestral worship, and folklore like the Voorang folksong.
Key Features:
• Social Structure: Patriarchal, clan-based hierarchy with hereditary leadership and kinship-based land ownership.
• Cultural Practices: Strong oral tradition, ancestral rituals, and dormitory systems; their facial tattoos and Voorang Festival reflect their unique tribal aesthetics.
• Economy: Subsistence agriculture and traditional crafts form the economic base, now being revitalised through skill initiatives like tailoring and handicrafts.
• Population: Around 1,500 people as per the 2011 Census — making them one of the smallest yet culturally rich indigenous groups in Northeast India.
• Festivals: Woraang (Voorang) Festival, a vibrant agrarian celebration marked by songs, dances, and rituals symbolising prosperity and community unity.
Appointment of Chief Justice of India
Source: TOI
Context: Chief Justice Bhushan Ramakant Gavai has formally recommended Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most Supreme Court judge, to succeed him as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI).
About Appointment of Chief Justice of India:
What it is?
• The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the head of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary of India, responsible for judicial administration, allocation of cases, and upholding constitutional values.
Constitutional Article: The appointment of the CJI is governed by Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution, which states that the President shall appoint every Judge of the Supreme Court after consultation with such Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts as deemed necessary.
Process of Appointment:
• Initiation by the Law Minister: At least one month before the retirement of the incumbent CJI, the Union Law Minister seeks the recommendation of the outgoing CJI for the appointment of the next Chief Justice of India.
• Seniority Principle: Traditionally, the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court deemed fit for the office is recommended as the next CJI. However, if there are concerns about fitness or integrity, the outgoing CJI consults other judges as per Article 124(2).
• Recommendation Transmission: The CJI’s recommendation is submitted by the Law Minister to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President to make the appointment.
• Presidential Appointment: The President of India formally appoints the CJI through a warrant under seal, following which the appointee takes oath before the President.
• Convention and Collegium Role: While the collegium system (CJI + four senior-most judges) primarily handles appointments of other judges, it indirectly reinforces the seniority norm in the CJI’s selection. The process ensures institutional continuity, merit consideration, and balance between executive consultation and judicial independence.
• While the collegium system (CJI + four senior-most judges) primarily handles appointments of other judges, it indirectly reinforces the seniority norm in the CJI’s selection.
• The process ensures institutional continuity, merit consideration, and balance between executive consultation and judicial independence.
Key Principles Underlying the Appointment:
• Seniority and Merit: The senior-most judge is appointed, maintaining institutional stability.
• Consultative Process: Based on conventions, not codified law, ensuring judicial input.
• Executive Approval: President acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers, preserving constitutional propriety.
Operation Trishul
Source: FP
Context: Pakistan has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), restricting most of its airspace as India prepares to conduct Operation Trishul — a large-scale tri-services military exercise near the Sir Creek region along the India–Pakistan border.
About Operation Trishul:
What It Is?
• Operation Trishul is a major tri-services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) military exercise conducted by India along its western frontier to test and demonstrate joint operational capabilities across multiple domains — land, air, sea, cyber, and space.
Launched By: It is organised by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
Host and Location:
• The exercise is being held in Rajasthan and Gujarat, with a specific focus on Sir Creek and the Rann of Kutch, extending to the Saurashtra coast for amphibious and naval drills.
• To validate integrated combat operations among all three services in complex, real-war conditions.
• To strengthen India’s deterrence posture along the western border.
• To demonstrate Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) through deployment of indigenous weapons and systems.
• To test readiness against potential multi-front or hybrid threats.
Key Features:
• Tri-Services Integration: Army, Navy, and Air Force jointly conducting multi-domain operations, including desert warfare, amphibious landings, and air strikes.
• Massive Scale: Over 20,000 troops, Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, main battle tanks, howitzers, and S-400 air defence systems deployed.
• Advanced Drills: Sub-exercises like ‘Trinetra’ for electronic warfare and counter-drone operations; ‘Mahagujraj’ for integrated air operations.
• Naval Component: Deployment of frigates, destroyers, and amphibious assets to secure coastal and offshore installations such as Jamnagar refinery.
• Innovation and Technology: Use of indigenous drones, ISR systems, AI-based targeting, and joint command networks.
• Realistic Terrain Testing: Operations across creek, desert, and maritime zones, replicating possible warfronts with Pakistan.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 October 2025 Mapping:
Loktak Lake
Source: NIE
Context: A Nagaland University study has warned of severe ecological degradation in Manipur’s Loktak Lake, citing land-use changes, agricultural runoff, and shifting cultivation.
About Loktak Lake:
What it is?
• Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in South Asia and a Ramsar Site, celebrated for its floating islands (phumdis) and as home to the world’s only floating national park — Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Located in: Situated in Moirang, Bishnupur District of Manipur, about 48 km from Imphal, the lake spans nearly 250 km², expanding to 500 km² during the monsoon.
Formation:
• It is a natural floodplain lake formed by the confluence of several rivers — Khuga, Nambul, Imphal, Thoubal, and others — whose sediments and organic matter created the floating vegetation masses known as phumdis.
Features:
• Unique Phumdis: Floating mats of vegetation and soil that support human settlements (phumsangs) and wildlife.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: Habitat for 428 animal and 132 plant species, including the endangered Sangai deer (brow-antlered deer) — Manipur’s state animal.
• Cultural Heritage: Every 15th October, Loktak Day celebrates the lake’s ecological and cultural significance.
• Tourism & Livelihoods: Supports fishing, hydropower, irrigation, and tourism through Sendra and Takmu Water Sports Complex.
Significance:
• Ecological Importance: The lake sustains the Keibul Lamjao National Park, a critical wetland ecosystem under the Ramsar Convention.
• Economic Role: Provides food, energy, and income to thousands of local fishers and farmers.
• Environmental Concerns: Listed in the Montreux Record for wetlands under threat due to pollution, sedimentation, and unregulated land use.
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