Civil Service Bites

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 5, 2025

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

6th BIMSTEC Summit held in Bangkok (April 2025)

CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 5: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation BIMSTEC summit witnessed significant strides in regional cooperation with India announcing major initiatives.

About BIMSTEC

  • Established: 1997 (initially as BIST-EC)
  • Member States: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan
  • Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Purpose: Regional organization to foster technical and economic cooperation among member states

Key Features/Outcomes

  • PM Modi announced over 20 new initiatives for enhanced regional cooperation
  • India to host the first meeting of the new Home Ministers’ mechanism for regional security
  • UPI payment integration across member states to boost economic connectivity
  • Establishment of a new BIMSTEC Energy Center for regional power cooperation
  • Creation of a BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce to facilitate business linkages
  • India’s Cancer Care Initiative to provide training and expertise across BIMSTEC nations

Significance for UPSC

  • Demonstrates India’s “Neighbourhood First” and “Act East” policies in action
  • Highlights India’s role as a net security provider and responsible regional power
  • Important alternative to SAARC which has been dormant due to Indo-Pak tensions
  • Provides a strategic framework for India to counter Chinese influence in the region
  • Aligns with India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

India-Bangladesh Relations: High-Level Dialogue (April 2025)

A significant meeting between PM Modi and Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed critical bilateral concerns amidst political transition in Bangladesh.

About the Meeting

  • First high-level dialogue since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024
  • Held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok
  • Focused on maintaining stability in bilateral relations during Bangladesh’s political transition

Key Features/Outcomes

  • India emphasized support for a democratic and stable Bangladesh
  • Discussions on safety of minorities in Bangladesh following recent unrest
  • Deliberations on the potential extradition of Sheikh Hasina, currently in India
  • Reaffirmation of connectivity initiatives including road, rail, and waterways
  • Commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation and addressing border security

Significance for UPSC

  • Tests India’s diplomatic flexibility in adapting to regime changes in the neighborhood
  • Showcases the intersection of humanitarian concerns and strategic interests
  • Highlights the importance of people-to-people ties beyond governmental relations
  • Demonstrates India’s commitment to democratic values in the region
  • Relevant for questions on India’s neighborhood policy and bilateral relations

India-Myanmar Relations: Democracy and Security (April 2025)

India engaged with Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at the BIMSTEC Summit, balancing strategic interests with democratic principles.

About Myanmar’s Situation

  • Under military rule since the February 2021 coup that overthrew the elected government
  • Facing civil war between the military and various ethnic armed organizations
  • Recently hit by a devastating earthquake requiring international humanitarian assistance
  • Shares a 1,643 km border with India’s northeastern states

Key Features/Outcomes

  • India called for early restoration of democracy through credible elections
  • Discussed humanitarian assistance for earthquake relief efforts
  • Emphasized the need for ending civil conflict and ensuring regional stability
  • Reiterated commitment to border security cooperation and counter-insurgency operations
  • Reviewed progress on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway

Significance for UPSC

  • Exemplifies India’s pragmatic approach to foreign policy – engaging with the regime while promoting democracy
  • Highlights India’s competing priorities of security, strategic interests, and democratic values
  • Demonstrates application of principled pragmatism in challenging diplomatic situations
  • Important for understanding Act East Policy implementation challenges
  • Showcases India balancing Chinese influence in Myanmar with its own strategic interests

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Russia Launches Submarine with Hypersonic Missiles (April 2025)

Russian President Vladimir Putin commissioned a new nuclear submarine equipped with advanced hypersonic missile technology, escalating global arms race concerns.

About Hypersonic Missiles

  • Definition: Missiles that travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound)
  • Types:
    • Hypersonic cruise missiles: Powered throughout their flight
    • Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs): Launched from rockets before gliding to target
  • Key characteristics: Extremely high speed, maneuverability, and low-altitude flight path

Key Features/Outcomes

  • Russia’s Perm submarine launched with Zircon hypersonic missiles
  • These missiles can reportedly travel at speeds up to Mach 9 (11,000 km/h)
  • Difficult to detect and intercept using conventional anti-missile defense systems
  • Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads
  • Represents significant advance in Russian naval capabilities

Significance for UPSC

  • Signals a new dimension in the global arms race and strategic balance
  • Challenges existing missile defense architectures globally
  • Has implications for India’s defense preparedness and strategic calculations
  • Relevant for understanding evolution of nuclear deterrence theory
  • Important context for questions on emerging defense technologies and global security

ENVIRONMENT AND BIODIVERSITY

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve: New Species Discovered (April 2025)

Scientists have discovered several new endemic species in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, highlighting its critical importance for biodiversity conservation.

About Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

  • Location: Western Ghats spanning Tamil Nadu and Kerala
  • Established: 2001 (State level); 2016 (UNESCO recognition)
  • Area: 3,500 sq km
  • Ecosystem types: Tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, grasslands
  • One of the biodiversity hotspots within the larger Western Ghats hotspot

Key Features/Outcomes

  • Discovery of 3 new plant species and 2 amphibian species endemic to the region
  • Identification of new medicinal plant compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications
  • Documentation of traditional ecological knowledge from indigenous communities
  • Implementation of new participatory conservation initiatives involving local communities
  • Establishment of ecological monitoring stations to track climate change impacts

Significance for UPSC

  • Demonstrates the importance of biosphere reserves in the conservation framework
  • Highlights India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation under international frameworks
  • Showcases the connection between biodiversity and traditional knowledge systems
  • Relevant for questions on in-situ conservation measures and UNESCO designations
  • Important for understanding Western Ghats ecology and conservation challenges

ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT

Startup Mahakumbh 2025: Boosting India’s Innovation Ecosystem (April 2025)

The second edition of Startup Mahakumbh brought together stakeholders from across India’s startup ecosystem to showcase innovations and address growth challenges.

About Startup Mahakumbh

  • Organizers: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in collaboration with industry associations
  • Purpose: National platform to celebrate and promote India’s startup ecosystem
  • Participation: Over 2,000 startups, 1,000 investors, and 100 unicorns
  • Focus areas: Deep tech, fintech, agritech, biotech, AI, sustainability, and social impact

Key Features/Outcomes

  • Launch of ₹10,000 crore fund for deep tech startups by the government
  • Introduction of regulatory sandbox framework for emerging technologies
  • Announcement of tax incentives for angel investors and early-stage investments
  • Creation of Startup India 2.0 roadmap with focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
  • Establishment of India Innovation Index to benchmark state-level startup ecosystems

Significance for UPSC

  • Demonstrates India’s push toward becoming a knowledge-based economy
  • Highlights implementation of National Education Policy 2020 goals for innovation
  • Shows government’s multi-pronged approach to achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat
  • Relevant for questions on economic development models and employment generation
  • Important for understanding the evolution of India’s economic policies beyond traditional sectors

ALSO IN NEWS

  • Ottawa Convention: India considering signing the Mine Ban Treaty after decades of resistance
  • Global Remittances Report: India remains the top remittance recipient with $100 billion inflow in 2024
  • National Medical Commission: New guidelines issued for regulating medical education in India
  • Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Progress on supply chain resilience pillar discussed
  • NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2025: Released with Kerala topping the rankings for sustainable development

CONCEPT MAP: INTERCONNECTIONS IN CURRENT AFFAIRS

Copy+-----------------+          +----------------+
|                 |          |                |
|  BIMSTEC Summit +----------+ India-Myanmar  |
|                 |          | Relations      |
+---------+-------+          +-------+--------+
          |                          |
          |                          |
          v                          v
+---------+-------------------------+--------+
|                                            |
|        Regional Security Architecture       |
|                                            |
+----+-----------------------------------+---+
     |                                   |
     |                                   |
     v                                   v
+----+--------------+        +-----------+-------+
|                   |        |                   |
| Hypersonic Missiles|        | Startup Ecosystem |
|                   |        |                   |
+-------------------+        +-------------------+

QUICK FACTS: BIMSTEC

  • Combined GDP: $3.7 trillion (2024)
  • Total Population: 1.7 billion (22% of global population)
  • Trade Volume: $121 billion (intra-BIMSTEC, 2024)
  • Biodiversity: Contains 4 of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots
  • Energy Potential: 300,000 MW of hydropower potential
  • Timeline: 1997 (Formation) → 2004 (First Summit) → 2022 (Charter Adoption) → 2025 (6th Summit)

PREVIOUS EFFORTS: INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS

  • 1971: Birth of Bangladesh with India’s military support
  • 1996: Ganges Water Treaty signed
  • 2015: Land Boundary Agreement implemented
  • 2019: Standard Operating Procedures for inland waterways usage
  • 2022: Joint Rivers Commission meeting after 12 years
  • 2024: Political transition in Bangladesh with fall of Sheikh Hasina government
  • 2025: Diplomatic reset with new interim government

POTENTIAL UPSC QUESTIONS

  1. “BIMSTEC represents a more viable alternative to SAARC for regional cooperation in South Asia.” Discuss with reference to recent developments in the BIMSTEC framework. (15 marks)
  2. Analyze the strategic implications of hypersonic missile technology for global security architecture and nuclear deterrence theory. (10 marks)
  3. How does India balance its strategic interests with democratic principles in its engagement with neighboring countries experiencing political instability? Explain with reference to recent developments in India’s neighborhood. (15 marks)