19 September 2025

• Trigger: Signing of a mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan after Israel’s strike on Qatar (Sept 2025).
• Historical ties:
  • Saudi financial support reportedly helped Pakistan sustain its nuclear weapons programme (esp. during U.S. sanctions).
  • Longstanding defence relationship—Pakistani troops deployed in Saudi Arabia since the late 1960s for protecting holy sites and countering regional threats.
• Geopolitical backdrop:
  • Intensifying Israel–Iran rivalry and ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
  • Saudi Arabia signaling deterrence posture, possibly seeking inclusion under Pakistan’s “nuclear umbrella”.
  • First major defence decision by a Gulf Arab state post-Qatar attack.

Key Facts / Prelims Pointers

• • Pact signed: 18 Sept 2025, Riyadh.

  • Signatories: Crown Prince MBS & PM Shehbaz Sharif.

  • Core clause: “Any aggression against either shall be considered aggression against both.”

  • Pakistan’s nuclear capability: ~165 warheads (SIPRI 2024).

  • Saudi Arabia: No nuclear arsenal; member of NPT (1970s).

  • Pakistan faced U.S. sanctions under the Pressler Amendment (1990s) & later missile-related sanctions.

  • Relevant text: Brig. Gen. Feroz Khan’s Eating Grass documents Saudi funding

Critical Analysis Opportunities / Pros:

• Strengthens Saudi deterrence against Iran & Israel. Enhances Pakistan’s geopolitical weight, deepens economic-military ties.
• Signals emerging Sunni bloc alignment in West Asia.

Challenges / Cons:

• Raises risk of nuclear proliferation / “nuclear umbrella” controversy.
• May provoke Iran, destabilizing Gulf region.
• Could complicate U.S.–Saudi ties (Washington wary of nuclear angle).
• Weakens prospects of Israel–Saudi normalization.

Long-term Implications:

• Possible proxy nuclear deterrence arrangement in West Asia.
• India’s balancing act between Saudi Arabia (oil, diaspora) and Iran (Chabahar, regional access) becomes harder.
• Could push Turkey, Iran, Israel into sharper military postures.

Way Forward

• For India: Strategic hedging, strengthen energy diversification, enhance engagement with GCC + Iran.
• For Region: Promote regional security dialogue (West Asia collective security forum).
• Global best practice: Adopt confidence-building measures (CBMs) like EU’s nuclear safety protocols; push for a WMD-Free Zone in West Asia (long- discussed at UN).
• Policy reform: Encourage NPT signatories to reaffirm commitments; engage Saudi in IAEA-safeguarded nuclear energy projects to prevent clandestine ambitions.

U.S REVOKES VISAS OF INDIAN BUSINESS EXECUTIVE AND FAMILY

• The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi revoked/denied visas to Indian business executives and their families for alleged involvement in smuggling fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S.
• Trigger: In January 2025, U.S. authorities charged two Indian companies (Raxuter Chemicals, Athos Chemicals) and executives, including Bhavesh Lathiya, for conspiracy to traffic fentanyl precursors. Broader context: The U.S. has been pushing “source countries” (like China, Mexico, India) to curb illicit flows of precursor chemicals under several executive orders.
• Significance: Reflects India-U.S. cooperation in counter-narcotics, but also raises concerns for Indian pharma exports’ global image.

Key Facts / Prelims Pointers

• Fentanyl: A synthetic opioid, 50x more potent than heroin, declared the “deadliest drug threat in the U.S.” by the DoJ & DEA.
• Legal instruments:
  •  UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 – India is a signatory.
  • Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 – domestic law regulating precursors.
• India’s role: One of the largest producers/exporters of bulk drugs and precursors; companies face international scrutiny.
• U.S. Actions: Visa denials, executive orders, indictments, “name-and-shame” diplomacy. Precedent: Similar pressure was earlier applied on China, accused of being the primary source of fentanyl.

Critical Analysis Opportunities/Pros

• Strengthens India-U.S. counter-narcotics cooperation. Pushes Indian firms towards higher compliance, improving global pharma credibility.
• Aligns with India’s NDPS Act commitments and UN conventions.

Challenges/Cons

• Risk of U.S. overreach & unilateral action affecting bilateral relations.
• Reputational damage to India’s pharmaceutical sector.
• Possible misuse of visa restrictions as a tool of diplomatic coercion.

Long-term Implications

• Increased U.S. monitoring of Indian pharma exports. Potential tightening of Indian export regulations & customs scrutiny.
• Greater burden on regulatory bodies (Narcotics Control Bureau, CDSCO).

Way Forward

• Strengthen domestic enforcement: Digital tracking of precursor chemicals (like e-labs, blockchain monitoring).
• Enhance bilateral cooperation: India-U.S. joint task force on precursors (similar to India-UAE gold smuggling task force).
• Corporate accountability: Mandatory compliance audits for chemical exporters.
• International best practices: Adopt EU-style “early warning systems” for precursor misuse.
• Capacity building: Training customs, NCB, and pharma companies on compliance.

U.S TO REVOKE WAIVER ON CHABAHAR PORT SANCTIONS

• Why important? Chabahar port is India’s strategic investment in Iran, intended as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. Revocation of U.S. sanctions waiver (effective Sept 29, 2025) threatens India’s connectivity plans.
• Trigger: U.S. “maximum pressure” policy on Iran under Trump 2.0, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing the waiver withdrawal.
• Historical background:
  •  2016: India signed MoU with Iran to develop Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar.
  • 2018: U.S. granted sanctions waiver under Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), recognising Afghanistan’s reconstruction needs.
  • 2024: India signed a 10-year lease agreement for managing the port.

Key Facts/Data (Prelims Pointers)

• India spent ₹200 crore out of ₹400 crore allocation on Chabahar since 2016.
• 2023-24: Vessel traffic ↑ 43%, container traffic ↑34%.
• Chabahar waiver was linked to Afghanistan reconstruction assistance under IFCA.
• Earlier, India:
  •  Stopped importing oil from Iran (2018) & Venezuela (2019).
  • Facing U.S. penalties on Russian oil trade in 2025.
  • U.S. tariff on Indian goods: 25% + 25% reciprocal tariff.

Critical Analysis Opportunities/Pros

• Strengthens India–Iran ties (scope for rupee–rial trade, energy deals).
• Signals India’s need for independent regional policy (strategic autonomy). Pushes India toward multilateral mechanisms (INSTC, BRICS, SCO).

Challenges/Cons

• Financial losses: ₹200+ crore investment, lease agreement at risk.
• Hampers India’s access to Afghanistan (especially post-Taliban resurgence).
• Strains with U.S. (already tense over oil, trade tariffs). China may step into Chabahar if India retreats.

Long-term implications

• India’s “connectivity strategy” in Central Asia weakened.
• Test of India’s balancing act between U.S., Iran, Russia.
• Push toward de-dollarisation, regional trading blocs.

Way Forward

• Explore local currency/rupee-rial trade mechanisms to bypass sanctions.
• Deepen INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) with Russia, Iran, Central Asia.
• Engage with EU/Eurasian countries that support Iran engagement.
• Enhance multilateral diplomacy via BRICS+, SCO to counter unilateral sanctions.
• Strengthen domestic refining & energy diversification to reduce vulnerability

EQUALISING PRIMARY FOOD CONSUMPTION IN INDIA

• Trigger: The NSS Household Consumption Survey (2024), released after >10 years, enabled new poverty estimates.
• World Bank (2025) Report: “Poverty and Equity Brief: India” estimated extreme poverty (below $2.15/day) fell from 16.2% in 2011-12 to 2.3% in 2022-23, suggesting near elimination of extreme poverty.
• Counterview: Scholars propose a “thali index” (food- based metric) to capture actual food affordability, showing deeper food deprivation despite declining official poverty.
• Policy Debate: Questions about PDS effectiveness, food subsidy targeting, and the need to diversify beyond cereals (towards pulses/proteins).

Key Facts/Data (Prelims Pointers)

• Thali cost (Crisil estimate): ₹30 (rice, dal, roti, curd, vegetables, salad).
• Food deprivation (2023-24):
  •  Rural: 50% cannot afford ≥2 thalis/day.
  • Urban: 20% cannot afford ≥2 thalis/day.
• With PDS adjustment: Deprivation falls to 40% (rural), 10% (urban).
• PDS subsidy distribution: In rural India, richest 90– 95% fractile gets 88% of subsidy received by poorest 0–5% fractile → non-progressive targeting.
• Cereals consumption: Almost equal across poorest and richest households; ~10% of household expenditure.
• Pulses consumption: Poorest consume half of what richest do → indicates protein inequality.
• Policy expansion (Jan 2024): Free cereals to 80 crore people → high fiscal cost, but limited impact on nutrition security.

Critical Analysis Pros/Opportunities

• Near elimination of extreme poverty (WB) → global recognition.
• PDS success in cereal equalisation →ensures basic staple security.
• Data revival via NSS 2024 → improved evidence-based policymaking.

Challenges/Concerns

• Thali affordability gap → food deprivation under- recognised.
• PDS inefficiency: Leakages, poor targeting, subsidy diversion to non-poor.
• Nutritional poverty: Cereal-heavy PDS ignores protein/micronutrient needs.
• Fiscal strain: Large subsidies (80 crore beneficiaries) unsustainable.

Long-term Implications

• If left unreformed, India risks a paradox: low official poverty but high nutritional deprivation.
• Over-subsidisation of cereals may distort agriculture, ignoring protein-rich crops.

Way Forward

• Restructure PDS: Target poorest → eliminate subsidy to non-needy (upper fractiles).
• Diversify PDS basket: Expand to pulses, millets, fortified foods.
• Nutrition-sensitive poverty measures: Move beyond calorie-counting → focus on balanced diet.
• Smart subsidies: Use direct benefit transfers (DBT) for higher-income groups.
• Leverage technology: Aadhaar-enabled ration cards, portability under One Nation One Ration Card.
• International best practice: Brazil’s Bolsa Família – cash transfers linked to nutrition/education.

• Why important?
• India secured its best-ever rank (99/167) in the SDG Index 2025 (up from 109 in 2024).
• Health & well-being (SDG 3) remains a critical lagging area, despite progress in access to services and infrastructure.
• Trigger: Release of the Sustainable Development Report 2025 (UN SDSN), measuring progress of countries on 17 SDGs.
• Historical/Institutional background:
  • India’s commitment to UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015).
  • NITI Aayog SDG India Index (since 2018) tracks national/state progress.
  • Health sector reform efforts under National Health Mission (2005), Ayushman Bharat (2018), National Health Policy 2017.

Key Facts/Data (Prelims Pointers)

• India rank in SDG Index 2025 → 99/167 (best so far).
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): 97 deaths/100,000 live births (Target: 70 by 2030). Under-5 Mortality Rate: 32/1000 live births (Target: 25).
• Life Expectancy: 70 years (Target: 73.63). OOPE (Out-of-Pocket Expenditure): 13% of household consumption (Target: 7.83%).
• Immunisation coverage: 93.23% (Target: 100%). WHO World Health Statistics 2022: Strong primary care → better long-term outcomes.
• Lancet Digital Health Commission: Digital platforms improved maternal & vaccination tracking. Only 17% of global SDG targets are on track for 2030.

Static Linkages

• Constitution:
  • Art. 21 (Right to Life) → includes right to health (judicial expansion).
  • Art. 47 (Directive Principles) → duty of State to improve public health.
• Schemes/Policies: Ayushman Bharat, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Mission Indradhanush, POSHAN Abhiyaan. Reports/Indices: UN SDG Report, WHO World Health Statistics, NITI Aayog SDG India Index.
• Global Practices: Finland’s 1970s health reforms, Japan’s compulsory school health education.

Critical Analysis

• Opportunities/Pros:
  • Improved SDG ranking boosts India’s global credibility.
  • Digital health tools (telemedicine, health records) bridge rural-urban gap.
  • School-based health education can yield intergenerational dividends.
• Challenges/Cons:
  • Persisting gaps in MMR, child mortality, OOPE burden.
  • Infrastructure deficit in primary healthcare, shortage of doctors.
  • Cultural stigma, lack of awareness → underutilisation of services.
• Long-term Implications:
  • Without corrective action, India may miss SDG 3 targets by 2030.
  • Weak health outcomes undermine economic productivity & demographic dividend.
  • Risk of widening inequality between urban/rural & rich/poor communities.

Way Forward

• Universal Health Insurance with focus on equity →reduce catastrophic OOPE.
• Strengthen Primary Healthcare → more PHCs, integration across primary–secondary–tertiary levels. Digital Health Expansion → telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, integrated records.
• School Health Education → structured curriculum on nutrition, hygiene, reproductive & mental health.
• Global Best Practices:
  • Finland (school-based reforms),
  • Japan (compulsory health education),
  • Thailand (Universal Coverage Scheme).

HOLISTIC APPROACH

Context & Bachground

• News Trigger: The Supreme Court of India hinted at prosecuting farmers caught burning crop residue (stubble burning) before winter sowing.
• Historical Background:
  • Post-Green Revolution, paddy-wheat cropping system became dominant in Punjab-Haryana due to MSP assurance → resulting in short turnaround time (Sept-Oct harvest to Nov sowing).
  • Farmers burn paddy stubble to quickly clear fields.
  • Air pollution crisis in North India (Delhi NCR “gas chamber” episodes every Oct-Nov) linked to stubble burning.
  • Institutional Response: Creation of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in 2020 as a statutory body to coordinate multi-state air quality management.

Key Facts/Data (Prelims Pointers)

• Contribution to Air Pollution: Stubble burning accounts for 30–40% of PM2.5 concentration in NCR during peak season (SAFAR, IIT Kanpur studies).

Static Linkages

• Extent: Punjab + Haryana contribute ~75–80% of crop residue burning in India.
• Legislation:
  • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.  Environment Protection Act, 1986 (basis for  CAQM).
  • Section 188 IPC, Disaster Management Act (sometimes invoked against farmers).
• Schemes:
  • Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme: 80% subsidy for Happy Seeder, Super Straw Management System.
  • PUSA Bio-decomposer (IARI innovation). International Reference: China phased out open field burning by enforcing strict bans + providing alternative uses for crop residue (bioenergy, paper, fodder).

Critical Analysis Opportunities / Pros

• Tackling stubble burning can drastically improve NCR’s winter AQI.
• Alternative technologies (Happy Seeder, bio- decomposer) provide sustainable solutions.
• Crop diversification away from water-guzzling paddy can reduce groundwater stress.

Challenges / Cons

• Economic compulsion: farmers are debt-ridden; burning is cheapest option.
• Weak enforcement: states hesitate to act against farmers due to political backlash.
• CAQM criticized as politically timid, lacking autonomy. Short sowing window (10–15 days) makes alternatives less attractive.

Long-Term Implications

• Criminalizing farmers risks alienation and farmer unrest. If properly managed, residue could become a bio- economy resource (energy, fodder, packaging).
• Trust deficit between farmers and institutions may deepen if coercive measures dominate.

Way Forward

• Incentivization > Penalization – Direct cash support for residue management.
• Technology Push – Mass adoption of Happy Seeder, Turbo Happy Seeder, and bio-decomposers.
• Crop Diversification – Shift away from paddy to maize, pulses, millets (aligning with International Year of Millets 2023 momentum).
• Strengthen CAQM – More autonomy, scientific transparency, and accountability.
• Learning from Global Best Practices – China (strict enforcement + alternative industry), EU (subsidies for crop residue-to-bioenergy projects).
• Community-based Models – Village cooperatives renting machinery instead of individual ownership.

A BIRTHDAY CALL

• The satirical conversation reflects India–U.S. bilateral tensions, particularly on punitive tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Indian goods.
• It echoes larger debates: India’s strategic balancing in the Russia–Ukraine war, relations with Israel, and domestic opposition accusations against Modi (vote manipulation).
• The text also parodies Trump’s characteristic style of claiming victories (tariffs, lawsuits, foreign policy).

Key Facts / Prelims Pointers

• U.S.–India Trade: U.S. withdrew India from the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) in 2019. Tariffs Issue: India imposed retaliatory tariffs on
• U.S. goods (almonds, apples, walnuts).
• Russia–Ukraine: India continues strategic neutrality; imports discounted Russian oil.
• TikTok Ban: India banned TikTok in 2020 under Section 69A of the IT Act, citing data sovereignty & national security.
• Quad: A strategic grouping of India, U.S., Japan, Australia — counterweight to China.
• Demography Debate: India’s population ~1.4 billion (2023), world’s largest.
• Foreign Policy Doctrine: India emphasizes multi- alignment and strategic autonomy.

Static Linkages

• Polity: Article 51 — India’s commitment to international peace.
• Economy: WTO rules on tariffs; India’s GSP removal (2019).
• IR: NAM principles, India’s traditional stance on neutrality.
• Geography: Energy security (Russian oil), strategic locations (Quad in Indo- Pacific).

Critical Analysis Opportunities / Pros:

• India’s population = large market, bargaining leverage.
• Neutral stance allows dialogue with both West & Russia.
• Growing U.S.–India convergence via Quad.

Challenges / Cons:

• U.S. tariffs harm Indian exporters (agri, steel, textiles).
• Pressure to align with U.S. on Russia undermines autonomy.
• Opposition allegations domestically weaken image.
• U.S. skepticism on immigration/demography.

Long-term Implications:

• If tariffs remain, friction may stall economic partnership.
• India balancing Russia-U.S. is delicate; risks sanctions.
• Domestic democratic image impacts global credibility.

Way Forward

• Resume U.S.–India trade negotiations (restore GSP, reduce tariff wars).
• Strengthen Quad cooperation beyond security (tech, supply chains).
• Promote multilateral reforms (WTO dispute settlement, UN reform).
• India must preserve strategic autonomy while deepening ties with multiple poles.
• Counter disinformation & polarization domestically to maintain democratic credibility.