05 March 2026

• A U.S. submarine reportedly torpedoed and sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle in Sri Lanka.
• The incident occurred amid escalating tensions in West Asia, indicating a possible expansion of geopolitical conflict into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Around 83 sailors were reported dead, while 32 sailors were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy after receiving an early morning distress signal.
• The Iranian warship had recently participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 held in Visakhapatnam before returning to Iran.
• Sri Lanka launched a search and rescue operation under the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (1979).
• The event highlights increasing militarisation of the Indian Ocean and the spillover of West Asian conflicts into South Asian maritime spaces.

Key Points

• Location of incident:
  • Indian Ocean near southern Sri Lanka
  • Approximately 40 nautical miles from Galle
• Casualties and rescue:
  • 83 bodies recovered
  • 32 sailors rescued
  • Estimated 140 personnel on board  
• Strategic significance:
  • Reported first torpedo sinking of an enemy warship since World War II
  • Indicates continued relevance of submarine warfare
• Sri Lanka’s response:
  • Naval vessels dispatched within two hours of distress signal
  • Rescue operations conducted under international maritime law
• Geopolitical dimension:
  • Escalation of West Asian conflict into the Indian Ocean maritime domain
  • Raises concerns regarding security of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).

Static Linkages

• The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) carries nearly 80% of global seaborne oil trade and is critical for global energy security.
• Major Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) in the region include routes connecting the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Strait of Malacca.
• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 governs rights over territorial waters, Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), and international waters.
• The International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (1979) obligates coastal states to assist vessels in distress.
• Naval power projection through submarines and aircraft carriers remains a key element of modern maritime strategy.

Critical Analysis

• Strategic Concerns
  • Escalation of naval conflict may destabilize the Indian Ocean Region, a key global trade corridor.
• Maritime Security Risk
  • Increased military activities threaten freedom of navigation and commercial shipping routes.
• Impact on Regional States
  • Countries like India and Sri Lanka face challenges in balancing strategic neutrality and regional security responsibilities.
• International Law Questions
  • Military action in international waters raises concerns about interpretation of maritime laws under UNCLOS.
• Implications for India
  • Necessitates enhanced maritime surveillance and naval preparedness in the Indian Ocean.

Way Forward

• Strengthen maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean.
• Promote regional security cooperation through mechanisms like IONS and IORA.
• Encourage diplomatic de-escalation of West Asian conflicts.
• Enhance Indian naval presence and strategic partnerships in the IOR.
• Reinforce international maritime law and freedom of navigation principles

INDIA 2ND IN CHILD OBESITY: STUDY

• The World Obesity Atlas 2026, released by the World Obesity Federation on World Obesity Day (4 March), highlighted a significant rise in childhood obesity globally and in India.
• In 2025, India had around 41 million children (5–19 years) with high Body Mass Index (BMI).
• Nearly 15 million children aged 5–9 and over 26 million aged 10–19 were overweight or obese.
• India ranks second after China in the number of children with high BMI.
• The report warns that the global target to halt the rise of childhood obesity by 2025 will be missed, with the deadline now extended to 2030.

Key Points

• Global Situation
  • Over 200 million school-age children (5–19 years) with overweight/obesity are concentrated in 10 countries.
  • China, India and the United States each have over 10 million obese children.
• Country-wise Data (2025)
  • China: 62 million high BMI; 33 million obesity
  • India: 41 million high BMI; 14 million obesity
  • United States: 27 million high BMI; 13 million obesity
• Global Trend
  • 20.7% of children globally are overweight or obese.
  • This increased from 14.6% in 2010.
  • By 2040, around 507 million children globally may be overweight or obese.
• Risk Factors in India
  • 74% of adolescents (11–17 years) do not meet recommended physical activity levels.
  • Only 35.5% of school-age children receive school meals.
  • 32.6% of infants (1–5 months) experience sub-optimal breastfeeding.
  • Sugary drink consumption among children (6–10 years) averages 50 ml/day.
  • Among women (15–49 years):  
    • 13.4% have high BMI
    • 4.2% have Type 2 diabetes  
  • Health Implications
    • Increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and metabolic disorders.
    • The number of children with disease indicators linked to high BMI in India is projected to rise significantly by 2040.

Static Linkages

• Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Formula: Weight (kg) / Height² (m²)
  • Indicator used to classify overweight and obesity.
• WHO BMI Classification
  • BMI ≥ 25 – Overweight  BMI ≥ 30 – Obesity
• Nutrition Scenario in India
  • India faces the Triple Burden of Malnutrition:
    • Undernutrition
    • Micronutrient deficiency
    • Overnutrition (overweight/obesity)
• Government Initiatives
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan – improving nutritional outcomes for children, women and adolescents.
  • PM POSHAN Scheme – providing cooked meals to school children.
  • Eat Right India – promoting balanced diets and reducing junk food consumption.

Critical Analysis

• Concerns
  • Rising sedentary lifestyle and urbanisation among children.
  • Increasing consumption of processed and high-sugar foods.
  • Lack of adequate physical activity infrastructure in schools.
  • Marketing of unhealthy foods targeting children.  
  • Growing double burden of malnutrition in India.
• Implications
  • Increased healthcare burden in the future.
  • Reduced productivity and human capital development.
  • Higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Way Forward

• Promote daily physical activity in schools through sports and fitness programmes.
• Implement taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and regulate junk food marketing.
• Strengthen school nutrition programmes like PM POSHAN.
• Encourage healthy dietary habits and awareness campaigns.
• Integrate obesity screening and counselling in primary healthcare.
• Improve breastfeeding practices and early childhood nutrition.

TAMIL NADU: VALUES OVER STAR POWER

• The DMK and Congress have finalised their seat-sharing agreement ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
• Some leaders within Congress had explored a possible alliance with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor-politician Vijay.
• The Congress leadership eventually decided to continue its long-standing alliance with the DMK, maintaining the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).
• The debate intensified after a crowd crush at a TVK rally in Karur (September 2025) where 41 people died.
• The episode highlighted issues related to personality-driven politics vs ideology-based political alliances in Tamil Nadu.

Key Points

• Alliance Politics in Tamil Nadu
  • Tamil Nadu has a bipolar political system dominated by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alliances.
  • The DMK-led alliance includes **Indian National Congress, Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
  • The alliance won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2024 general elections.
• Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)
  • A newly formed political party led by actor Vijay.
  • Mobilisation largely driven by fan-club networks and personality appeal rather than a well-defined ideological framework.
• Karur Rally Stampede (2025)
  • A crowd crush during a TVK rally in Karur resulted in 41 deaths.
  • The Madras High Court ordered an investigation, later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Supreme Court of India.
• Economic and Political Context of Tamil Nadu  
  • Tamil Nadu is one of India’s largest State economies and a major manufacturing hub.
  • The State aims to move toward a high-value innovation-driven economy through industrialisation, exports, and R&D investment.

Static Linkages

• Article 324 – Superintendence and control of elections vested in the Election Commission of India.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951 – Regulates registration and functioning of political parties and electoral processes.
• Coalition politics became prominent in India after the decline of one-party dominance post-1989.
• Regional parties strengthen federalism by representing State-specific interests in national politics.
• Social justice movements in South India, especially the Dravidian movement, shaped policies related to reservation, welfare and linguistic identity.

Critical Analysis

• Advantages of the Alliance
  • Ensures ideological coherence based on secularism and social justice.
  • Maintains stability in Tamil Nadu’s coalition politics.
  • Strengthens national opposition coordination against centralised political dominance.
  • Supports a governance model combining industrialisation and welfare schemes.
• Concerns
  • Internal disagreements over seat-sharing can weaken coalition unity.
  • Emergence of personality-centric parties may dilute ideological politics.
  • Expansion of alliances to include leaders without clear ideological alignment may reduce ideological clarity.
  • Growing electoral fragmentation could lead to multi- cornered contests.

Way Forward

• Strengthen ideology-based coalition politics rather than personality-driven mobilisation.
• Promote transparent seat-sharing mechanisms within alliances.
• Encourage institutionalised party structures and internal democracy.
• Focus on governance performance, economic development, and welfare delivery to maintain voter trust.
• Ensure public safety and regulatory oversight during large political gatherings.

CLIMATE RISKS NEED LEGAL REFORM

• Climate change impacts such as sea-level rise (SLR), fossil fuel phase-out debates, climate migration, and shifting maritime boundaries are challenging traditional principles of international law.
• Discussions during COP28 and COP30 climate negotiations highlighted the need to reconsider legal doctrines like Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (PSNR), statehood requirements, and maritime baselines.
• Small island developing states (SIDS) facing existential threats from rising sea levels have raised concerns about statehood, maritime rights, and climate displacement.

Key Points

1. Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (PSNR)

• PSNR: Recognized under UN General Assembly Resolution 1803 (1962).
• It gives states the right to control and exploit their natural resources, including fossil fuels.
• However, global climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) require limiting warming to well below 2°C and preferably 1.5°C.
• Scholars and policymakers propose a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to gradually phase out fossil fuel production.
• Developing countries’ concerns:
  • Restrictions on fossil fuels may affect energy security and economic development.
  • Climate commitments must follow the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).
  • Financial support and technology transfer from developed countries are necessary.

2. Climate Change and Statehood

• Statehood criteria are defined in the Montevideo Convention (1933):
  • Defined territory
  • Permanent population  
  • Government
  • Capacity to enter into relations with other states
• Sea-level rise threatens the territorial existence of small island states such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Maldives.
• International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinions suggest that loss of territory may not automatically terminate statehood, though the issue remains legally uncertain.
• Pacific Islands Forum (2023) declared that climate-induced sea-level rise should not lead to the loss of statehood.

3. Climate Change-Induced Migration

• Climate impacts such as flooding, storms, and SLR may force large-scale displacement.
• However, climate migrants are not recognized under existing international refugee law.
• The 1951 Refugee Convention defines refugees as persons fleeing persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.
• Experts propose a new protocol under the UNFCCC to legally recognize and protect climate refugees.

4. Maritime Zones and Sea-Level Rise

• Maritime zones are defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982.
• These zones include:
  • Territorial Sea – up to 12 nautical miles
  • Contiguous Zone – up to 24 nautical miles  
  • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – up to 200 nautical miles
  • Continental Shelf
• Sea-level rise may shift coastal baselines, altering maritime boundaries and resource rights.
• Some states advocate fixed or permanent baselines to maintain existing maritime entitlements despite changing coastlines.
• This contrasts with the ambulatory baseline principle, where baselines shift naturally with coastline changes.

Static Linkages

• Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle under international climate law.
• Paris Agreement (2015) temperature target of 1.5°C.
• UNCLOS (1982) framework for ocean governance.
• UN General Assembly Resolution 1803 (1962) on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources.
• 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol on refugee protection.

Critical Analysis

• Advantages
  • Encourages global cooperation in climate governance.
  • Protects vulnerable small island states and populations.
  • Promotes sustainable energy transition.
• Concerns
  • Possible conflict with national sovereignty over natural resources.
  • Economic challenges for fossil-fuel-dependent developing countries.
  • Lack of clear international legal framework for climate migrants.
  • Uncertainty regarding maritime boundaries and resource entitlements.

Way Forward

• Develop international legal frameworks for climate-induced displacement.
• Ensure adequate climate finance and technology transfer to developing countries.
• Establish legal clarity on maritime boundaries and statehood issues.
• Strengthen multilateral cooperation under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.
• Promote equitable energy transition balancing climate goals and development needs.

• The Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, was recently labelled a “supply chain risk” by the United States Department of Defense.
• The designation reportedly followed Anthropic’s refusal to allow its AI tools to be used for large-scale domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems.
• Anthropic develops Claude, an AI assistant capable of generating and updating large software code bases.
• The move reflects growing tensions between technology firms and governments over the military and surveillance use of AI systems.
• Soon after the incident, OpenAI reportedly expanded cooperation with the U.S. defence establishment, highlighting diverging approaches among AI firms regarding defence collaboration.
• The episode has revived the debate on AI safety, ethical deployment of AI, and global standards for regulating high-risk artificial intelligence technologies.

Key Points

• Artificial Intelligence as Strategic Technology
  • AI is considered a critical emerging technology influencing economic growth, national security, and global power competition.
• Military Uses of AI
  • Autonomous weapon systems
  • Intelligence analysis and surveillance
  • Cyber operations and software development
  • Battlefield logistics and decision support
• Corporate–Government Conflict
  • AI firms may resist cooperation with governments when demands conflict with ethical AI principles or privacy concerns.
• Global AI Safety Debate
  • The Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit emphasised international cooperation to mitigate risks from advanced AI systems.
• Geopolitical Dimension
  • Competition among major powers such as the United States and China is intensifying the global race for AI dominance.

Static Linkages

• Dual-use technologies can be used for both civilian and military purposes and therefore require regulatory oversight.
• Autonomous weapons systems raise ethical issues concerning accountability, proportionality, and distinction under international humanitarian law.
• Right to Privacy is recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21.
• Rapid technological advances often require new governance frameworks and regulatory mechanisms.
• Strategic technologies influence global power distribution and national security policies.

Critical Analysis

• Advantages
  • AI can significantly enhance defence capabilities, intelligence analysis, and cyber security.
  • Strengthens technological leadership and strategic advantage in global competition.
• Concerns
  • Risk of mass surveillance and erosion of civil liberties.
  • Development of lethal autonomous weapons systems without human oversight.
  • Lack of global regulatory frameworks for AI safety.
  • Corporate dependence on government contracts may weaken ethical resistance by firms.

Way Forward

• Establish global norms and treaties on military use of AI.
• Ensure human oversight (“human-in-the-loop”) in lethal decision-making systems.
• Promote transparent AI governance frameworks involving governments, industry, and civil society.
• Encourage international cooperation on AI safety standards through multilateral platforms.
• Develop national AI ethics guidelines and regulatory frameworks to balance security and rights.