27 October 2023

• Indian Army Infantry Day: October 27 marks the anniversary of the 1947 airlift of Indian troops to Srinagar to defend Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani tribal raiders.
• Israel ground operations: Israel launched limited ground incursions into Gaza, stating it was the next phase of operations, after three weeks of aerial bombardment.
• India's digital divide: TRAI data released in October showed mobile internet penetration in urban areas at 67 per cent vs rural areas at 34 per cent.
• CITES COP19 outcomes: a follow-up to November 2022's CITES COP19 included listing updates for Indian species with delayed implementation entering force in October 2023.

GS area: Modern India History, Defence

October 27 is observed as Indian Army Infantry Day, marking the anniversary of India's first military operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Background: the maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, had signed a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan (August 1947) but had not yet acceded to India. Pakistan organised tribal militia (Azad Kashmir forces) supported by Pakistani regulars to seize the valley.
• October 22, 1947: Pakistan-backed tribal raiders, accompanied by regular Pakistan Army elements, entered Jammu and Kashmir through the western passes.
• October 26, 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to India, requesting military assistance.
• October 27, 1947: the first Indian Army troops (1st Sikh battalion under Lt. Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai) were airlifted to Srinagar by the IAF. Srinagar airport was secured, and the advance of tribal raiders toward Srinagar was halted.
• Significance: this was the first airlift operation by the infant Indian Air Force; the first use of the Instrument of Accession mechanism; and the beginning of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48.
• Outcome of 1947-48 war: India retained most of the Kashmir Valley. The ceasefire line (later called the Line of Control, LoC) was established. The matter was referred to the United Nations.
• UN Security Council Resolution 47 (1948): called for a plebiscite in J&K. India's position: the resolution lapsed after Pakistan's continued military presence; the Simla Agreement (1972) established the LoC as the de facto boundary.

Static linkage: Modern India history, defence.

GS area: International Relations, Polity

Israel launched limited ground incursions into northern Gaza on October 27, 2023, stating the operations were the next phase of its response to the October 7 Hamas attack.

• Context: three weeks of aerial bombardment had killed an estimated 7,000 Palestinians (as of late October, per Gaza health authorities). Northern Gaza was ordered evacuated by Israel on October 13.
• Israel's stated objectives: dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure; destroy the tunnel network (the "Gaza Metro") used for command, logistics, and rocket storage; recover hostages.
• International law positions:
  • The right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter is recognised.
  • International humanitarian law (IHL, including the Geneva Conventions) requires distinguishing combatants from civilians; prohibition of collective punishment; proportionality.
  • UN Secretary-General called for humanitarian ceasefire.
• India's position: India condemned terrorism; supported Israel's right to defend itself; called for protection of civilian lives and adherence to IHL; supported a two-state solution as the long-term resolution.
• UNRWA: the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Near East. Gaza has 2.3 million people, about 70 per cent of whom are registered UNRWA refugees.
• Gaza geography: a 365 sq km territory (about the size of Jaipur city); one of the world's most densely populated areas; bordered by Israel to the north and east, Egypt to the south, Mediterranean to the west.

Static linkage: International relations.

GS area: Governance, Science and Technology, Economy

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) released data showing the urban-rural digital divide in October 2023.

• Urban mobile internet penetration: 67 per cent (of urban population).
• Rural mobile internet penetration: 34 per cent (of rural population).
• Subscriber gap: urban areas have 630 million subscribers (over-representation); rural areas have 540 million (under-representation relative to population share).
• BharatNet: the government's flagship programme for rural broadband connectivity, connecting all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats with optical fibre.
• BharatNet Phase I: completed in about 1.5 lakh GPs; Phase II ongoing. Target: affordable broadband access at gram panchayat headquarters.
• PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface): allows small shopkeepers to become Wi-Fi access providers using public data offices (PDOs).
• Common Service Centres (CSC): 5 lakh+ CSCs serving rural areas as access points for government digital services.
• PM VIKAS: MeitY's Vocational and ICT based Awareness for Knowledge and Skill in northeast states.
• India Stack: UPI, DigiLocker, eKYC, and API-based digital public infrastructure have expanded digital access. JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity supports digital financial inclusion.

Static linkage: Governance, science and technology.

GS area: Environment, International Relations

Amendments to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix listings from the 19th Conference of Parties (CoP19, Panama, November 2022) entered force in February 2023; enforcement monitoring was active through 2023.

• CITES CoP19 (November 2022) key Indian-relevant listings:
  • Sharks and rays: many species uplifted to Appendix II. India is a major shark fishing country; these listings require CITES permits for export.
  • Glass eels and sea cucumbers: Appendix II.
  • Indian star tortoise: already in Appendix I; trafficking enforcement strengthened.
  • India's concerns: India opposed several shark listings, arguing livelihood impacts on fishing communities. India ultimately accepted the CoP19 outcomes.
• Three Appendices:
  • Appendix I: species threatened with extinction. Commercial trade prohibited.
  • Appendix II: species not immediately threatened, but trade must be controlled.
  • Appendix III: species protected by member countries seeking cooperation.
• CITES secretariat: based in Geneva. India has been a CITES signatory since 1976.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: India's domestic legislation for wildlife trade and poaching control. Schedule I species get the highest protection.

Static linkage: Environment.

GS area: Polity, Society, Governance

The Manipur ethnic conflict (which began May 3, 2023) continued with displacement figures remaining high in October 2023.

• Background: violence between the Meitei (valley) and Kuki-Zo (hills) communities began on May 3, 2023, after a court order on ST status for the Meitei community.
• Scale (October 2023): approximately 60,000-70,000 people remained displaced; hundreds of villages had been burned; churches and temples destroyed; internet shutdowns continued intermittently.
• Government response:
  • Curfew and AFSPA deployment in affected areas.
  • Central security forces (Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, Army) deployed.
  • Supreme Court suo motu case; appointed a retired HC CJ to prepare a report.
  • PMSA (Peace, Security, and Administration) committees at the district level.
• Constitutional provisions: Article 355 (Centre's duty to protect states from internal disturbance); Article 356 (President's Rule); AFSPA under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.
• Northeast relevance for UPSC: this is a frequent prelims topic on tribal belts, Inner Line Permit, Fifth and Sixth Schedule, and Article 371.

Static linkage: Polity, society.

• Global Maritime India Summit day 3: announcements of maritime investment intentions totalling Rs 1 lakh crore from domestic and international investors.
• FIDE World Junior Chess Championship: Indian Grandmaster Raunak Sadhwani won the FIDE World Junior Rapid Chess Championship 2023.