19 May 2024

• International: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian died in a helicopter crash near the Iran-Azerbaijan border in foggy mountain terrain.
• Polity (Iran): Iran's constitutional mechanism was activated: First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber became Acting President, and presidential elections were called within 6 months.
• India response: Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences. India declared State Mourning on 21 May.
• Environment: Heatwave continued to intensify ahead of the UPSC Preliminary Examination scheduled for 26 May.

GS area: International Relations (Iran, West Asia)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024. He was 63 years old.

• Crash details: The helicopter (a Bell 212) came down near the village of Uzi in Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran. Thick fog and poor visibility in the mountainous terrain were confirmed causes.
• Also killed: Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian; Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati; IRGC Brigadier General Mohammad Mehdi Mousavi (Raisi's security chief); and three crew members.
• Raisi's background: President since August 2021. Earlier served as Attorney General of Tehran, head of Astan Quds Razavi (a major religious endowment), and Chief Justice of Iran. He was widely considered a leading candidate to succeed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
• Iran's political structure: The Supreme Leader (Rahbar) is the highest authority, selected by the Assembly of Experts. The President is the head of government (the second-highest executive). Parliament (Majlis) is the legislature.
• Constitutional procedure activated: Under Iran's constitution, when the President dies in office, the First Vice President assumes the role of Acting President with the approval of the Supreme Leader. Mohammad Mokhber became Acting President.
• Elections mandated: The constitution requires a new presidential election within 50 days. The election was scheduled for June 28, 2024.
• Acting Foreign Minister: Ali Bagheri was appointed Acting Foreign Minister.

Static linkage: Iranian political system, West Asia geopolitics, India-Iran relations.

GS area: International Relations

The death of President Raisi prompted a review of India-Iran relations, given several pending strategic interests.

• Chabahar Port: India just signed a 10-year operational agreement with Iran in May 2024 for the Shahid Beheshti Terminal. Raisi's government was party to the agreement.
• No oil imports: India does not import Iranian oil due to US sanctions (CAATSA/CISADA). Before 2018, Iran was India's third-largest oil supplier.
• Bilateral trade: India-Iran bilateral trade was approximately USD 2.33 billion in FY2022-23.
• BRICS: Iran formally joined BRICS as a new member at the Johannesburg Summit in August 2023. The five original BRICS members invited six new members: Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina (Argentina later declined).
• Raisi's significance: As a potential successor to Khamenei, Raisi's death created uncertainty in Iran's long-term political direction.
• India's diplomatic response: PM Modi expressed condolences and called the Iranian people's loss "immense." India declared State Mourning on 21 May 2024.

Static linkage: BRICS expansion, Chabahar, India-Iran diplomatic ties.

GS area: Polity (Constitutional Conventions)

India declared State Mourning on 21 May following President Raisi's death. The State Mourning protocol invokes the Flag Code of India, 2002.

• Flag Code of India, 2002: A unified code that replaced several previous orders. It governs the display, use, and respect shown to the national flag.
• State Mourning: During State Mourning, the national flag is flown at half-mast on all government buildings. The period and scope of mourning are declared by the central government.
• Half-mast protocol: The flag is first hoisted fully and then lowered to the halfway position.
• 2022 amendment: The Flag Code was amended in December 2022 to allow machine-made polyester flags, reversing the earlier restriction to hand-spun and hand-woven Khadi flags.
• Constitutional status: The national flag is mentioned in the Constitution's Third Schedule as part of the oath of allegiance. Specific rules for its use are statutory (Flag Code) rather than constitutional.

Static linkage: Flag Code, State Mourning, national symbols.

GS area: Environment, Governance

The ongoing heatwave raised concerns about conditions for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination scheduled for 26 May 2024.

• Exam in heatwave: The UPSC CSP 2024 exam was scheduled during the peak of the 2024 heatwave. Multiple centres across north and central India faced temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.
• Administrative response: State governments instructed examination centres to ensure adequate drinking water, fans or cooling, and first-aid stations. Health advisories were issued.
• 2024 heatwave record: By mid-May, the heatwave had persisted for over 54 days since March. Multiple cities had crossed 50 degrees Celsius for the first time in recorded history.
• UPSC: The Union Public Service Commission is a constitutional body established under Article 315. The Chairman and members are appointed by the President. The civil services examination is the most competitive in India.

Static linkage: Constitutional bodies, UPSC, administrative governance.

GS area: Environment (International)

The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, being hosted by India in Kochi (20-30 May), was in its second day of deliberations.

• Key agenda: Framework for Antarctic tourism regulation; discussion of emperor penguin conservation given declining sea-ice habitat; Maitri-II station announcement.
• Emperor penguin: The world's largest penguin species. Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its main threat is sea-ice reduction due to climate change. Emperor penguins breed on sea ice; reduced ice coverage reduces breeding sites.
• Antarctic tourism: Over 100,000 tourists visit Antarctica annually. No comprehensive binding treaty governs tourism. The ATCM has adopted non-binding guidelines. Discussions are advancing toward a binding framework.
• India's position: India advocates for stronger environmental protection and a balanced approach that does not unduly restrict the scientific community's access to Antarctica.

Static linkage: Antarctic governance, polar ecology, India's multilateral role.

• Malaysia's Orangutan Diplomacy announcement: Malaysia's Prime Minister announced the orangutan gifting plan at the World Economic Forum on the ASEAN. It was received skeptically by conservation groups who noted that CITES Appendix I listing prohibits international trade of orangutans regardless of whether it is characterised as a gift.
• Solar activity: Following the G5 storm of 10-11 May, solar activity remained elevated as Solar Cycle 25 continued toward its maximum. Forecasters noted continued risk of additional CME events.
• Lok Sabha Election update: Phase 5 voting was scheduled for 20 May. With Phases 1-4 complete, approximately 360 of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies had voted.