27 April 2025

• Security: Five days after the Pahalgam terrorist attack (22 April 2025), India's diplomatic and military posture continued to sharpen. The Indus Waters Treaty suspension remained in effect.
• Economy: India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations entered a final-round sprint with a target of completion by the end of April 2025.
• Space: PSLV-C61 carrying EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) was launched from Sriharikota.
• Health: WHO's World Malaria Report 2025 preview data showed India reduced malaria cases by 77 per cent from 2017 to 2023.

GS area: Internal Security, International Relations

India's response to the 22 April Pahalgam terrorist attack continued on 27 April.

• The attack: 26 civilians killed in the Baisaran meadow area, near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The Resistance Front (linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba) claimed responsibility.
• Indus Waters Treaty suspension: India formally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Pakistan terms this a treaty violation. India states it is a legitimate response to cross-border terrorism.
• IWT background: The treaty governs the use of six Indus basin rivers. India received exclusive rights to three eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej). Pakistan received exclusive rights to three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). World Bank was the broker.
• Diplomatic steps: All Pakistani diplomatic staff in India were declared persona non grata. The SAARC visa category was suspended for Pakistani nationals.
• Operation Sindoor (context): Military strikes followed in May 2025, but on 27 April diplomatic escalation was the key focus.
• UNSC context: Pakistan attempted to raise the matter at the UN Security Council. India's position was that it was a bilateral matter of terrorism.

Static linkage: Terrorism, India-Pakistan relations, water treaties (GS-2 IR, GS-3 Internal Security).

GS area: International Relations, Economy

India-UK FTA negotiations entered what both sides described as a final-round sprint in late April 2025.

• Timeline: Negotiations began in January 2022. Three years later, a conclusion was near, with both sides aiming for completion by May 2025.
• Key Indian demands: Market access for Indian IT professionals (Mode 4 services), reduction in UK tariffs on Indian textiles, auto components, and pharmaceuticals.
• Key UK demands: Lower Indian tariffs on Scotch whisky (currently 150 per cent), UK cars, and financial services.
• Government procurement: UK wants to open some of India's government procurement to UK companies. India has been cautious given its "Make in India" commitments.
• Strategic significance: Post-Brexit, the UK is pursuing bilateral trade agreements globally. India-UK was its most complex negotiation.
• Previous near-miss: Diwali 2022 deadline was missed. Multiple extensions followed.

Static linkage: Free trade agreements, trade policy (GS-2 IR, GS-3 Economy).

GS area: Science and Technology

ISRO launched PSLV-C61 carrying EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in April 2025.

• PSLV-C61: The 61st flight of the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle).
• EOS-09 (RISAT-1B): An earth observation satellite with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. RISAT = Radar Imaging Satellite.
• SAR advantage: Can image through clouds, smoke, and at night, making it superior to optical satellites for all-weather surveillance.
• Strategic context: Given the Pahalgam attack, EOS-09's surveillance capabilities were strategically relevant. SAR satellites are critical for border and maritime monitoring.
• PSLV variants: PSLV-G (generic), PSLV-CA (core alone, without strap-ons), PSLV-XL (extra large, 6 strap-ons). PSLV-C61 used the PSLV-XL variant.

Static linkage: Space technology, surveillance, defence (GS-3 Science and Technology).

GS area: Health, Governance

India's malaria case load fell by approximately 77 per cent between 2017 and 2023, with a target of elimination by 2030.

• Current status: India contributes approximately 3 per cent of global malaria burden, down from a much higher share in 2000.
• National Framework: National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030, with an elimination target of 2030.
• High-burden states: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh account for the bulk of India's remaining cases.
• Tools used: Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), indoor residual spraying, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for confirmed cases.
• RDT: Rapid Diagnostic Tests allow village-level malaria confirmation, enabling treatment before drug resistance develops.
• WHO certification: Once zero autochthonous cases are confirmed for 3 consecutive years, WHO certifies elimination.

Static linkage: Health policy, public health (GS-2 Governance, Health).

GS area: International Relations

India's suspension of SAARC visa benefits for Pakistani nationals following the Pahalgam attack reignited the debate on SAARC's functionality.

• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation): Founded 1985 in Dhaka. Charter signed 8 December 1985. Headquarters in Kathmandu.
• Member states: 8 nations (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). China and the US are observers.
• Last Summit: 2014 in Kathmandu (18th summit). The 2016 Islamabad summit was cancelled after India's Uri attack response and other members' boycott.
• SAARC FTA (SAFTA): Signed 2004, entered into force 2006. Trade liberalisation is limited; India-Pakistan direct trade is minimal despite SAFTA.
• India's alternative: BIMSTEC has gained prominence as the preferred multilateral platform because it excludes Pakistan. BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) is another subgroup.

Static linkage: Regional groupings, South Asia policy (GS-2 IR).

• The Indus Waters Treaty (1960): Brokered by the World Bank. Signed between PM Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan of Pakistan. 60-year average of the river system's data used for sharing. India can use 20 per cent of Indus system water (eastern rivers in full). Pakistan gets 80 per cent (western rivers in full). India can construct run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on western rivers with conditions.
• Persona non grata: A diplomatic term under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). A receiving state may declare a diplomat PNG at any time without explanation. The diplomat must leave within a reasonable time.