7 May 2025

• Security: India launched Operation Sindoor targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam attack.
• International Relations: India signed a historic Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom after 14 rounds of negotiations since January 2022.
• Polity: India's first nationwide civil defence mock drill since 1971 was conducted across 244 districts.
• Society: The Human Development Index 2025 placed India at rank 130 out of 193 countries with an HDI of 0.685.
• Maritime: IWAI signed an MoU with Rhenus Logistics to operate 100 cargo barges across national waterways.

GS area: National Security, Internal Security, International Relations

India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of 7 May 2025, striking nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

• Trigger: The Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025 killed 26 civilians (25 Indian tourists and 1 Nepali citizen). It was the most serious civilian attack since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• Targets: Nine locations: four in mainland Pakistan and five in PoK. Terror groups targeted include Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
• Operatives: Indian Air Force precision strikes combined with Special Forces involvement.
• Strategic doctrine: The operation reinforces India's pre-emptive counter-terrorism doctrine. It signals that India will strike terror infrastructure on foreign soil when the host state refuses to act.

Static linkage: Counter-terrorism, India-Pakistan relations, national security doctrine.

GS area: International Relations, Economy, Trade Policy

India and the United Kingdom concluded a Free Trade Agreement after more than three years and 14 negotiating rounds.

• Signed: 6 May 2025 (negotiations began January 2022).
• Tariff reductions: India reduces tariffs on 90 per cent of UK goods. The UK offers 99 per cent duty-free access to Indian exports.
• Specific tariffs: Whisky and gin tariffs fall from 150 per cent to 75 per cent immediately and then to 40 per cent over 10 years. Automobile tariffs fall from over 100 per cent to 10 per cent under a quota.
• Professional mobility: An annual quota of 1,800 skilled professionals is created. 137 service sub-sectors are included.
• Double Contribution Convention: Professionals on assignments up to three years are exempt from paying dual social security contributions in both countries.
• Indian beneficiaries: Textile exporters in Tiruppur, leather, pharmaceuticals, gems, IT services.

Static linkage: Trade agreements, WTO framework, services trade, India-UK bilateral relations.

GS area: Disaster Management, Internal Security, Governance

India conducted its first nationwide civil defence mock drill since 1971 across 244 districts.

• Legal framework: Civil Defence Act, 1968, amended in 2009 to include disaster management alongside its traditional wartime role.
• Structure: Civil defence is a volunteer-based organisation. Professionals are trained for emergency response in tactically vulnerable zones.
• Activation zones: Nuclear plants, ports, military bases, dams and major metropolitan areas.
• Six pillars: Prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, evacuation and recovery.
• Context: The drill occurred amid India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, signalling readiness for broader conflict scenarios.

Static linkage: Disaster management, civil defence, national security preparedness.

GS area: Social Development, Governance, International Relations

UNDP released the 2025 Human Development Report placing India at rank 130 of 193 countries.

• India's HDI: 0.685, up from 0.676 in 2022. Rank improved from 133 to 130.
• Category: Medium human development (approaching the high development threshold of 0.700).
• Indicators improved: Life expectancy 72 years; expected years of schooling 13 years; mean years of schooling 9 years; GNI per capita $9,046.
• Inequality loss: India loses 30.7 per cent of its HDI value due to inequality. Gender Inequality Index rank: 102.
• Poverty reduction: 135 million people exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
• Regional context: India is ahead of Pakistan (168th) and Nepal (145th) but behind Brazil (89th), China (75th) and Russia (59th).

Static linkage: Human development, poverty, social indicators, SDGs.

GS area: Economy, Infrastructure

Two economy-focused items.

• Piprahwa relics case: India issued a legal notice halting a Sotheby's auction of bone fragments believed to be the Buddha's, crystal and soapstone caskets and gold ornaments. These were excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa, Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which is part of ancient Kapilavastu. Legal basis: Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878. International norms cited: UNESCO Conventions on Cultural Property and the UNIDROIT Convention 1995.
• IWAI-Rhenus MoU: The Inland Waterways Authority of India signed an MoU with Rhenus Logistics India for 100 cargo barges and pusher tugs operational from late 2025. IWAI was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Jalvahak Cargo Promotion Scheme (2024) provides 35 per cent operating cost reimbursement to incentivise waterway freight.

Static linkage: Inland waterways, cultural heritage protection, international conventions.

GS area: Governance, Animal Welfare Policy

Kerala demanded changes to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 as stray dog attacks and rabies cases surged.

• Legal basis: ABC Rules, 2023 notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• Methodology: Humane capture, sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination, then release of the animal in the same locality.
• Supreme Court guidelines: Mandate that dogs be released post-treatment rather than culled.
• Implementation: Local bodies are responsible for establishing sterilisation centres.
• Kerala's demand: Revise the rules to allow relocation or other management options given the rise in attacks.

Static linkage: Animal welfare law, local self-government, Supreme Court guidelines.