21 May 2025

• Polity: National Anti-Terrorism Day observed on 21 May, marking the assassination of PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 at Sriperumbudur.
• Defence: PM Modi visited Adampur Air Force Station, inspecting S-400 battery and operational assets used in Operation Sindoor.
• International: India and the UK formally ratified the Free Trade Agreement signed earlier in May 2025.
• Environment: India's net-zero target is 2070. India submitted revised NDC to UNFCCC, strengthening renewable energy commitments.
• Economy: Credit rating agency Moody's revised India's outlook to "Positive" from "Stable," citing stronger fiscal consolidation.

GS area: Modern Indian History, Internal Security

National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on 21 May annually, marking the assassination of PM Rajiv Gandhi.

• Assassination (21 May 1991): Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb attack at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, during an election rally. The bomber was Thenmozhi Rajaratnam (alias Dhanu), an LTTE operative.
• LTTE context: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a militant organisation fighting for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. India had sent the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka (1987-1990) under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord.
• Jain Commission: Investigated the assassination. Flagged lapses in intelligence and security coordination.
• Anti-Terrorism Day: Proclaimed in 1991. Observed with pledges to uphold national integrity and non-violence.
• Rajiv Gandhi's contributions: IT revolution (DoT liberalisation), lowering of voting age to 18 (61st Amendment), Panchayati Raj (73rd Amendment), Navodaya Vidyalayas.

Static linkage: Modern history, counter-terrorism, India-Sri Lanka relations.

GS area: Defence, National Security, Governance

PM Modi visited Adampur Air Force Station to review operational capabilities post-Operation Sindoor.

• Location: Adampur (Jalandhar), Punjab. One of India's most strategically located air bases. Close to the Pakistan border.
• S-400 battery: The PM reviewed one of India's operational S-400 Triumf squadrons. Adampur hosted one of the first S-400 deployments.
• Statement: PM Modi stated India's air defence successfully protected cities including Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Amritsar during Operation Sindoor.
• Political context: Visit intended to demonstrate military readiness and boost troop morale after the ceasefire. PM interacted with air warriors, Army personnel and BSF.
• Other assets reviewed: MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI fighters equipped with BrahMos.

Static linkage: India's national security, air force, Punjab border geography.

GS area: International Relations, Economy, Trade

India and the UK formally ratified the Free Trade Agreement signed 6 May 2025.

• Negotiations: Began January 2022. 26 rounds completed. The final text was signed on 6 May 2025 after three years of talks.
• Key gains for India:
  • Tariff elimination on 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK in 10 years.
  • Indian workers (intra-company transfers and young professionals visa): expanded quotas.
  • IT and professional services: greater market access.
• Key gains for UK:
  • Reduced tariffs on Scotch whisky (India to reduce from 150 per cent to 40 per cent in 10 years).
  • UK financial services access to India's markets.
  • UK food and beverages access to Indian markets.
• Exclusions: Agriculture largely excluded from the Indian side. Dairy remained a sensitive topic.
• Trade value: Bilateral goods trade is approximately $30 billion per annum.

Static linkage: Bilateral trade, FTA, WTO compatibility, India's trade policy.

GS area: Environment, International Relations, Climate

India submitted a revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC.

• Key commitments in revised NDC:
  • Reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 (from 2005 baseline, up from original 33-35 per cent target).
  • Achieve 50 per cent of cumulative installed electric power capacity from non-fossil-based energy by 2030.
  • Create additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
• Net-zero target: 2070. India announced this at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021).
• UNFCCC Paris Agreement requirement: Each country must submit NDCs and update them every 5 years, with each iteration more ambitious than the last ("ratchet mechanism").
• India's argument: Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR): developed nations must provide climate finance before demanding equal obligations from developing nations.

Static linkage: UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, NDC, climate finance, CBDR.

GS area: Economy, Fiscal Policy, International Relations

Moody's Investors Service revised India's credit outlook to "Positive" from "Stable."

• Rating: Baa3 (investment grade, one notch above "junk"). Rating unchanged; only outlook improved.
• Rationale: Improving fiscal deficit trajectory; structural reforms (GST, IBC, digital payments); robust FDI inflows; resilient GDP growth above 6.5 per cent.
• India's fiscal deficit: 4.9 per cent of GDP in FY25 (budgeted); target 4.5 per cent in FY26; medium-term target 3 per cent under FRBM.
• Other agencies: Fitch: BBB- (stable); S&P: BBB- (stable). A positive Moody's shift could precede a full rating upgrade which would lower India's sovereign borrowing costs.
• FRBM Act: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. Mandates fiscal deficit targets, debt management and transparency.

Static linkage: Fiscal policy, sovereign credit rating, FRBM, India's economy.

• Lok Sabha's first session post-Operation Sindoor: Began 21 May. PM spoke on Operation Sindoor, receiving cross-party applause. Opposition raised questions about Pakistan's ceasefire terms.
• Sriperumbudur Special Economic Zone: Ironically, the site of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is now a major IT Special Economic Zone in Tamil Nadu, anchored by Nokia's manufacturing unit.
• World Day for Cultural Diversity (21 May): UN observance promoting dialogue and development. UNESCO focus for 2025: Intangible Cultural Heritage and digital access to cultural resources.