World Affairs 

Why will India’s foreign policy be a tightrope walk? - The Hindu

After the Indian Prime Minister was sworn in for a third time in June, the year was jam-packed with incoming and outgoing visits. As 2025 looks to be even more uncertain, Indian foreign policy’s biggest challenge is to remain poised for change.

High Points in India’s External Relations

• China Relations
  • Disengagement at LAC: A challenging negotiation was completed, though rebuilding trust remains a long-term goal.
  • Modi-Xi Meeting: First formal meeting in five years at Kazan marked a significant turning point.
• Bilateral Ties
  • France: French President Macron attended Republic Day, reaffirming strong bilateral ties.
  • Trade Agreements:
    • India-European Free Trade Association agreement concluded early 2024.
    • Limited progress on FTAs with Australia, the U.K., and the European Union.
• Regional Diplomacy
  • Neighbourhood Engagement:
    • Leaders from most neighbouring countries attended Modi’s swearing-in, excluding Pakistan.
    • Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit marked a decade-long first.
  • Key Visits:
    • Bhutan: Multiple high-level visits, including Modi’s trip to Thimphu.
    • Sri Lanka: Successful visit by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
    • Maldives: Improved ties with President Muizzu’s visit after earlier tensions.

Challenges for South Block in 2024

• Bangladesh: Bangladesh's shift from a friendly neighbour under Sheikh Hasina to strained ties after her ouster in August.
• Canada: Canadian authorities accused Indian officials of involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
• United States:

• DOJ indictments against the Adani group.

• Indictment of an Indian official over the alleged Pannun assassination plot.

• Geopolitical Concerns: U.S. engagement in South Asia and China’s growing influence in Nepal and neighbouring countries.

Indian Foreign Policy Amid Global Conflict

• Russia and Ukraine: PM Modi visited both countries within weeks, sparking speculation of a mediatory role.
• Israel-Palestine: India condemned civilian casualties but avoided supporting resolutions against Israel for Gaza killings.
• Palestine Engagement: Modi met Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas at the UN, signaling balanced diplomacy.
• West Asia
  • Multilateral Strains: Initiatives like IMEC and I2U2 faced challenges.
  • Bilateral Focus: India pursued direct engagement with West Asian countries.

How do the Houthis of Yemen figure in Iran's 'axis of resistance' against Israel? - Indian Express

Israel began directly striking the Houthi (Ansar Allah) militant group in Yemen last week, expanding its ongoing campaign against Iran and the so-called “axis of resistance”.

Israeli Strikes in Yemen

• Operation Poseidon Archer: Launched by the U.S., U.K., and allies in January 2024 to weaken Houthi military capabilities.
• Operation Prosperity Guardian: Maritime security operation (since December 2023) to safeguard Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks.

Impact on Global Trade

• Shipping Reroutes: Houthi actions forced ships to avoid the Red Sea, increasing reliance on the Cape of Good Hope & raising insurance costs.
• Suez Canal Traffic: Transit calls fell drastically, affecting global trade.

Houthi Tactics

• Wider Targeting: Initially focused on Yemen, the Houthis expanded to missile, drone, and maritime attacks on Israel and allied interests.
• Support: Received Iranian military aid and Russian intelligence for operations.

Political Context

• Civil War Aftermath: After a decade-long civil war, the Houthis consolidated control over Northern Yemen, including Sana’a.
• Shifting Alliances: Saudi Arabia and the UAE entered negotiations to withdraw from Yemen, avoiding direct involvement in U.S.-led coalitions.
• Designation Change: U.S. removed the Foreign Terrorist Organisation tag from the Houthis in 2021 but reinstated it in January 2024.

Houthi Position in the Yemeni Civil War

• Red Sea: Houthi attacks led to the bankruptcy of Israel’s Eilat port after eight months of disruptions.
• Western Challenges: Yemen’s exiled government admitted Western air power had failed to weaken the Houthis.

Houthis in the 'Axis of Resistance'

• Rising Influence: Houthi prominence in Iranian overseas operations increased as Hezbollah & Hamas weakened, & Bashar al-Assad's regime fell.
• Direct Attacks: Since July 2024, Houthis intensified attacks on Israel and coordinated with Iraq-based Islamic Resistance (Hashd al-Shaabi).

Frequent GPS interference, including ‘spoofing’, near India’s border with Pakistan, Myanmar - The Hindu 

Instances of GPS interference on passenger aircraft, including ‘spoofing’ with false signals, are on the rise over conflict zones globally, including on India’s borders with Pakistan, which are among the top sites for such occurrences, according to OPSGROUP, a voluntary group of 8,000 aviation personnel, including pilots, who share information on risks to flights.

GPS Spoofing

• Meaning: Manipulating GPS receivers by broadcasting false signals, causing inaccurate location data.
• Impact: Undermines the reliability of GPS data used in navigation, time synchronization, and other applications.
• Vulnerability: Targets weak signal strength of GPS satellites.
• Mechanism:
  • Satellites send signals to GPS receivers, which calculate position based on signal timing.
  • Attackers send stronger counterfeit signals that mimic real ones.
  • GPS receivers process fake signals, resulting in false location data.
• Preparation: Attackers analyze the victim’s GPS setup and signal processing methods before broadcasting spoofed signals.

Economy 

Kamarajar Port cargo handling capacity doubled - Indian Express 

The cargo-handling capacity at Indian ports has risen from 871.52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in 2014-15 to 1629.86 MTPA in 2023-24.

Kamarajar Port

• Establishment: Declared a major port in March 1999 under the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
• Ownership: Chennai Port Trust; India's only corporatized major port.
• First Public Company Port: Functions as a company under a landlord port model.
• Landlord Port Model:
  • Port authority acts as a regulator and landlord.
  • Private companies manage cargo handling operations.
• Operations
  • Terminals: Handles coal, LNG, containers, and multipurpose cargo.
  • Primary Cargo: Coal is the main commodity shipped.

Science and Technology 

ISRO to sign off 2024 with space docking experiment mission today/ All eyes on PSLV-C60 mission as ISRO looks to end 2024 on a high - The Hindu 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) hopes to end 2024 on a high with an exciting mission on the launch pad to test technologies that will one day be used for interplanetary and human spaceflight. It also hopes to kickstart preparations for human spaceflight missions that have already been delayed for years.

PSLV-C60 SpaDeX Mission

• Objective: Precursor to ISRO’s Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and Chandrayaan-4; demonstration in-orbit docking.
• Satellites:
  • Two 220-kg satellites: SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target).
  • Placed in a 470-km circular orbit with a 55° inclination.
• Docking Process:
  • Satellites will perform a rendezvous in low Earth orbit.
  • Final docking occurs after distances reduce incrementally from 20 km to 3 m.
  • Demonstration of power transfer, followed by undocking.
• Additional Payloads: 24 payloads (14 from ISRO centres, 10 from academia and private industry).
• Satellite Features
  • Chaser: Equipped with a high-resolution camera.
  • Target: Has a miniature multispectral payload & a radiation monitor.
• Mission Life: Two years with onboard payload operations.

POEM-4 Payloads on PSLV-C60

• Robotics:
  • Walking Robotic Arm: Demonstrates inchworm walking technique for target movement (IISU).
  • Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator: Captures tethered space debris (VSSC).
• Biological Studies:
  • Orbital Plant Studies: Germination and growth of cowpea seeds (VSSC).
  • Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space: Growth of spinach cells in microgravity (Amity University).
  • RVSat-1: Studies growth of gut bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (RV College of Engineering).
• Communication Payloads:
  • BGS ARPIT: Transmits audio, text, and images via VHF band (SJCT, Karnataka).
  • Swetchasat: Demonstrates UHF transmitter for data and telemetry communication (Nspace Tech).
• Propulsion Payloads:
  • RUDRA 1.0 HPGP: Tests green propulsion with 1 N thrust (Bellatrix Aerospace).
  • VYOM 2U: Tests safer monopropellant with 1.1 N thrust (Manastu Space).
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR):
  • GLX-SQ: Tests SAR imaging and processing in space (GalaxEye Space).
  • Varuna: Demonstrates SAR in cubesat form for maritime monitoring (Piersight Space).

Global solidarity key to future pandemic preparedness, says UN chief - The Hindu 

In a message commemorating Friday’s International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all nations to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world for all.

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

• Date: Observed annually on December 27.
• Objective: Prevention, preparedness, and partnerships to tackle epidemics.
• Origin: Declared by the UNGA; first observance on December 27, 2020.
• Focus Areas: Advocates investment in systems for prevention, detection, and response to infectious outbreaks.
• Epidemic: A sudden disease outbreak affecting a large population in a specific region, exceeding normal expectations.
• Examples: Yellow fever, smallpox, measles, polio.
• Non-Contagious Epidemics: West Nile fever and rising obesity rates etc.

Defence 

Indian Army contingent departs for Nepal to participate in exercise Surya Kiran - PIB 

Indian Army contingent comprising more than 300 personnel departed for Nepal recently to participate in India-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran, set to be held in Saljhandi.

Exercise Surya Kiran

• About: Joint military exercise between the Indian and Nepal armies.
• Frequency: Conducted annually, alternately in both countries.
• Objectives:
  • Enhance interoperability in forest warfare and counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain.
  • Improve Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief capabilities under the UN Charter.
  • Strengthen coordination and operational capabilities through war games and shared practices.
• 18th Edition:: Saljhandi, Nepal.
• Participants:
  • Indian Army: 11th Gorkha Rifles battalion.
  • Nepal Army: Srijung Battalion.