CIVIL SERVICE INFO

India-Brazil Strategic Bilateral Ties Prime Minister Modi and President Lula recently signed key pacts to strengthen the India-Brazil partnership, focusing on critical minerals, rare earths, and steel mining. This move aims to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China. Key Highlights:  * Trade Ambition: A proposal to double bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2030 and expand the India-Mercosur Preferential Trading Agreement.  * Geopolitical Context: The meeting follows new 10% U.S. tariffs and legal shifts in American trade policy. Both nations adopted a "wait and watch" stance regarding U.S. relations.  * Cooperation: Focus on digital partnerships, biofuels, defense, and healthcare, positioning the duo as leaders of the Global South. Source the hindu 

Tehran’s Nuclear Seesaw: Balancing Military Escalation and Diplomatic Realpolitik The Iranian nuclear issue has resurfaced as a primary friction point in global forensics, shifting from the diplomacy of the JCPOA (2015) to recent military escalations. Under the current U.S. administration in 2026, the strategy has pivoted from precision strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to a renewed, albeit complex, diplomatic pursuit in Muscat. Key Geopolitical Dynamics  * The U.S. Shift: After military strikes in 2025, the U.S. is now exploring a "new JCPOA." This highlights a paradoxical approach of "maximum pressure" coupled with an openness to bilateral deal-making.  * Regional Stance: Despite deep-seated rivalries, Arab Gulf powers—having invested heavily in U.S. stability—are prioritizing de-escalation. They fear regional contagion and the kinetic capacity of Iran to retaliate against U.S. assets on their soil.  * Internal Iranian Shifts: Domestic pressure and external strikes...

The Hollowed Order: Multilateralism in an Era of Coercion The post-1945 international order, anchored by the United Nations and the conviction that rule of law could restrain raw power, is currently facing an existential crisis. As Shashi Tharoor argues, we are transitioning from a world of "rules" back to a world of "might," where global norms are increasingly treated as optional suggestions rather than binding commitments. The Erosion of Multilateralism For decades, the liberal international order relied on a "patchwork of norms"—sovereign equality, collective security, and open trade. Today, this foundation is crumbling due to:  * Great Power Exceptionalism: Major powers now openly embrace a "might is right" sensibility, bypassing international law when it suits their interests.  * Institutional Paralysis: Bodies like the UN are starved of legitimacy and resources, frequently paralyzed by vetoes and a lack of political will from ...

               AI GENRATED IMAGE  the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, a major milestone for Indian foreign policy and economic strategy. India-EU Free Trade Agreement: The " Mother of All Deals" After 19 years of negotiations (started in 2007), India and the EU have finalized a landmark FTA aimed at doubling bilateral trade and reducing strategic dependencies. Key Pillars of the Agreement  * Tariff Liberalization: The EU will drop tariffs on 99.5% of Indian exports. Conversely, India has provided concessions on 97.5% of EU imports, notably reducing duties on luxury cars (from 110% to 10%) and wines/spirits.  * Services & Labor Mobility: India gains improved access for skilled professionals to work in the 27-nation bloc. India has reciprocated by opening 102 sub-sectors, including professional and telecommunication services.  * Exclusions & Sensitivities: To protect domestic...

  Greenland’s Importance Lies in Its Location Subheading: There are solid strategic reasons for Trump’s interest in Greenland. Byline: Geopolitics | Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain, Former Commander, Kashmir Corps. Key Sections of the Article: 1.from Geography to Strategy The author admits that geography was his least favorite subject in school. Back then, Greenland was just a vast, pale shape on the map near the Arctic Circle. The idea that a remote, ice-covered land could one day hold global strategic importance seemed unbelievable. However, Greenland has recently re-emerged in international discourse, primarily due to Donald Trump. 2. Why the Initial Skepticism? When the idea of the U.S. "buying" Greenland first surfaced, the global reaction was one of disbelief. Why would the U.S. want an island with only 57,000 people, mostly covered in ice? Initial analysis focused on rare earth minerals and future commercial potential. While these are important, the author argues they are no...

India’s Critical Minerals Diplomacy: Strategy and Challenges India’s transition to a green economy is inextricably linked to the procurement of critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, copper) and rare earths. With China tightening export controls, New Delhi has adopted a "two-pronged strategy": bolstering domestic exploration while aggressively securing international supply chains through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. The Global Landscape of Partnerships India has engaged with diverse regions, each offering unique strategic advantages :  * Australia & Japan: Australia serves as a stable supplier of lithium and cobalt. Japan provides a "template for resilience," emphasizing stockpiling, recycling, and joint extraction in third countries.  * Africa & Latin America: Africa remains vital for copper and cobalt, while the "Lithium Triangle" (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia) is a primary focus for KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited).  * The W...

This article provides a critical legal analysis of hypothetical U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, focusing on the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Below is a concise summary tailored for UPSC (International Relations/GS Paper II) and a mind map of the core legal arguments. Analysis: U.S. Intervention in Venezuela & International Law The recent U.S. military action in Venezuela and the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro represent a significant challenge to the established norms of state sovereignty and international legality. The Legal Framework of Force The core of the argument rests on Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force in international relations. There are only two recognized exceptions:  * Self-defence (Article 51).  * UN Security Council authorization.    The article argues that neither applies here. While the U.S. justifies the action as a "law enforcement measure" against drug trafficking, international law does not re...