The Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex

Experts, researchers, and forest officials have joined forces to seek Ramsar site status for the Rowmari–Donduwa wetland complex in Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, after it recorded higher bird diversity than existing Ramsar sites in Northeast India.

• The Rowmari–Donduwa wetland complex is an interconnected floodplain–marsh ecosystem located within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (70.13 sq. km), which forms part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in Nagaon district, central Assam.
• It serves as a crucial ecological and migratory corridor between the Kaziranga and Orang National Parks.

Location: Situated in the heart of Assam, the wetlands are embedded within the Kaziranga–Orang landscape, bordered by the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, both functioning as buffer zones of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

Key Features:

1. Area: Covers around 2.5–3 sq. km of interconnected floodplain–marsh terrain.
2. Biodiversity Hotspot: Hosts over 120 species of resident and migratory birds, surpassing counts at Deepor Beel and Loktak Lake.
3. Bird Census 2025: Recorded 47,000+ birds, including 20,653 at Rowmari Beel and 26,480 at Donduwa Beel.
4. Ramsar Criteria: Meets 8 of the 9 Ramsar criteria, making it eligible for international wetland recognition.
5. Ecological Role: Acts as a habitat, breeding, and feeding ground for migratory and threatened avian species.

Flora:

• Dominated by floodplain vegetation, aquatic grasses, and marshland reeds, providing cover and nesting sites.
• Presence of hydrophytes and sedges, essential for wetland nutrient cycling and maintaining water quality.

Fauna:

• Avian Diversity: Includes globally threatened species such as the Knob-billed Duck, Black-necked Stork, and Ferruginous Pochard.
• Other Wildlife: Supports fish, amphibians, otters, reptiles, and serves as a feeding zone for animals migrating from Kaziranga and Orang.
• Migratory Birds: Hosts winter visitors from Central Asia and Siberia, forming part of the Central Asian Flyway.

Significance:

• Biodiversity Conservation: A critical site for waterbird and wetland ecosystem preservation in Assam’s Brahmaputra floodplains.
• Ecological Connectivity: Strengthens wildlife corridors within the Kaziranga-Orang landscape.
• Climate Resilience: Acts as a natural flood buffer and carbon sink, supporting hydrological balance.

Govt to Map Highway Black Spots

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will release updated black spot data for 2023-2024.
• The data will be based on the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) and Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) systems.
• Earlier, MoRTH’s Transport Research Wing (TRW) collected black spot data manually through state submissions and physical verification. The data was available only until 2022, delaying policy response.
• Black spot list 2023-24, generated from e-DAR data, will be India’s first real-time accident mapping.

Black Spots

• A black spot is a 500-metre stretch on a National Highway (NH) with a high incidence of accidents.
• It is identified if, over 3 years, there are:
• 5 or more accidents involving deaths or grievous injuries, or 10 or more fatalities.
• Between 2016 and 2022, 13,795 black spots were identified nationwide, of which 5,036 have already been rectified through long-term engineering measures.

Nauradehi Sanctuary to Become 3rd Home for Cheetahs

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister announced that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary.

• Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s largest sanctuaries, spread over 1,197 sq. km, and serves as a crucial wildlife corridor in the upper Vindhyan range of Madhya Pradesh.
• Located in:
• The sanctuary lies across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh, situated between the Yamuna and Narmada River basins.
• Major rivers like Bamner, Kopra, and Bearma flow through it.
• History and Ecology:
• Declared a sanctuary to conserve central Indian fauna, Nauradehi has mixed deciduous forests, Vindhyan sandstone formations, and diverse soil types (red, black, and alluvial).
• It supports over 250 animal species, including tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, chinkara, sambhar, and blackbuck, along with 170+ bird species such as storks, vultures, and pheasants.
• Features:
• Altitude: 400–600 metres above sea level.
• Rainfall: Around 1,200 mm annually.
• Rich in grasses, herbs, shrubs, and bamboo, making it ideal for herbivores and potential cheetah prey base.
• Cheetah Conservation in India:
• The Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952 due to hunting and habitat loss.
• The Government of India launched Project Cheetah, reintroducing African cheetahs from Namibia at Kuno National Park (2022) and later at Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (2024).
• Nauradehi will now serve as the third site, ensuring species expansion, genetic diversification, and ecosystem restoration in central India.

Plenary Power Under Article 142

• In an extraordinary case, the Supreme Court invoked its plenary powers under Article 142 to quash a conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Plenary Powers under Article 142

• Objective: Empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary to do “complete justice” in a case.
• Scope: Enables the Court to override statutory constraints for fairness in unique circumstances.
• Nature: Extraordinary, discretionary, and case-specific, cannot be invoked as a general rule or precedent.
• Caution: Bench clarified this should not be treated as precedent for future POCSO or similar offences.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

• Objective: Safeguards children (<18 years) from sexual assault, harassment, and exploitation.
• Nature: Gender-neutral and applies strict liability (consent of minor immaterial).
• Special Courts: Each district shall designate a Sessions Court to be a Special Court. The state government shall establish it in consultation with the Chief Justice of the HC.
• Penalty: Stringent punishments up to life imprisonment or death in aggravated cases.
• Amendment: The 2019 amendment increased penalties and criminalised child pornography.
• Time-Bound Disposal: A POCSO case must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported to ensure speedy justice for the child victim.
• Monitoring Authority: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commissions (SCPCRs) are empowered to monitor implementation of the Act’s provisions.
• Juvenile Offenders: If the offender is a child, the case shall be dealt with under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Asian Youth Games 2025

• The Asian Youth Games (AYG) is a continental multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for athletes aged between 14–17 years, aimed at nurturing young sporting talent across Asia.

First held in Singapore in 2009, the Games were designed as a feeder event for the Asian Games, helping young athletes gain international exposure early in their careers.

• 1st Edition (2009): Singapore
• 2nd Edition (2013): Nanjing, China
• The 2017 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to logistical and pandemic-related issues, marking Bahrain 2025 as the third edition of the Games after a 12-year gap.

2025 Event (Bahrain):

• Held in Manama, Bahrain, from 22–31 October 2025.
• Featured participants from across Asia in multiple disciplines.
• India delivered a record-breaking performance, winning 48 medals — its highest-ever tally, surpassing previous bests from 2009 and 2013 editions.
• 13 gold, 18 silver, 17 bronze which is total of 48 medals.
• The achievement reflected India’s growing youth sports infrastructure and training programs under initiatives like Khelo India.

Next Event: The 4th Asian Youth Games will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2029, which was originally planned for 2025 but postponed due to construction delays.

Significance:

• Reinforces India’s rise as a youth sports powerhouse in Asia.
• Strengthens the nation’s Olympic talent pipeline for future global competitions.
• Encourages investment in grassroots sports development and youth training programs.

India Secures Six-Month US Waiver for Chabahar Port

• The United States granted India a six-month exemption from sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, effective October 29, 2025.

• Temporary Relief: The waiver permits India to continue operational and development work at Chabahar Port without facing U.S. penalties.

 Sanctions

• Legal Basis: The sanctions are imposed under Section 1244 of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA).
• Coverage: Entities & individuals involved in Iran’s energy, shipping, shipbuilding and port sectors.
• Penalties: Freezing assets, exclusion from U.S. financial systems, restriction on business, etc.
• Objective: To exert maximum economic pressure on Iran to halt nuclear weapon development, end support for militant groups, and push for a stricter nuclear agreement.
• 2018 Waiver: The U.S. granted an exemption in 2018, recognising Chabahar’s importance in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and as India’s alternative route to Central Asia.
• Revocation: Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and evolving regional alignments, the U.S. revoked this waiver effective September 29, 2025.

Civil War in Sudan

• El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, experienced a massacre after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

 Sudanese Civil War

• The Sudanese Civil War is an ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over control of the country.
• Territorial Control: The RSF dominates much of western and central Sudan (Darfur, Kordofan), while the SAF controls the north and east, operating from Port Sudan.
• Seizure of El Fasher: In October 2025, the RSF captured El Fasher (North Darfur’s capital), resulting in mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and a de facto partition of Sudan.
• Regional Proxy: The conflict has evolved into a regional proxy war, with the UAE reportedly supporting the RSF, while Egypt and Iran back the SAF.

Factors Behind the Civil War

• Power Rivalry: The war stems from a leadership struggle between the SAF chief and the RSF commander over control of the state and the integration of forces.
• Peripheral Neglect: Decades of political and economic marginalisation in Sudan’s peripheral regions fostered deep resentment toward Khartoum’s centralised rule.
• Resource Conflict: Competition for land, gold, and grazing rights, compounded by ethnic divisions, has made the conflict violently communal.
• Militia Legacy: Former dictator Omar al‑Bashir’s reliance on the Janjaweed militia (RSF precursor) eroded the state’s monopoly on force and institutionalised parallel power structures.

Consequences of the Civil War

• Humanitarian Emergency: Sudan is facing the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, with over 24 million people suffering from acute food insecurity and famine across Darfur and Kordofan.
• Mass Displacement: More than 14 million Sudanese have been displaced internally or fled abroad, making it the largest displacement crisis.
• State Disintegration: The conflict has split Sudan into rival zones of control, dismantled the central government and halted the post-2019 democratic transition.
• Regional Instability: Massive refugee influxes and cross-border arms trafficking have intensified insecurity in neighbouring countries (i.e., Chad, South Sudan, Egypt).

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025

 India created history by winning its maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final held at Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

• The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is the premier One Day International (ODI) championship for women, organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) every four years. Each team plays 50 overs, and qualification is determined through the ICC Women’s Championship and World Cup Qualifier tournaments.

Origin and History:

• First held: 1973 in England — two years before the first men’s World Cup.
• Initially organized by: International Women’s Cricket Council (till 2005).
• Format: Round-robin and knockout stages, featuring top women’s cricketing nations.
• Dominant teams: Australia (7 titles), England (4), New Zealand (1), India (1 – 2025).
• India’s hosting years: 1978, 1997, 2013, and 2025(along with Sri Lanka).

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Highlights:

Significance:

• Historic Achievement: India lifted its first-ever Women’s World Cup, cementing its place among top global cricketing nations.
• Women’s Cricket Empowerment: A major milestone for women’s sports in India, inspiring greater participation and investment.
• Sporting Diplomacy: Enhanced India’s image as a leading global host of major sports events.

Indian Household Debt Increasing Faster than Assets

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data comparing the pre-pandemic FY 2019-20 with the recent FY 2024-25 indicate that Indian households are accumulating debt faster than creating assets.

Key Findings

• Debt-Asset Gap: The annual financial liabilities have increased by 102% since 2019–20, whereas annual asset creation has risen by only 48%.
• GDP Share: The share of household financial assets in GDP decreased from 12% to 10.8%, while liabilities rose from 3.9% to 4.7%.
• Net Savings: The net household savings reached a five-decade low, highlighting the growing reliance on borrowing for consumption.
• Asset Composition: Commercial bank deposits slightly increased from 32% to 33.3%, while investments in insurance, provident funds, pensions, equities, and small savings remained mostly unchanged.
• Investment Portfolio: Mutual fund investments increased notably from 2.6% to 13.1%, while currency holdings declined from 11.7% to 5.9% during the same period.

Implications of this Trend

• Higher household financial stress, as rising borrowing reduces disposable income and increases vulnerability to shocks.
• Weaker long-term financial security, due to reduced savings for retirement, wealth creation, and future resilience.
• Macroeconomic concerns, with lower household savings limiting investment capital and increasing credit-risk exposure for the financial system.

Exercise MILAN 2026

India will host a historic maritime convergence in February 2026 at Visakhapatnam, featuring the International Fleet Review (IFR), Exercise MILAN 2026, and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs, under the MAHASAGAR vision.

Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy since 1995, aimed at fostering naval diplomacy, interoperability, and regional maritime cooperation.

• Nations Involved: It began with four navies at Port Blair and has grown into a premier global event, with participation from over 40 friendly foreign navies including those from the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and ASEAN regions.
• Aim: The exercise aims to enhance maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, air defence coordination, and search-and-rescue preparedness, reinforcing a rules-based maritime order.

Key Features of MILAN 2026

• Dual-Phase Structure: The exercise will comprise Harbour and Sea phases, focusing on both operational drills and strategic-level exchanges.
• Advanced Naval Drills: Includes anti-submarine warfare, air defence, maritime domain awareness, and search-and-rescue operations, enhancing multi-navy interoperability.
• International City Parade: A grand parade at RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, featuring contingents from participating navies, the Indian Army, and Indian Air Force, showcasing maritime diplomacy to the public.
• Showcase of Indigenous Capability: India will display INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class frigates, reflecting its evolution into a Builder’s Navy.

Significance of MILAN 2026

• Strengthening Maritime Diplomacy: Positions India as a regional convenor for maritime cooperation, advancing the MAHASAGAR vision of collective security and growth.
• Enhancing Naval Interoperability: Builds trust, communication, and tactical synergy among participating navies for coordinated multilateral operations.
• Supporting the Indo-Pacific Vision: Reinforces India’s role in ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, aligned with Act East and IPOI initiatives.

Rare Defence Traits in Indian Frogs

A team from the University of Delhi’s Systematics Lab, has documented for the first time rare anti-predator defence behaviours in two Indian frog species, published in Herpetological Notes.

• The study uncovers unique behavioural adaptations in frogs, including biting, shrieking, and body-raising, to deter predators.
• These are among the first such recorded instances in Indian amphibians, expanding knowledge of their survival strategies.
• Of the 7,800+ known frog species worldwide, only around 650 exhibit such defence responses, making the Indian cases scientifically valuable.

Species and Their Behavioural Features:

1. Apatani Horned Toad (Xenophrys apatani) – Arunachal Pradesh:
• A nocturnal frog with cryptic, leaf-litter camouflage that hides it during the day.
• When threatened, it inflates its body, emits a sharp distress call, and may bite predators — a first-time observation in India.
2. Bicoloured Frog (Clinotarsus curtipes) – Western Ghats, Kerala:
• A diurnal forest species that arches its body by stretching limbs vertically, appearing larger and more menacing.
• This body-raising posture is believed to intimidate predators and was experimentally verified in the wild.

Implications:

• New Behavioural Records: Adds previously unknown defensive behaviours to the global amphibian database.
• Evolutionary Insight: Suggests adaptive responses evolved to suit diverse Indian ecological niches.
• Biodiversity Awareness: Reinforces how much remains undocumented in India’s rich amphibian fauna.

Scam Hubs in Southeast Asia

• The recent rescue of 500 Indian citizens from KK Park, a cybercrime hub in Myawaddy, Myanmar, exposed the growing network of transnational scam centres across Southeast Asia.

Working of Scam Hubs in Southeast Asia

• Located mainly in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos inside special economic zones with private security.
• Run by militia-backed warlords like Myanmar’s Saw Chit Thu, linked to junta forces.
• Traffickers post fake IT jobs online, targeting youth from India, China, and Vietnam with high-salary offers.
• Workers conduct “pig butchering” scams (romance + crypto fraud and extortion schemes.
• Scam earnings fund junta operations and armed militias.
• After China’s Operation 1027 (2023), scams relocated from northern Myanmar to Cambodian hubs.

Impact of Scam Hubs on India

• Human Trafficking: Growing cases of Indians lured by fake job offers into scam hubs. E.g. Over 1,600 Indians repatriated since July 2022, including 283 from Thailand and 500 from KK Park (MEA Report).
• Dual Exposure: India faces risk as both a supplier of trafficked labour and a prime victim base for online scams. E.g. UNODC (2024) flagged India among the top five target nations for transnational cyber fraud.
• Online Fraud: A Sharp rise in crypto and impersonation scams aimed at Indians through phishing and social media. E.g. CERT-In (2025) recorded a 250% surge in crypto scam reports post–Operation Sindoor.
• Consular Challenge: Increased need for diplomatic coordination and emergency evacuation of victims. E.g. Indian Embassy, Yangon, led multiple repatriation missions under Operation Safe Return.

Way Forward

• Regional Coordination: Strengthen cooperation with INTERPOL and UNODC for joint extradition.
• Cyber Regulation: Enhance data-tracking and digital forensics to trace international money trails.
• Legal Framework: Enforce stricter cybercrime laws under the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008.
• Diplomatic Engagement: Push for ASEAN-led cyber task force to dismantle scam hubs.

Australia’s AI Copyright Policy

• Australia’s Attorney-General rejected a think-tank proposal to grant tech firms unrestricted access to copyrighted material for AI training.
• Unlike the U.S. “fair use” model or China’s data-first approach, Australia prioritises creator consent.

Australia’s AI Copyright Policy

• Government’s Stand: Technology should not advance “at the expense of creators”.
• CAIRG Formation: The government established the Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG) to develop balanced, rights-based guidelines.
• Proposed Reform: Considering a mandatory paid licensing framework under the Copyright Act to ensure creator consent and compensation.

Significance of the Policy

• Reinforces that AI must respect creator rights, aligning with UNESCO’s AI Ethics (2021) principles.
• Demonstrates that economic growth and cultural integrity can coexist in AI policy.
• Positions Australia as a leader in human-centric AI regulation, shaping discourse in other democracies.

Vaigai Dam

• The timely northeast monsoon and release of water from the Vaigai Dam have revived optimism among Madurai farmers, boosting paddy cultivation across double-crop regions.

• It was constructed in 1959 across the Vaigai River and stands 111 feet high.
• It serves as the primary irrigation source for vast agricultural lands in Madurai and Dindigul districts and supplies drinking water to Madurai and Andipatti.
• The dam houses a 6 MW hydroelectric power station, contributing to local energy generation.

Vaigai River

• It is one of Tamil Nadu’s most revered and ancient rivers, and is celebrated in Tamil literature and mythology, including Silappatikaram and Thiruvilayadal Puranam.
• Origin: Emerges from the Varusanadu and Megamalai hills in the Western Ghats.
• Course: Flows southeast through the Pandya Nadu region and empties into the Palk Strait near the Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram district.
• Major Tributaries: Include Suruliyar, Mullaiyar, Varaganadhi, Manjalar, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal, & Upparu.
• The river receives a vital inflow from Periyar Dam (Kerala) through a diversion tunnel cutting across the Western Ghats.

India Backs Afghanistan’s Kunar Dam Plan

• India backed Afghanistan’s plan to build a dam on the Kunar River, reaffirming its readiness to assist in sustainable water management and hydroelectric development.
• The move comes amid rising Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions, underscoring India’s sovereignty and regional cooperation stance.

Launch of Communication Satellite-03

• ISRO successfully launched the CMS-03 communication satellite using the LVM3-M5 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

• Strategic Role: CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, is a multi-band military satellite providing secure, high-bandwidth communication for the Indian Navy across the Indian Ocean Region.
• Upgrade: It replaces the ageing GSAT-7 (Rukmini) launched in 2013.
• Launch Vehicle: The Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3-M5), nicknamed “Bahubali,” is ISRO’s most powerful operational rocket with a 100% success rate in heavy-lift missions.
• Propulsion System: The rocket employs a three-stage propulsion system combining a solid booster, a liquid core, and a cryogenic upper stage.

India Wins 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup

• The Indian women’s cricket team won their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025, defeating South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
• Player Honours: Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match, while Deepti Sharma earned the Player of the Tournament award.
• Past Records: India previously finished as runner-up in 2005 and 2017 editions.
• Significance: The win marks a milestone for Indian sports, increasing global visibility and growth potential of women’s cricket.

Torkham Border (NOA)

The Torkham crossing is a major transit point on the Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is situated along the historic Grand Trunk Road in the Khyber Pass region, connecting the city of Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Peshawar in Pakistan.

Powering India’s Green Transition

India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) to build self-reliance in the exploration, mining, and processing of rare earth and critical minerals that are vital for clean energy, electronics, and defence technologies.

Importance of Rare Earths and Critical Minerals:

• Backbone of Modern Technology: Power electronics, EVs, wind turbines, solar panels, and digital infrastructure.
• Enabler of Green Transition: Essential for achieving global climate targets and net-zero commitments.
• Strategic Resource: Critical for national defence, aerospace, and advanced communication systems.
• Economic Driver: Integral to the clean-tech value chain, boosting innovation and manufacturing competitiveness.

Difference between Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals

India’s Context and Climate Goals:

• India targets a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and aims for net-zero emissions by 2070, aligning with global climate goals.
• To achieve this, India needs secure access to critical minerals for renewable energy, battery storage, and EV expansion.
• Although India ranks 5th globally in rare earth reserves, it lacks large-scale refining, magnet, and downstream processing capacity.
• The National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) ensures supply chain security, industrial competitiveness, and strategic self-reliance.

Applications:

• Renewable Energy: Minerals like silicon, indium, and gallium power solar panels, while neodymium and dysprosium enable high-efficiency wind turbines.
• Electric Vehicles & Storage: Lithium, cobalt, and nickel are essential for lithium-ion batteries driving EVs and grid storage systems.
• Electronics: Copper, tungsten, and tin are vital for semiconductors, printed circuits, and microprocessors in high-tech manufacturing.
• Defence & Aerospace: Titanium and rare earth magnets are used in jet engines, missiles, and satellite communication systems.
• Medical Equipment: Critical minerals form components in MRI scanners, pacemakers, and diagnostic imaging technologies.

Challenges Associated:

• High Import Dependence: Over 60% of the world’s refining capacity lies in China, posing geopolitical and supply risks.
• Technology Gaps: India lacks advanced refining, metallisation, and magnet-making infrastructure to process critical minerals efficiently.
• Environmental Concerns: Mining and refining can cause soil and water pollution, demanding strict ecological safeguards.
• Regulatory Delays: Slow clearances and fragmented governance across agencies hinder timely project execution.
• Funding & Skill Deficit: Capital-heavy exploration and limited technical expertise slow innovation and industrial scalability.

Initiatives Taken:

• National Critical Mineral Mission (2025): Aims for end-to-end value creation—exploration, mining, processing, and recycling.
• MMDR Act Amendment (2023): Added 24 critical minerals for centralised auction and improved transparency in allocation.
• KABIL JV: Secured lithium assets in Argentina and partnered with Australia for strategic critical mineral collaborations.
• Customs Duty Exemption (2025): Reduces input costs for domestic processing and encourages industrial-scale refining.
• Processing Parks & Recycling: Promotes circular economy models and value addition across the mineral supply chain.

Way Ahead:

• Develop Domestic Value Chain: Build capacity from exploration to magnet and battery component manufacturing.
• Foster R&D & Startups: Encourage innovation in refining, separation, and recycling technologies through targeted funding.
• Diversify Imports: Establish strategic partnerships with resource-rich nations to reduce overdependence on China.
• Environmental Safeguards: Enforce sustainable mining practices and strengthen recovery from secondary sources.
• Policy Integration: Align mineral strategy with Make in India, Green Hydrogen Mission, and energy transition policies.

Critical minerals are the foundation of India’s green and digital economy, linking climate goals with strategic autonomy. The mission represents a shift from dependence to resilience, ensuring long-term sustainability and technological leadership. By investing in exploration, innovation, and circularity, India can become a global hub for green-critical mineral value chains.

Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan

India withdrew from the Ayni air base in Tajikistan in 2022 after the lease agreement with Tajikistan was not renewed, reportedly due to pressure from Russia and China.

• The Ayni air base, also known as the Gissar Military Aerodrome (GMA), is a strategically located airbase in Tajikistan that India helped develop and operate jointly with the Tajik government since 2002. It was India’s first overseas military facility, giving it a strategic presence in Central Asia.

Located in: The base lies just west of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, and around 20 km from Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, which borders Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and China.

History:

• Originally built during the Soviet era, the base fell into disuse after the USSR’s collapse.
• India redeveloped it in 2001-2002, with key roles played by NSA Ajit Doval, Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• Funded by the Ministry of External Affairs, India spent about million extending the runway to 3,200 metres, building hangars, refuelling facilities, and maintenance units.
• The base was occasionally used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for humanitarian and evacuation missions, including during the Afghanistan crisis in 2021.

Strategic Importance:

• Provided India a military foothold in Central Asia—a region of high strategic interest.
• Enabled surveillance and operational reach over Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Located near the Wakhan Corridor, it offered India leverage in regional security and counter-terror operations.
• Strengthened India’s role as a security partner in Central Asia amid growing China-Pakistan proximity.

Current Status:

• The lease expired in 2021, and Tajikistan declined renewal under Russian and Chinese influence.
• India completed withdrawal in 2022, and by early 2023, Russian forces reportedly took over operations at the base.
• Though the base is no longer Indian-operated, India continues to maintain diplomatic and security engagement in Central Asia.