India-Oman Bilateral Relations

• PM Narendra Modi’s Oman visit during his West Asia–Africa tour coincides with 70 years of India–Oman diplomatic ties and rising regional churn.

India–Oman Bilateral Relations

History and evolution:-

• Civilisational maritime bridge: India–Oman ties run through the Indian Ocean trading system, where the Arabian Sea acted as a connector for commerce, culture and navigation traditions.
• People-to-people and diaspora depth: Long-standing movement of traders, seafarers and workers created trust that outlasted modern geopolitics.
• Early strategic comfort in a sensitive region: When parts of the region were ambivalent about India, Oman maintained steady engagement based on moderation and neutrality.
• Institutionalisation of partnership (2005–2008 onwards): Defence MoU (2005) and Strategic Partnership (2008) gave the relationship a formal security and political spine.
• 2018–2025 phase: Strategic + digital + connectivity: The relationship expanded into Duqm access, fintech linkages and corridor conversations (IMEC).Eg: RuPay launch in Oman (2022) shows India’s DPI diplomacy moving beyond rhetoric.

Sectors of cooperation:-

Defence and maritime security

• Duqm as a strategic enabler: Duqm logistics access supports Indian naval turnaround, replenishment and operational flexibility in the western IOR.
• Joint exercises and interoperability: Regular tri-service engagement builds habits of cooperation for contingencies and HADR missions.
• Overflight and transit support: Operational access enhances India’s reach for evacuation, disaster response and crisis-time movement.

Trade, investment and business

• Growing trade and JV ecosystem: Beyond trade value, the relationship has a JV backbone that anchors continuity even during political shocks.
• Eg: Over 6,000 India–Oman joint ventures in Oman with estimated investment ~$776 mn.
• Manufacturing and logistics linkages: Free zones and port-led projects can integrate Indian firms into Gulf–Africa supply chains.
• Eg: Indian companies are major investors in Sohar and Salalah Free Zones.

Fintech and digital public infrastructure:-

• Payment connectivity: Linked payment systems reduce transaction friction for diaspora remittances, tourism and SMEs.
• Eg: Central Bank of Oman–NPCI MoU (Oct 2022) and RuPay in Oman created a visible DPI milestone.

Energy transition and future fuels:-

• Beyond oil: green energy convergence: Both sides can align on green hydrogen, renewables, and critical minerals to future-proof energy security.

Education and health:-

• Knowledge corridor potential: Offshore campuses and skill partnerships can create long-term influence and workforce linkages.

Challenges associated

• Regional volatility risk: West Asia’s conflict cycles can disrupt trade routes, investor confidence, and diaspora safety planning.
• Trade concentration and limited diversification: High dependence on a few commodities reduces resilience and limits CEPA’s early “headline gains”.
• Eg: Without value-chain expansion, trade growth can remain price-driven instead of productivity-driven.
• Great power competition in the IOR: Strategic space is contested, and every logistics/port arrangement attracts geopolitical signalling.
• Eg: Oman’s location enables monitoring of PLA Navy activity, but also raises competitive sensitivities.
• Implementation gap in agreements: Announcements can outpace execution due to standards, customs processes, and regulatory alignment issues.
• Diaspora welfare and labour market shifts: Economic slowdowns or policy changes can affect Indian workers, remittances and community stability.

Way ahead:

• Fast-track CEPA with sectoral “early harvest” wins: Prioritise services, MSME market access, standards harmonisation, and logistics facilitation for quick impact.
• Deepen Duqm-centric maritime cooperation: Expand joint patrol coordination, HADR drills, and anti-piracy information sharing in the Gulf of Oman.
• Build a green energy partnership roadmap: Create joint pilots on green hydrogen value chains and renewable-linked industrial clusters.
• Scale fintech interoperability beyond RuPay: Move from card presence to wider acceptance, cross-border UPI-like rails, and SME payment solutions.
• People-first cooperation: skills, healthcare, and mobility: Use education/health partnerships to build trust that survives geopolitical swings.

Conclusion:

• India–Oman ties combine civilisational depth with modern strategic utility—from Duqm and maritime security to fintech and the energy transition. The proposed CEPA can turn a strong relationship into a more productive economic engine. Sustained delivery, diversification and people-centric outcomes will decide how far this partnership scales in a volatile region.

FSSAI launches egg safety drive after ‘nitrofurans presence’

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a nationwide egg safety drive after a viral video alleged the presence of nitrofurans—a banned antibiotic—in eggs of a popular brand.
• The egg safety drive is a regulatory surveillance and testing initiative by FSSAI to detect residues of banned veterinary drugs, particularly nitrofurans, in eggs to ensure consumer safety and food law compliance.

Scientific name and classification:

• Nitrofurans are a group of synthetic nitrofuran-based antimicrobial agents.
• Common compounds include nitrofurantoin, furazolidone, nitrofurazone, and furaltadone.
• They are classified as chemotherapeutic antibacterial agents, not naturally occurring antibiotics.

Origin and use:

• Nitrofurans were historically used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial and protozoal infections.
• Due to their carcinogenic potential, they are banned in food-producing animals in India, the EU, and several other countries.

Key features of nitrofurans:

• Broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella and Giardia.
• Primarily bacteriostatic, becoming bactericidal at higher doses.
• More active in acidic environments.
• Known for slow development of microbial resistance, but show complete cross-resistance within the group.

Implications on human health:

• Carcinogenic risk: Some nitrofurans are linked to cancer, prompting global bans.
• Toxicity: Excess exposure can cause neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal distress, and hypersensitivity reactions.
• Food safety concern: Presence of residues in eggs undermines consumer trust and violates food safety standards.
• Public health risk: Long-term exposure, even at low levels, may pose cumulative health hazards.

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC)

• India reaffirmed its civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarva Dharma Samabhav at the 11th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• UNAOC is a United Nations initiative that seeks to improve understanding and cooperation among nations and peoples across cultures and religions, and to counter extremism through dialogue and partnership.
• Established in: 2005, as a political initiative of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, co-sponsored by Spain and Türkiye.
• Headquarters: New York, United States.
• Aim: To reduce polarization between societies and cultures, strengthen intercultural dialogue, and promote peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies.

Functions / Priority areas:

1. Education: Promoting intercultural learning and curricula.
2. Youth: Empowering youth as agents of peace.
3. Migration: Advancing inclusion and social cohesion.
4. Media: Countering stereotypes and hate speech.
5. Women as peace mediators: Strengthening women’s role in peacebuilding.

Building partnerships with states, civil society, faith leaders, academia, media, arts, sports, and the private sector.

About UNAOC 2025 (11th Edition)

• Host: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.
• Theme: “UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity—Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World”.

Outcomes :

• Renewed global commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and religious harmony amid conflicts and trust deficits in multilateralism.
• Marked 20 years of UNAOC, setting the course for its third decade.
• Broad participation of political leaders, international organizations, religious and faith actors, youth, civil society, media, arts and sports to advance peacebuilding through dialogue.

Vijay Diwas Marks India’s Victory in 1971 War

• India is observing Vijay Diwas on 16 December 2025 to commemorate the 1971 victory and honour the armed forces’ sacrifice and valour.
• The day marks the surrender of Pakistan’s Eastern Command in Dhaka (16 Dec 1971) and the birth of Bangladesh.

About Vijay Diwas Marks India’s Victory in 1971 War:

Background of the war:

• Electoral mandate denied (1970): The Awami League won a decisive majority in Pakistan’s 1970 elections, but transfer of power was blocked, triggering mass agitation in East Pakistan.
• Military crackdown (25 March 1971): Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight in Dhaka and elsewhere, intensifying violence and driving the liberation movement.
• Refugee crisis in India: Around ~10 million refugees crossed into India creating major humanitarian and fiscal pressure.
• Rise of Mukti Bahini + Govt-in-exile: Bengali resistance consolidated as Mukti Bahini; India provided training, logistics and sanctuary while preparing for escalation.

Key events during the war (3–16 Dec 1971):

• Trigger — 3 Dec 1971: Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes (Operation Chengiz Khan) on multiple Indian airfields, after which India formally entered full-scale war.
• Air superiority in the East: Indian Air Force quickly neutralised East Pakistan’s limited air capability, enabling unhindered close air support and interdiction.
• Naval blockade in Bay of Bengal: Indian Navy isolated East Pakistan; INS Vikrant supported strikes on ports/coastal targets, choking reinforcement and resupply.
• Karachi strikes: Indian Navy hit Karachi in Operation Trident (4/5 Dec) and Operation Python (8/9 Dec)—major blows to fuel storage/shipping capacity.
• Surrender — 16 Dec: With Dhaka encircled and East Pakistan strategically isolated, Eastern Command surrendered, ending the war decisively in 13 days.

Outcomes

• Bangladesh created: East Pakistan became the sovereign state of Bangladesh, fundamentally altering South Asian geopolitics.
• Mass surrender/POWs: Approx. 93,000 Pakistani troops/personnel surrendered—one of the biggest capitulations since WWII.
• Strategic realignment: Pakistan lost its eastern wing; India emerged as the dominant conventional military power in the region, with strengthened deterrence credibility.
• Post-war settlement: The 1971 outcome directly shaped subsequent diplomacy, including Simla Agreement (1972) framework and long-term India–Bangladesh relations.

Significance

• National remembrance: Symbol of armed forces’ bravery, jointness (Army-Navy-Air Force) and decisive leadership in warfighting.
• Doctrine & deterrence: Demonstrates the value of clear political objectives, rapid manoeuvre, air superiority, and maritime choke-point control.

India–ADB $2.2 billion loan agreements

• India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed loan agreements worth over $2.2 billion to finance five major development projects.
• A multi-sector financing package from ADB to India aimed at accelerating human capital development, clean energy transition, urban mobility, healthcare capacity and sustainable livelihoods across several states.

Key features:

• Skilling & employability ($846 million): Modernisation of 650 ITIs in 12 states and upgradation of 5 National Skill Training Institutes; targets employability of 1.3 million youth in high-growth sectors like renewable energy and electric mobility.
• Rooftop solar expansion ($650 million): Supports PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to scale rooftop solar for 10 million households by 2027, focusing on sectoral reforms and affordable, collateral-free loans.
• Healthcare augmentation ($398.8 million): Strengthens tertiary healthcare by upgrading medical colleges in Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar as centres of excellence.
• Urban transport ($240 million): Chennai Metro Rail Project: Tranche 2 for new corridors and stations with climate-resilient and universal access features.
• Sustainable livelihoods ($77 million): Meghalaya ecotourism and climate-smart agriculture project to improve incomes and conservation outcomes for local and indigenous communities.

Asian Development Bank (ADB):

• ADB is a multilateral development bank that supports inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth in Asia and the Pacific through finance, policy support and partnerships.
• Established: 19 December 1966
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
• Members: 69 countries (50 regional, 19 non-regional); India is a founding member (1966)
• India’s position: Largest recipient, accounting for about 14% of ADB’s financial commitments

Aims: Eradicate extreme poverty and promote prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable development aligned with the SDG

Functions:

1. Provides loans, grants, technical assistance and equity investments to governments, private sector and PPPs.
2. Supports policy reforms, capacity building and co-financing with official and private sources.
3. Focuses on education, health, transport, energy, finance and climate action.

Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 introduced in Lok Sabha

• The purpose of the Bill is to empower Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) of India to achieve excellence through effective coordination and advancing NEP 2020 vision.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

• It provides for repealing University Grants Commission(UGC) Act, 1956, All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) Act, 1987 and National Council for Teacher Education(NCTE) Act, 1993.
• Constitution of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA): New umbrella commission to regulate higher education in India, replacing existing bodies like the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE.
• President and Members of the Commission (not more than 12), other than the ex officio Members and Member Secretary of the Commission, shall be appointed by President of India.
• Coverage: All higher educational institutions under the purview of the Ministry of Education, UGC, AICTE, NCTE etc. will be under the purview of VBSA for determination of standards.
• Formation of three Councils under VBSA: Viksit Bharat Shiksha Viniyaman Parishad (Regulatory Council), Viksit Bharat Shiksha Gunvatta Parishad (Accreditation Council) and Viksit Bharat Shiksha Manak Parishad (Standards Council).
• Council of Architecture (CoA): Established under the Architects Act, 1972 shall function as a Professional Standard Setting Body (PSSB) as envisioned in the NEP, 2020.
• Funding: It is proposed to keep the funding to the centrally funded higher educational institutes out of the purview of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan.
• Significant enhancement of enforcement powers: Regulatory Council can impose penalties for violations ranging from not less than ₹10 lakh to up to ₹2 crore.

Petra & Ellora Caves

• India and Jordan signed a twinning agreement between UNESCO Heritage sites of Petra & Ellora Caves renowned for their rock cut architecture.

About Ellora caves

• Location - Charanandri hills, Maharashtra near Elaganga river
• Origin - Carved between 600-1000 CE predominantly by the Rashtrakuta and yadava dynasty.
• Architecture - Rock cut caves carved into basalt cliffs from top to down
• Religion - Houses Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain monuments side-by-side, illustrating the religious tolerance
• It also houses mural paintings related to all 3 religions.

About Petra caves

• Petra also known as Rose City due to its pink sandstone cliffs was the  capital of the Nabataean Kingdom starting around 4th century BCE
• It is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges.

HAMMER precision-guided weapon (AASM)

• India has signed a pact with France’s Safran to jointly manufacture, customise, supply and maintain the HAMMER (AASM) precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India through a 50–50 JV with BEL.

HAMMER precision-guided weapon (AASM):

• HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range), also known as AASM, is a stand-off, precision-guided air-to-ground weapon that converts conventional bombs into high-accuracy strike systems through modular guidance and propulsion kits.

Developed by

• Developed by Safran Electronics & Defense (France).
• In India, it will be jointly manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran through a 50:50 joint venture.

Aim:

• To provide the air force with accurate, flexible and survivable precision strike capability from stand-off ranges, enabling controlled escalation while minimising collateral damage and aircraft risk.

Key features

• Modular design: Consists of a nose-mounted guidance kit and a tail-mounted range-extension kit, fitted onto standard bomb bodies (125 kg to 1,000 kg, including Mk-80 series).
• Multiple guidance options: INS-GPS (all-weather), INS-GPS-IR (high-precision fixed targets), and laser guidance (moving targets).
• Stand-off range & off-axis launch: Rocket booster and winglets allow launch from outside hostile air-defence zones and even at large off-axis angles.
• High precision: Circular Error Probability ranges from ~10 m (INS-GPS) to ~1 m (IR-guided).
• Platform flexibility: Integrated on Rafale and planned for Tejas, enabling a common precision-strike capability across imported and indigenous aircraft.

Significance

• Operational edge: Bridges the gap between unguided bombs and expensive cruise missiles, offering missile-like precision at lower cost.
• Strategic autonomy: Domestic manufacturing reduces import dependence and ensures availability during crises.
• Technology absorption: Builds Indian expertise in guidance systems, propulsion integration and precision-strike workflows.