World

Context: China recently restricted the export of antimony citing ‘national security’ concerns. Antimony Overview: Antimony is a semi-metal, silvery white in color, brittle, and crystalline. It is not a good conductor of heat or electricity and has a low vaporization temperature. Though not abundant, it is found in trace amounts …

Context The Gulf region has played a crucial role in ensuring India’s energy security, which is vital for the country’s industrial growth, power, and transportation sectors. Energy Production and Consumption in India Global Standing: India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer after China and the United States. Energy Consumption: According …

Context: The World Bank has elevated Russia from an ‘upper-middle income’ to a ‘high-income’ country, a classification it last held in 2014. Russia’s Economic Resilience Global Rankings: Russia is 72nd in per-capita GNI and 53rd in purchasing power parity worldwide. GDP Growth: In 2023, Russia saw a 3.6% increase in …

Relevancy for Mains: Implications of the Russia-North Korea security pact on the stability of the world, etc. The security pact reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, in which both countries promised mutual assistance “in the event of aggression”, has echoes from the …

❖  A new study has revealed the fate of methane released from the September 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream Pipeline Description: The Nord Stream network comprises offshore pipelines (Nord Stream 1 and 2) that supply natural gas to northern Europe. These …

❖: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Pyongyang visit culminated in a landmark pact between Russia and North Korea. Historical context of Russia-North Korea relations After WWII, the Soviet Union sought to establish a communist regime in Korea, offering significant military assistance to North Korean founder Kim Il Sung during the …

GS 3 : Test Flights of Private Rockets in India- Need and Significance. Agnibaan: Taking Flight in India’s Space Industry Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian space startup, successfully completed the first test flight of their two-stage, 14-tonne launch vehicle named Agnibaan. This marked the fifth attempt by Agnikul to test the …

UN Peacekeeping: The United Nations Peacekeeping (UNPKO) is a crucial instrument deployed by the UN to assist countries ravaged by conflict in transitioning towards lasting peace. Established in 1948, UN Peacekeeping has evolved significantly, with over 70 missions undertaken and over two million personnel deployed Role of Peacekeeping Operations Peacekeeping …

GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Social Justice and International Relations): India’s foreign policy: India’s role in the Antarctic Treaty System and its strategic interests in the region. International relations and security: Challenges of environmental protection in Antarctica and the role of international cooperation. GS Paper III (Science and Technology): India’s …

Introduction The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is a strategic economic initiative launched by the United States in May 2022. It aims to strengthen economic ties among member countries in the Indo-Pacific region, fostering resilience, sustainability, and shared prosperity. This framework holds significance for regional economies, including India, offering …