Thursday · 23 July 2026
The Hindu — Important News Articles & Editorial Analysis
Daily Current Affairs · International Edition · Raman Academy, Sanjauli, Shimla
In Today's Edition
- 'Stable India-China Ties Will Help Build Multi-polar Asia'GS II · Intl Relations
- Convergent Perils: The Rome Declaration on AI and Nuclear WeaponsGS III · Science & Tech
- Are Children with Special Needs Enrolled in Schools in India?GS II · Social Justice
- Where Does the Law Stand on Internet Shutdowns?GS II · Polity
- A 200% Generic Tariff Threat Would Imperil Americans: Indian PharmaGS II & III · IR + Economy
- Editorial: India Must Lead in Securing the Strait of Bab el-MandebGS II · Intl Relations
GS II · International Relations · Prelims + Mains
'Stable India-China Ties Will Help Build Multi-polar Asia'
The Hindu · Page 06
On the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held bilateral and multilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and his Quad counterparts. India's message was clear: stable India-China relations are essential to building a "Multi-polar Asia" and a "Multi-polar World" — but peace and tranquility in the border areas remain the primary prerequisite for normal bilateral ties.
(A) India-China: Multipolarity and Border Peace
- Prerequisite of Border Peace: While gradual normalization since late 2024 is positive, complete peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will dictate the future direction of ties.
- Three Mutual Principles: The relationship must rest on 'Mutual Respect', 'Mutual Interest' and 'Mutual Sensitivity'.
- Differences Must Not Become Disputes: Recalling the Modi–Xi consensus at the Kazan Summit (2024), it was reiterated that differences between two large neighbours should not be allowed to turn into disputes.
- Economic & Supply Chain Concerns: India strongly raised the growing trade deficit with China, fair market access for Indian goods, and the predictability of supply chains.
(B) Quad and ASEAN Centrality & (C) India-Russia Talks
- Free and Open Indo-Pacific: The Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting (India, US, Australia, Japan) backed ASEAN unity and ASEAN Centrality.
- Regional Balance: Amid Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, Quad ministers resolved to strengthen maritime security, digital technology and economic security across the Indo-Pacific.
- Safety of Indian Seafarers: After four Indian seafarers died in an attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo in the Black Sea, India conveyed its "grave concern" to Foreign Minister Lavrov.
- Bilateral & Strategic Review: Alongside trade, energy, connectivity and science-technology cooperation, views were exchanged on the Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia.
India Implications: Strategic Autonomy in Practice
- Multi-alignment Policy: Engaging China, balancing the Indo-Pacific through the Quad, and maintaining the traditional partnership with Russia — all on the same platform — reflects India's strategic autonomy and the 'Jaishankar Doctrine'.
- Asian Multi-polarity: India holds that a Sino-centric Asia cannot produce a multi-polar world; a genuinely multi-polar world requires a "Multi-polar Asia" in which India is a key pole.
- UNCLOS & Freedom of Navigation: The safety of commercial vessels and freedom of navigation in international waters are obligations under international law — the legal basis for India's demand on seafarer safety.
Way Forward
- Border Management Mechanisms: Keep the WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination) and military-level talks fully active to defuse tensions immediately.
- Trade Balance & Diversification: Build domestic capability through 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and PLI schemes to cut strategic and supply-chain dependency on China.
- Global Rules for Maritime Security: Press for strict enforcement on global platforms to protect innocent commercial ships and seafarers in conflict zones.
- ASEAN-Centric Diplomacy: Promote coordinated Quad–ASEAN cooperation to sustain peace and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
ConclusionThis diplomatic round demonstrates that India is holding a mature balance between national interest and global equilibrium. Normalizing relations with China is necessary for regional stability and multi-polarity, yet India has made equally clear that there can be no compromise on sovereignty, border peace, or the safety of its citizens at sea. This pragmatic, balanced diplomacy positions India as a responsible and leading power in the shifting global order of the 21st century.
Prelims Practice
Q. What is the most appropriate meaning of India's "Strategic Autonomy"?
(a) Not becoming a member of any international organization
(b) Maintaining relations only with non-aligned countries
(c) Adopting an independent foreign policy based on national interests
(d) Opposing all military alliances
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (c) — Strategic autonomy means deciding foreign policy independently on the basis of national interest, rather than abstaining from alliances or organizations altogether.
Mains Practice
"Peace and stability in border areas are the cornerstone of India-China relations." Analyze the current challenges in bilateral relations in light of this statement. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
GS III · Science and Technology · Prelims + Mains
Convergent Perils: The Rome Declaration on AI and Nuclear Weapons
The Hindu · Page 07
On 16 July 2026, the "Rome Declaration" was signed at Rome's Capitoline Hill by Nobel Laureates, AI scientists and global leaders. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the declaration warns against allowing control over nuclear weapons to pass to AI-driven autonomous systems. It is a significant intervention in global peace, international security and the ethical governance of emerging technologies.
A. The Six Principles of the Rome Declaration
| Principle | What It Requires |
|---|---|
| Disarming the Next Arms Race | Halting military competition across new digital frontiers |
| Responsible Development | Prohibiting the creation of self-improving and uncontrolled AI systems |
| Responsible Use of AI | Establishing ethical boundaries in the battlefield zone |
| Responsible Governance | Creating transparent and inclusive global rules for AI |
| Responsible Leadership | Focusing political leaders on long-term safety rather than short-term speed |
| Nuclear Disarmament | Time-bound and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons |
B. Ethical & Operational Principles
- Mandatory Meaningful Human Control: No algorithm or AI system should hold final authority over a decision to launch nuclear weapons.
- 'Digital Commons' Model: Promote global data sharing and research while respecting the security concerns of nations that do not possess AI capability.
- Transparent & Controllable AI: Make it mandatory for developers to publish ethical frameworks so that AI can be halted abruptly in an emergency.
- Internal Arsenal Vulnerability Audits: Nuclear-armed states must audit their command-and-control systems against AI cyber-tampering.
- Time-bound, Verifiable Disarmament: Resume negotiations under the NPT and allied treaties toward permanent elimination of nuclear weapons.
C. Structural Risks of Integrating AI into Nuclear Control
- Compression of Decision Time: Traditional warfare allowed hours for diplomacy, negotiation and human hesitation; AI-driven command systems can compress response windows to seconds, leaving no room for an operator to verify data or de-escalate.
- Technical Vulnerabilities: Hallucinations and data poisoning can generate false positives from incorrect images, network pings or corrupted data.
- The 'Black Box' Problem: Opacity in AI's decision-making runs against scientific and ethical accountability.
- Collapse of the MAD Safety Mechanism: The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the 1983 Stanislav Petrov incident show that catastrophe was averted by human ethical hesitation and doubt — precisely what AI lacks.
- 'Asymmetric Speed' and the Security Dilemma: Fear that an adversary holds a speed advantage pushes states toward pre-delegating command-and-control to AI, raising the risk of spiralling escalation.
Implementation Challenges
- Lack of Global Consensus: Major military powers — the US, China and Russia — are reluctant to accept strict multilateral bans on autonomous systems.
- Verification Issues: Inspecting software algorithms or AI code through an international mechanism (as the IAEA does for nuclear material) is extremely difficult.
- Military-Technology Race: Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, West Asia and South Asia have accelerated the use of AI-based intelligence and targeting.
Way Forward
- Legalize 'Human-in-the-Loop': A legally binding treaty under UN auspices making a human operator mandatory for the final decision in the nuclear chain.
- Global AI Ethics Code: Extend UNESCO's "Ethics of AI" guidelines to the defence sector.
- Security & Audit Standards: Nuclear-armed states should regularly conduct joint or internal cyber-audits of their digital infrastructure.
ConclusionThe goal of technological progress must be human welfare and peace, not the erasure of human accountability. As Nobel laureate David Gross has stressed, the declaration's success depends on public awareness and grassroots pressure. Tools and technologies may become autonomous — but the moral responsibility for safeguarding humanity's survival cannot be outsourced to any machine or algorithm.
Prelims Practice
Q. What is the primary objective of the 'Rome Declaration'?
(a) Climate change mitigation
(b) Ethical and global control over the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in nuclear weapons
(c) Global trade reform
(d) Cybercrime control
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) — The declaration seeks ethical and global control over AI in nuclear weapons, insisting on meaningful human control over any launch decision.
Mains Practice
Analyze the major risks arising from the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the control of nuclear weapons. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
GS II · Social Justice · Prelims + Mains
Are Children with Special Needs Enrolled in Schools in India?
The Hindu · Page 09
According to the UDISE+ 2025-26 report, enrolment of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) in Indian schools has remained stagnant at about 21.66 lakh for the past eight years — despite inclusive education being mandatory under the RTE Act, 2009 and the RPwD Act, 2016. Comparing NFHS-5 and population estimates shows that of an estimated 98.8 lakh CWSN in the country, only 22% are connected to formal schooling, exposing a critical gap in policy implementation.
A. Key Findings of the UDISE+ Report
- Low Overall Enrolment: Of an estimated 98.8 lakh children with special needs in the 5–14 age group, only 22% are enrolled from primary to higher secondary levels.
- Gender Disparity: Girls make up only 43% of total enrolled CWSN, reflecting a double burden of social and gender discrimination in inclusive education.
- Underreporting & Classification: Although the RPwD Act, 2016 recognizes 21 types of disability, many schools still submit UDISE+ data using the older 8-category framework from the 2011 Census.
The Drop-off Across Levels of Schooling
| Transition Stage | Share of CWSN Reaching It | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary → Upper Primary | ~75% | The first major loss of children from the system |
| Upper Primary → Secondary | 48% | Less than half continue past upper primary |
| Secondary → Higher Secondary | 46% | Dropout rate far higher than among general students |
B. Root Causes of Low Enrolment and Dropout
- Infrastructure Deficit: Most government and private schools lack ramps, accessible toilets, braille materials and accessible teaching-learning materials (TLM).
- Lack of Special Educators: The ratio of trained teachers and special educators to students in inclusive classrooms is extremely low, and general teachers feel unequipped for the specific learning needs of CWSN.
- Stigma and Discrimination: Low awareness of disability in society and families makes households hesitant to send children — especially girls — outside the home.
- Implementation Gaps: Inadequate grassroots fund allocation and weak monitoring persist despite inclusive-education provisions in the RPwD Act 2016 and NEP 2020.
- Transport and Distance: The absence of accessible transport in rural areas makes reaching school difficult, particularly for children with severe disabilities.
Way Forward
- Data Improvement: Integrate all 21 RPwD disability categories into the UDISE+ portal and train school staff for accurate data collection.
- Special Educator Cadre: Make the appointment of special educators mandatory per school, with compulsory inclusive-education training modules for general teachers.
- Universal Accessibility: Equip existing schools with ramps, accessible toilets and assistive technologies under the 'Accessible India Campaign' (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).
- Targeted Support: Provide special scholarships, free transport and strong home-based education options, particularly for CWSN girls.
ConclusionBringing CWSN into mainstream education is essential to achieving SDG-4 (Quality and Inclusive Education) and the goals of NEP 2020. That more than 78% of disabled children in India remain outside formal education is not only a violation of their fundamental rights but a serious disruption to the country's human capital development. Only a barrier-free, equitable and rights-based educational environment can bridge this gap.
Prelims Practice
Q. What is the primary objective of UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus)?
(a) Preparing rankings of universities
(b) Compilation of comprehensive and digital data related to school education
(c) Analysis of only board examination results
(d) Regulation of private schools
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) — UDISE+ is the Ministry of Education's platform for compiling comprehensive digital data on school education across the country.
Mains Practice
Analyze the major challenges facing inclusive education for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) in India. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
GS II · Indian Polity · Prelims + Mains
Where Does the Law Stand on Internet Shutdowns?
The Hindu · Page 10
In the digital age the internet is not merely a medium of entertainment or communication but a foundation for livelihood, education, trade and freedom of expression. The recent suspension of internet services during protests in central Delhi, alongside similar orders across states, again highlights the tension between administrative convenience and citizens' fundamental rights. Despite the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the new rules framed under it, serious questions persist about the process, transparency and proportionality of shutdowns.
Legal and Statutory Position
| Framework | Governing Provision | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Old Framework | Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (Section 5(2)) and the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2017 | Superseded |
| Current Law | Section 20(2), Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024 | In force |
Statutory Requirements Under the New Regime
- Suspension can be ordered only on the grounds of "Public Emergency" or "Public Safety".
- Peaceful protests or demonstrations alone cannot be a legal basis for shutting down the internet.
- Reasons for the order must be recorded in writing, and the geographical area must be specified.
- No shutdown order can remain in effect for more than a maximum of 15 days.
Judicial Stance: Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020)
- Freedom of expression and trade through the internet is constitutionally protected under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g).
- Indefinite suspension of the internet is unconstitutional.
- Principle of Proportionality: The objective of a restriction must be legitimate, and the measure adopted must be the least restrictive available.
- Publication is mandatory: All shutdown orders must be published so citizens can challenge them in court.
- Judicial Review: The validity of such orders can be tested under Article 226 (High Court) and Article 32 (Supreme Court).
Issues & Key Concerns
- Procedural Non-Compliance: Several state governments still issue orders citing the 1885 Telegraph Act, bypassing the protective framework of the 2023 Act and 2024 Rules.
- Lack of Transparency: Orders are frequently not published, making it difficult for affected citizens to approach the courts.
- Executive Self-Review: The Review Committee consists solely of bureaucrats from the Home and Law departments, with no independent judicial or civil society representation.
- Economic and Social Damage: Fintech, e-commerce, online education and digital healthcare are severely disrupted, causing heavy losses to daily wage earners and the digitally dependent economy.
- Governance Contradiction: A policy tension is evident between the ambition of 'Digital India' and recording among the highest numbers of internet shutdowns in the world.
Constitutional Provisions Involved
- Article 19(1)(a): Freedom of speech and expression.
- Article 19(1)(g): Right to practise any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business.
- Article 21: Right to life and personal liberty — access to the internet was recognized as part of it under the Subhash Jain case framework.
- Article 19(2): Grounds for "reasonable restrictions" — public order, sovereignty and integrity of India, and allied heads.
Way Forward
- Mandatory Publication: State and central Home Ministries should publish shutdown orders in real time on official websites.
- Reconstitute the Review Committee: Include retired judges or independent human-rights experts to curb arbitrary executive action.
- Strict Proportionality: Prefer less restrictive alternatives — removing targeted inflammatory content or restricting select platforms — over blanket internet blocking.
- Fix Accountability: Establish administrative accountability of officials for orders issued arbitrarily or unlawfully.
ConclusionInternet suspension should be a 'last resort' for law enforcement, never a 'first resort'. Maintaining security and public order is the constitutional duty of government, but it cannot be achieved at the cost of democracy's core spirit — the fundamental rights of citizens. India must adhere strictly to the spirit of the Anuradha Bhasin judgment to reconcile its digital governance ambitions with democratic values.
Prelims Practice
Q. The 'Principle of Proportionality' means—
(a) The government can shut down the internet under any circumstances
(b) The restriction must be necessary to achieve the objective and must be the least restrictive among the available options
(c) Judicial review is not permissible in matters of national security
(d) Only the court can suspend internet services
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) — Proportionality requires a legitimate objective pursued through the least restrictive means available, as laid down in Anuradha Bhasin.
Mains Practice
Discuss the need to strike a balance between 'national security' and 'fundamental rights' in the context of internet shutdowns. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
GS II & III · International Relations + Economy · Prelims + Mains
A 200% Generic Tariff Threat Would Imperil Americans: Indian Pharma
The Hindu · Page 12
The US administration has announced a phased tariff plan on imported generic drugs. From 1 August 2026, generic drugs attract zero duty for two years; tariffs then rise to 100% from August 2028 and escalate to 200% from August 2029. The stated objective is to cut reliance on foreign supply chains and bring generic manufacturing back to the United States (reshoring). Indian industry and global experts warn the move would not only hit Indian exports but also raise drug costs and worsen medicine shortages within the US healthcare system.
(A) Key Features of the Policy
| Period | Tariff on Imported Generics | Intent |
|---|---|---|
| From 1 August 2026 (2-year window) | 0% | Transition time for companies to establish US manufacturing plants |
| From August 2028 | 100% | Punitive duty on firms that have not shifted manufacturing |
| From August 2029 | 200% | Escalated pressure to complete reshoring |
The policy specifically targets generic drugs; rules governing patented and branded medications remain distinct.
(B) India's Position in the US Market
- Export Share: India's total pharmaceutical exports stood at $25.8 billion in 2025, of which $9.7 billion (37.7%) went to the US alone.
- Prescription Volume: Indian companies account for 47% of all generic prescriptions dispensed in US pharmacies.
- Price vs Volume: Despite that 47% volume share, low generic pricing means India accounts for only about 30% of US generic imports by value.
India Implications: Impact on Indian Pharma
- Short-Term Market Shock: The Nifty Pharma Index fell sharply on the announcement, with Dr. Reddy's, Lupin and Cipla among the stocks dropping.
- Cost Advantage as Cushion: Per the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Indian generics are 7–10 times cheaper than US branded alternatives — so even after a 100% tariff they may remain more affordable than branded options.
- Relocation Is Impractical: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and other industry leaders note that shifting manufacturing to the US overnight is commercially unviable.
- Existing US Footprint: Indian majors — Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's and Granules India among them — already operate more than 40 FDA-approved facilities in the US that can be leveraged.
Impact on US Healthcare and Citizens
- Sharp Rise in Drug Prices: The burden of steep import tariffs would ultimately fall on US consumers, insurers and healthcare networks.
- Drug Shortages: Over 90% of all US prescriptions are for generics; if reshoring is slow, acute shortages of essential life-saving drugs — for cancer, diabetes and hypertension — could emerge.
- Erosion of Cost Savings: Indian generics have saved the US healthcare system more than $1.3 trillion over the past decade; the tariff policy threatens to wipe out these savings.
Strategic & Structural Challenges
- Complex Supply Chain Web: A substantial share of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) needed for generics originates in India and China; moving only final assembly or finished dosage manufacturing to the US will not domesticate the supply chain.
- Capex and Regulatory Hurdles: New pharmaceutical facilities in the US demand capital-intensive investment and strict US-FDA approval, typically taking more than two years.
Related Static Dimensions
- Protectionism vs Free Trade: The US "America First" and reshoring directives sit uneasily with WTO trade-liberalization principles and Most-Favoured-Nation norms.
- Section 232 and National Security: Tariffs imposed by framing healthcare and pharmaceuticals under national security parameters.
- 'Pharmacy of the World': India is the world's largest supplier of affordable, high-quality generic medicines.
- API Dependence: Indian pharma relies on China for nearly 70% of its APIs — a standing strategic vulnerability.
- IPR & Patents: Generics are produced after patent expiry and cost far less than innovation-driven branded drugs; the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration on Public Health frame the global rules.
Way Forward
- Market Diversification: Reduce over-reliance on the US market (37.7%) by expanding across Europe, Latin America, Africa and ASEAN.
- Use the 2-Year Window: Deploy the 0% tariff period (2026–2028) to build US-based capacity and establish joint ventures.
- API Indigenization: Strengthen the PLI scheme for APIs to end raw-material dependency on China.
- Bilateral Negotiations: Intensify India–US trade dialogue to seek exemptions for essential life-saving medicines from punitive tariffs.
ConclusionThe threat of tariffs up to 200% on generic drugs is a vivid example of global supply chains being restructured under political imperatives. While it brings short-term uncertainty for India's pharma export sector, India's inherent cost advantage — coupled with the heavy financial burden the policy would place on the US healthcare system — makes full implementation difficult. For India, it is a clear signal to resolve strategic API dependencies and broaden its geographical reach across the global pharmaceutical market.
Prelims Practice
Q. What is the most appropriate meaning of 'reshoring'?
(a) Relocating production to a third country
(b) Bringing domestic manufacturing back to one's own country
(c) Imposing a complete ban on exports
(d) Abolishing import duties only
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) — Reshoring is the return of previously offshored manufacturing to the home country; relocating to a third country is 'nearshoring' or 'friend-shoring'.
Mains Practice
Evaluate the role of generic medicines in India's pharmaceutical industry and their contribution to global health security. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Editorial Analysis · GS II · International Relations · Mains
India Must Lead in Securing the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb
The Hindu · Page 08 · By Raja Karthikeya, Takshashila Institution
Context: On the heels of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, a new strategic crisis is deepening at the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. Should the US strike Iran's power plants or infrastructure, Houthi rebels in Yemen — acting on Iran's instructions — could close the strait entirely. Nearly one-third of India's trade passes through Bab el-Mandeb, so any disruption to this maritime route directly threatens India's economic security, energy supply and shipping.
(A) Revisiting the 2023–2024 Crisis
- Houthi Attacks: During the Gaza war (2023), Houthi rebels targeted ships linked to Israel, launching drone and missile attacks on more than 40 vessels.
- Global Response: The US assembled a coalition under 'Operation Prosperity Guardian', and UN Security Council Resolution 2722 was adopted.
- Impact on Trade: At least 2,000 commercial ships avoided the Suez route and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 10–14 days to freight delivery, raising insurance rates and disrupting India's key imports and exports.
(B) Why the Current Situation Is More Uncertain
- US Diversion of Focus: American forces in the region are concentrated on Iran, leaving it unclear whether Red Sea security will be prioritized as it was before.
- Failure of Multilateral Institutions: The UNSC is deeply divided; the chance of a consensus resolution creating a peacekeeping force is negligible.
- China's Unilateral Stance: China is securing safe passage for its own commercial vessels through direct, quid pro quo bargaining with the Houthis.
- Safety of Seafarers: As with Hormuz, banning the deployment of Indian seafarers along the Bab el-Mandeb route would be impractical and would hit the livelihoods of thousands.
India Implications: Necessary Strategic Steps
- Trilateral Naval Task Force with France and Japan: Both maintain permanent military bases in Djibouti, and the Indian Navy already exercises regularly with both navies — a natural basis for a joint multilateral task force to deter Houthi attacks.
- Engaging Egypt and Saudi Arabia: Egypt suffered a 25% loss in Suez Canal revenue in 2024, and the recent Houthi "maritime embargo" on Saudi ships puts both under economic pressure — creating shared incentive for diplomatic pressure to secure the corridor from Suez to Bab el-Mandeb.
- Trade Protection Task Force: Not a military or geopolitical alliance, but a rules-based regional security mechanism specifically for protecting commercial vessels.
- Information Sharing & SAGAR: Real-time maritime data through India's IFC-IOR (Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region), reinforcing India's image as a responsible maritime power under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
Static Dimensions: Geography & Maritime Capability
- Location: Bab el-Mandeb — 'Gate of Tears' in Arabic — connects the Red Sea in the northwest to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in the southeast.
- Littoral States: Yemen lies on the Asian side; Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side.
- Perim Island: Divides the strait into two main navigation channels.
- Operation Sankalp: The Indian Navy's ongoing operation to protect Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf and Red Sea region.
- Net Security Provider: India's traditional role in the Indian Ocean Region.
ConclusionBab el-Mandeb is not a distant maritime chokepoint but a lifeline for India's economic growth, energy security and global trade. In an era of geopolitical uncertainty — with US attention divided and the UN constrained — India must step forward to lead rather than remain a silent spectator. By forming a rules-based 'Trade Protection Task Force' alongside France, Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, India can safeguard its commercial interests while consolidating its position as a responsible and leading power in the global maritime order.
Mains Practice
What is the significance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for India's maritime and economic security? Explain. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
