Raman Academy • Daily Current Affairs
Important News Articles & Editorial Analysis
The Hindu
Tuesday, 09 June 2026
Edition: International
Sci & Tech Page 04 • GS III • Science & Technology
India expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2025, says SIPRI
SIPRI’s Yearbook 2026 reports that India marginally expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2025 and continued developing new nuclear delivery systems — a snapshot of shifting South Asian security dynamics with direct bearing on India’s national security and foreign policy.
1. Arsenal Expansion & Modernisation
- Warheads: Rose from ~180 to ~190 by early 2026.
- Strategic shift: Modernisation increasingly focused on long-range weapons able to strike deep into China, while addressing conventional concerns with Pakistan.
- Global trend: All 9 nuclear-armed states (USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel) are modernising and relying more on nuclear weapons.
2. ‘Operation Sindoor’ (May 2025)
- “Exceptionally serious crisis”: SIPRI flagged the India-Pakistan confrontation between two nuclear neighbours; India struck Pakistani air/missile bases with suspected nuclear roles.
- De-escalation: Both sides took measures to prevent further escalation — effective crisis management.
- Cyber integration: For the first time, cyber operations were integrated into an active military conflict — signalling the changing nature of warfare.
3. Military Expenditure & 4. Arms Imports
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defence spending (2025) | $92.1 billion — world’s 5th-largest, up 8.9%; behind US, China, Russia, Germany |
| Arms imports (2021-25) | 2nd-largest importer, 8.2% of global imports |
| Top 5 importers | Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan — together 35% of global imports |
India Implications
- Two-front deterrence: Nuclear modernisation now balances China’s power, not just Pakistan (Credible Minimum Deterrence).
- Hybrid warfare: Strengthen cyber security and Command-and-Control as future wars cross traditional borders.
- Atmanirbharta: Being the 2nd-largest arms importer challenges strategic autonomy — accelerate Make in India in defence.
Conclusion: SIPRI Yearbook 2026 shows South Asia’s security landscape growing more complex amid geopolitics and technology. The cyber dimension of Operation Sindoor proves warfare is changing. India’s limited arsenal expansion and rising defence spend are strategic compulsions against dual China-Pakistan challenges — but long-term security needs stronger domestic defence manufacturing and reduced import dependence.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following statements regarding SIPRI Yearbook 2026:
- India’s estimated nuclear warhead inventory increased from about 180 to 190 by early 2026.
- India was the world’s largest arms importer during 2021–25.
- SIPRI reported the integration of cyber operations during the India-Pakistan military crisis of 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — India was the second-largest arms importer (8.2%), not the largest, so statement 2 is wrong.
Mains Practice
SIPRI Yearbook 2026 highlights the growing role of nuclear modernisation and cyber operations in contemporary conflicts. Examine the implications for India’s national security strategy. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Economy Environment Page 04 & 08 • GS III • Indian Economy
Nicobar project will enhance maritime security — and the call for transparency
The Ministry of Defence plans ~₹13,000 crore for a dual-use (civil-naval) airport under the Great Nicobar Island Development Project (total ~₹91,000 crore) to bolster maritime security, expand India’s Indo-Pacific presence, and create an economic hub. The project sits at the centre of debates over cost, environment and tribal rights — with the editorial “Strategic afterthought” urging full transparency.
1. Four Major Components
- ICTP: An International Container Trans-shipment Port at Galathea Bay to cut dependence on foreign trans-shipment hubs.
- Greenfield airport + naval aviation station: Jointly funded by Defence and Civil Aviation, Navy-operated.
- Modern township and a dedicated power plant.
2. Strategic & Economic Significance
- Location: ~40 km from the Six Degree Channel — a busy route linking the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Strait.
- Maritime security: Boosts Maritime Domain Awareness, logistics and rapid deployment in the IOR.
- Jobs: Expected to generate 100,000+ direct and indirect jobs.
3. Environmental & 4. Tribal Concerns
| Concern | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ecological loss | Felling of tropical rainforest; risk to coral reefs and mangroves |
| Wildlife | Habitat of leatherback turtles and the endemic Nicobar Megapode at risk |
| Conservation package | ₹2,220 crore over 30 years; government claims 81%+ of island stays protected |
| Tribal rights | No displacement of Shompen/Nicobarese claimed, but councils allege consent taken without full disclosure |
5. Strategic Dilemma & Financial Questions
- PIB (Aug 2024): Found the commercial port “lacked strategic objectives”; the ‘strategic’ tag was added later by Defence — an apparent afterthought.
- PPPAC refusal: Declined ₹12,230 crore Viability Gap Funding, asking the Ports Ministry to self-fund — raising commercial-viability questions.
- Transparency: The editorial urges releasing the High-Powered Committee report in full and accounting for the true cost to the exchequer.
India Implications
- Security vs sustainability: A textbook dilemma — how far can environment be traded for strategic gains?
- Indo-Pacific imperative: Counters China’s ‘String of Pearls’ and India’s ‘Malacca Dilemma’.
- Accountability: Withholding reports in the name of security weakens democratic transparency.
Conclusion: Great Nicobar is a vital step for India’s maritime security and Indian Ocean influence, with Galathea Bay offering unmatched reach over the Malacca Strait. But financial-viability doubts and the ‘afterthought’ framing of strategic necessity reveal planning gaps. The remedy is absolute transparency — publishing reports and addressing environmental and tribal concerns so the project becomes a sustainable strategic asset, not a financial burden.
Prelims Practice
Q. Which of the following best describes the strategic significance of Great Nicobar Island?
- (a) It overlooks the Strait of Hormuz
- (b) It is located near major sea lanes connecting the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean
- (c) It lies adjacent to the Suez Canal
- (d) It serves as India’s westernmost military outpost
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) — Great Nicobar sits near the Six Degree Channel, close to the Malacca Strait linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Mains Practice
The Great Nicobar Island Development Project reflects the growing intersection of national security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Critically examine. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Int'l Relations Page 09 • GS II • International Relations
The trust deficit in India-Bangladesh ties
More than 100 days into the Tarique Rahman government in Bangladesh, ties with India have not improved. The bitterness that set in after Sheikh Hasina’s fall (August 2024) and the Yunus-led interim government persists, leaving relations at a delicate crossroads.
1. India’s Outreach vs Dhaka’s Expectations
- India’s initiatives: EAM Jaishankar’s Dhaka visit (Dec 2025); Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Speaker Om Birla’s presence (Feb 2026).
- BNP’s demands: Beyond symbolism — resume trans-shipment for Bangladeshi goods, restore full visa services (business/medical), and end restrictive market access.
2. Domestic Politics & Rhetoric
- Illegal-immigration rhetoric: Statements in West Bengal and Assam created a ‘sense of betrayal’ in Dhaka.
- Hasina factor: Her exiled interviews in India unsettle the new government; Dhaka is disappointed by India’s muted response.
- Alternatives: PM Rahman is weighing visits to Malaysia and China (late June 2026) — a strategic concern for India.
3. Internal Challenges & the Ganga Treaty
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ganga Water Treaty (1996) | Expires 31 Dec 2026; failure to renew threatens the Ganges-Kobadak irrigation project |
| Economy & energy | Severe energy crisis and high inflation amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict |
| Law & health | Weak law-and-order; a measles outbreak killed 600+ infants, drawing criticism |
India Implications
- Neighbourhood First test: Delay in mending ties risks an expanding ‘China factor’ in the neighbourhood.
- Water diplomacy: Ganga/Teesta sharing is existential for Bangladesh — a lever to rebuild public goodwill.
- Domestic vs foreign policy: Election rhetoric on immigration directly affects bilateral ties.
Conclusion: India-Bangladesh ties face a widening expectations-reality gap. Dhaka, amid instability and a health and economic crisis, urgently needs India’s cooperation — especially Ganga Treaty renewal. India must recognise that an unstable or China-leaning Bangladesh harms its own North-East security. As the mature regional leader, India should ease visa and trade restrictions to restore strategic trust in South Asia.
Mains Practice
India-Bangladesh relations have entered a phase of strategic uncertainty following political changes in Bangladesh. Examine the key challenges and suggest a roadmap for rebuilding mutual trust. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
Social Justice Page 10 • GS II • Social Justice
What is lost and gained in NFHS-6
The Health Ministry released preliminary fact sheets of NFHS-6 (2023-24), covering ~6.8 lakh households across all states/UTs except Manipur. While it records gains in child nutrition, maternal care and digital penetration, its fact sheet has shrunk from 131 to 101 indicators, sparking debate.
1. Gains
- Maternal health: 4+ antenatal check-ups up ~7 percentage points; institutional births improved.
- Child stunting: Fell 6+ pp (vs only 3 pp between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5).
- Digital empowerment: Women’s internet use surged (Andhra Pradesh 21% → 63.6%); new questions on digital literacy, finance and SHGs.
- Spousal violence down 29.3% → 22.3%; health insurance up (West Bengal 33.7% → 88.2%).
2. Losses (Indicators Dropped)
43 indicators dropped, 13 added — a net reduction of 30. Key omissions:
| Dropped indicator | Significance lost |
|---|---|
| Anaemia (children, women, pregnant) | Key nutrition tracker removed |
| Mortality (neonatal, infant, under-5) | Vital health-outcome metrics gone |
| Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) | Primary monitor of female foeticide |
| Sanitation (ODF) & clean fuel (Ujjwala) | Scheme-evaluation benchmarks dropped |
| Cancer screening (cervical, breast, oral) | Removed after a single round (NFHS-5) |
Analysis: Anaemia & Other Declines
- Anaemia removal: NFHS-5 had shown a surge (children 58.6%→67.1%; women 53.1%→57%); the finger-prick method is said to overestimate. Now tracked via the Diet & Biomarkers Survey (NIN) using the venous-blood method.
- Breastfeeding fell ~8 pp (Haryana 69.5%→41.2%); obesity rose in most states (double burden); modern contraceptive use dropped 56.4%→52.7%.
India Implications
- Data gap: NFHS was India’s sole district- and socio-economically disaggregated survey; dropping mortality/sex ratio hampers targeted welfare design.
- Centralised vs decentralised: SRS tracks mortality but lacks district granularity needed for the Aspirational Districts Programme.
- Scheme accountability: Removing sanitation/clean-fuel indicators complicates evaluating Swachh Bharat and Ujjwala.
Conclusion: NFHS-6 paints a mixed picture — falling stunting and rising digital literacy show grassroots gains, but omitting SRB and child mortality raises transparency concerns and could affect India’s SDG standing. The government must ensure alternatives (Diet & Biomarkers Survey, SRS) publish timely data with the same socio-economic and district-level detail to keep evidence-based policymaking intact.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following statements regarding NFHS-6:
- NFHS-6 covered all States and Union Territories including Manipur.
- The survey covered approximately 6.8 lakh households.
- The number of indicators in the fact sheet has been reduced compared to NFHS-5.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only — NFHS-6 covered all states/UTs except Manipur, so statement 1 is wrong.
Mains Practice
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a critical instrument for evidence-based policymaking in India. Discuss the significance of NFHS-6 and examine the concerns arising from the exclusion of key indicators. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Governance Page 11 • GS II • Governance
Why Census 2027 matters for development, democracy and representation
India’s Census 2027 commenced on April 1 — the world’s largest counting exercise and India’s 8th census, after a 15-year gap (COVID-19 and elections). Slogan: “Our Census, Our Development”; mascots Pragati and Vikas. Far beyond a statistical drill, it will shape representation, fiscal devolution, social justice and policy.
1. A Two-Phase Digital Census
- Phase I: House-listing — housing conditions, amenities, assets.
- Phase II: Demographic and socio-economic data — education, migration, fertility, and crucially caste.
- Digital first: Online self-enumeration debuts — used by 1 crore families in the first 15 days; tablets used at scale.
2. Why It Is Historic
- Caste census: First since independence — will reshape reservation, affirmative action and social justice.
- Delimitation: Redrawing of Lok Sabha/Assembly seats and the Women’s Reservation Act (33%) hinge on this data.
- Population surge: 1.21 billion (2011) to 1.46 billion (2025, UNFPA) — a net rise of ~250–300 million.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Detail |
|---|---|
| Democracy & representation | North-South divide fear in delimitation; SIR + census data to ensure accurate electoral rolls |
| Resource allocation | Finance Commission tax/grant shares; precise beneficiary targeting (food, LPG, Ayushman Bharat) |
| Privacy & inclusion | Confidentiality under the Census Act, 1948; manual + multilingual options retained alongside self-enumeration |
India Implications
- Bridges the data gap: Socio-economic categories can offset NFHS-6’s dropped indicators.
- Evidence-based planning: A reality check for a population grown by 250M+ — employment, schools, hospitals.
- Cooperative federalism test: Caste data and delimitation demand Centre-State sensitivity and transparency.
Conclusion: Census 2027 is the blueprint for 21st-century India’s social, economic and political future. Where the colonial census sought to ‘rule’, today’s aims at inclusive development and good governance. Though sensitive due to caste data and delimitation, it is indispensable for social justice and representation — succeeding only through citizen cooperation, with 30 lakh enumerators realising ‘My Enumeration, My Right’.
Prelims Practice
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Census 2027:
- It is India’s first fully digital census.
- It provides an option for online self-enumeration.
- The census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only — It is not fully digital; manual door-to-door enumeration is retained alongside the online option.
Mains Practice
Census 2027 is not merely a demographic exercise but a foundational pillar of democratic governance. Discuss. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Int'l Relations Page 08 • GS II • Editorial Analysis
The Oman CEPA, a new gateway for India’s exports
The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on June 1, 2026, giving a modern dimension to a millennia-old trade relationship. Per FICCI, bilateral trade rose from $8.94 billion (FY 2023-24) to $11.18 billion (FY 2025-26) — a milestone for trade and India’s strategic outreach in West Asia.
1. Market Access in Goods
| Sector | CEPA gain |
|---|---|
| Tariff lines | Oman duty-free on 98.08% of lines = 99.38% of India’s exports by value (was just 15.33%) |
| Textiles & apparel | India already 43% of Oman’s woven imports; 5% tariff removed — edge over China |
| Engineering goods | Oman imports $3.7B machinery + $3.3B autos; India’s share only 5% / 2% — big upside |
| Pharmaceuticals | Value in regulatory facilitation — fast-track clearance for internationally approved medicines |
| Negative list | Dairy, grains, edible oils, several farm goods excluded to protect domestic producers |
2. Trade Facilitation & 3. Services
- Certificates: Oman accepts India’s Export Inspection Council (EIC) certs — no double testing; recognises NPOP organic and Halal systems; fast-track customs for perishables (farm & seafood).
- Services: 2024 services trade $863M (India surplus $447M); binding commitments and quotas for professionals (accounting, engineering, IT, healthcare, education) and intra-corporate transferees.
- AYUSH: Provisions for traditional medicine open Gulf wellness markets.
Strategic & Geographic Significance
- Gateway: Oman’s Sohar, Duqm and Salalah ports are logistics hubs — a gateway to the wider GCC and East Africa.
- Energy & maritime: Proximity to the Strait of Hormuz is critical for energy security and MDA; India already has access to Duqm Port.
India Implications
- Trade-policy evolution: Like the UAE, Australia, EFTA and UK pacts, CEPA spans goods, services, investment, IP and regulation — not just tariffs.
- Regional manufacturing: Benefits flow to Tamil Nadu textiles, Gujarat gems, Maharashtra/Punjab engineering, Telangana pharma, Kerala/AP seafood — a Make in India fillip.
- Edge over China: Duty exemptions give Indian exporters a competitive advantage.
Conclusion: The India-Oman CEPA is more than trade liberalisation — it cements India’s economic and strategic penetration into West Asia, giving exporters an edge over rivals like China. Its true success rests on implementation and optimum utilisation by Indian industry; capitalising effectively would accelerate India toward a $5-trillion economy and a global manufacturing-and-services powerhouse.
Mains Practice
“The India-Oman CEPA represents a convergence of economic diplomacy and strategic interests in West Asia.” Examine. (15 Marks, 250 Words)
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