17 Dec, 2025 | Daily Current Affairs

India Trade Deficit Falls to $6.6 Billion in November | GS3 Economy

Context
• India has been facing global economic uncertainty, slowing external demand and volatile commodity prices.
• In this backdrop, trade deficit trends are closely tracked as they affect current account balance, forex stability, and growth outlook.

Summary
• India’s merchandise trade deficit sharply narrowed by over 61% to $6.6 billion in November 2025.
• The improvement was driven by strong recovery in merchandise exports and moderation in imports, especially gold.

Key Data

Total exports:
• Grew 15.5% to $74 billion (Nov 2025).

Merchandise exports:
• Rose 19.4% to $38.1 billion — highest November level in the last 10 years.

Total imports:
• Declined 0.6% to $80.6 billion.

Merchandise imports:
• Fell 1.9% to $62.7 billion.
• Were 17.6% lower than October, mainly due to a sharp fall in gold imports.

Gold imports:
• Fell nearly 60% year-on-year and about 73% month-on-month.

Post Maoist Governance in India and Future Challenges | GS3

CORE CONTEXT
• Maoist violence has declined due to security operations, especially in Fifth Schedule tribal areas.
• However, Maoism emerged and sustained itself due to deep governance failures, not ideology alone.
• The post-Maoist phase demands a shift from military dominance to legitimate, participatory governance.

PROBLEM: Governance Deficits Behind Maoism
• Administrative neglect in Fifth Schedule areas.
• Extractive state institutions (police, forest, revenue) with weak accountability.
• Under-representation of Adivasis in governance and local bodies.
• Poor service delivery: health, education, nutrition, welfare.
• Justice vacuum → Maoist jan adalats filled the gap.

Failure of protective laws:
• PESA (1996): Gram Sabhas lack real autonomy.
• Forest Rights Act (2006): rights diluted via executive actions.
• Land alienation and mining without genuine consent → loss of trust in state.

SOLUTION: Post-Maoist Governance Roadmap
• Move beyond security-centric approach to governance-centric reforms.

Strengthen local self-governance:
• Empower Gram Sabhas under PESA.
• Functional Autonomous and Zonal Councils.

Administrative reforms:
• Greater tribal representation in bureaucracy, police, forest and revenue departments.
• Context-sensitive governance.

Justice and rule of law:
• Accessible, speedy, non-coercive justice.
• End parallel authority spaces.

Restore constitutional protections:
• Faithful implementation of PESA and FRA.
• Reverse dilution through executive and legal bypasses.
• Political priority to Fifth Schedule areas for durable peace.

Indian Army Apache Helicopters Final Batch Inducted | GS3 Defence

Context
• The Indian Army has completed the induction of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, strengthening its offensive aviation capability, especially along the western front.

AH-64E Apache
• Type: Attack / multi-role combat helicopter.
• Variant with India: AH-64E Apache Guardian.
• Manufacturer: Boeing (USA).

Key Features
• All-weather, day-night combat capability.
• Longbow fire-control radar for target detection and tracking.
• High survivability in hostile combat environments.

India Maldives Military Exercise EKUVERIN Concludes | GS3 Defence

Context
• The bilateral military exercise EKUVERIN between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) concluded in Thiruvananthapuram.
• The exercise marked the culmination of two weeks of joint training, reinforcing defence cooperation between India and Maldives under India’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR vision.

EKUVERIN
• Type: Bilateral military exercise.
• Countries involved: India – Maldives.
• Forces: Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF).
• Nature of exercise: Annual (alternately hosted by India and Maldives).
• Location (latest edition): Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

India West Asia Policy Reiterated During Jordan and Israel Visits | GS2

Context
PM Modi conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian award.

• PM Narendra Modi received “The Grand Honour – Nishan of Ethiopia”.

Significance:
• Recognition of India’s growing engagement with Africa.
• India–Ethiopia ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

Core Developments

PM Modi in Jordan
• Talks with King Abdullah II in Amman.

Key focus:
• India–Jordan cooperation in Syria’s reconstruction.
• Infrastructure collaboration (railways, next-gen infrastructure).
• Joint concern over terrorism, extremism, radicalisation.

Significance:
• India’s role as a responsible stakeholder in West Asian stability.

EAM Jaishankar in Israel
• Visit to Tel Aviv; meetings with Israeli leadership.

Key points:
• Reaffirmed zero tolerance to terrorism.
• Supported U.S.-proposed Gaza peace plan for a durable solution.

Context:
• Visit amid Israeli law restricting UNRWA activities (historically supported by India).

Significance:
• Balanced diplomacy: strong Israel ties alongside Arab engagement.

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