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Current Affairs 5 August 2025 – Tone academy
Women’s Inclusion in Armed Forces a Priority Syllabus: GS1/Women Empowerment; GS3/Defence The Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was recently briefed on the growing representation of women in the armed forces. Here’s a summary of the key information presented. Women’s Inclusion in the Armed Forces Employment in the Indian Armed Forces is gender-neutral, with no distinction in deployment or working conditions between male and female soldiers within their respective arms and services. Postings are based on organizational needs and individual qualifications, and most defence training academies are now open to women. Current Status and Progress According to data from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), women’s representation in the armed forces has increased significantly. The Indian Air Force has the highest percentage of women at 13.4%, followed by the Army at 6.85% and the Navy at 6%. While the number of women in the Army, Air Force, and Navy has grown substantially since 2005, there are still some limitations. For example, while all branches of the Air Force are open to women officers, in the Navy, all branches except submarines are open to them. In the Army, women can join 12 different branches, including combat Importance of Women in the Armed Forces Diversity and Enhanced Capability: The inclusion of women brings diverse perspectives, creative solutions, and unique problem-solving approaches, which leads to better decision-making and improved mission outcomes. As modern warfare becomes more complex, their contributions to technology, intelligence, and logistics are crucial for operational readiness and adaptability. Expanding the Talent Pool: Integrating women expands the available talent pool, helping the military meet recruitment needs and access a broader range of skills and leadership potential. Role Models and Social Change: Women like Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who led the Operation Sindoor briefing, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh serve as inspiring role models, encouraging more women to join the armed forces. Global Alignment: Increased participation of women aligns India’s forces with global norms, strengthens its credentials in UN peacekeeping missions, and enhances diplomatic engagement. Existing Challenges Despite this progress, some challenges remain. The lack of gender-sensitive facilities in remote postings can be a barrier to full integration. Additionally, gendered perceptions of leadership styles can sometimes undermine women commanding officers. Women are also still excluded from frontline combat roles due to logistical and cultural concerns. With reference to women’s participation in the Indian Armed Forces, consider the following statements: The Indian Air Force has the highest percentage of women personnel among the three services. All combat roles in the Army, Navy, and Air Force are now fully open to women. Women’s inclusion in UN peacekeeping operations is in line with global standards. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 and 3 onlyB. 1 and 2 onlyC. 2 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2, and 3 Correct Answer: A Explanation: Statement 1 – Correct: Women form 4% of the IAF workforce — the highest among the three services. Statement 2 – Incorrect: Women are still excluded from frontline combat in some Army and Navy branches (e.g., submarines in the Navy). Statement 3 – Correct: Inclusion aligns India with global norms and strengthens participation in UN peacekeeping missions. 6 Years of Abrogation of Article 370 Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance August 5, 2025, marks the sixth year since the abrogation of Article 370. This action, taken in 2019, was a significant turning point in the constitutional history of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). What was Article 370? Article 370 was a temporary provision under Part XXI of the Indian Constitution, which came into effect in 1952. It granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing the state to have its own constitution, flag, and laws on all matters except finance, defense, foreign affairs, and communications. A key provision linked to Article 370 was Article 35A, which was added through a 1954 Presidential Order. Article 35A gave the J&K legislature the power to define “permanent residents” and grant them special rights in areas such as land ownership, government jobs, and scholarships. This provision also barred non-residents from permanently settling or buying property in the state. Notably, it contained a discriminatory clause that could lead to a female resident losing her property rights if she married someone from outside the state. Why was Article 370 Removed? The removal of Article 370 was based on several key reasons: Integration and Uniformity: The article was seen as a barrier to the full integration of J&K with the rest of India, hindering the application of constitutional, legal, and administrative structures present in other states. Security and National Integrity: The region had faced decades of terrorism and instability, and the abrogation was seen as a step to strengthen national sovereignty and internal security. Socio-Economic Development: The restrictions imposed by Article 35A on non-residents from buying land and investing in the region were seen as a hindrance to economic development. Constitutional Grounds: The provision was temporary in nature and its removal was deemed to be in the larger interest of the people of J&K. Discriminatory Nature: Article 35A was criticized for being discriminatory, particularly against women who married outside the state and their children. Furthermore, it prevented the application of crucial constitutional amendments like the 73rd and 74th, which would have allowed for Panchayat and Nagar Palika elections. The Road Ahead for J&K The abrogation of Article 370 was intended to achieve the full constitutional integration of J&K with India, improve governance, strengthen national unity, and promote peace and development. While the government has promised to restore statehood to J&K at the “right time,” this remains a major public demand. Petitions in the Supreme Court are urging for faster action on statehood restoration, emphasizing the need to uphold federal principles. The full impact of the abrogation is still unfolding across the region. Consider the following statements regarding Article 370: Article 370 was originally placed in Part XX of the Constitution as a transitional provision. Under Article 370, the Parliament required the
Current Affairs 4 August 2025 – Tone Academy
13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting Syllabus: GS2/ IR India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, held in New Delhi. Key Outcomes of the 13th JDCC Meeting Joint Manufacturing: India and UAE agreed to pursue joint manufacturing initiatives, replicating the model of collaboration between ICOMM (India) and CARACAL (UAE) for small arms production. Technology Co-Development: Discussions were held on co-developing next-generation technologies in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, autonomy, and cybersecurity. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Coast Guard and the UAE National Guard to deepen collaboration in Search and rescue operations, Anti-piracy missions, Pollution control response, and Maritime situational awareness. Significance of the Defence Cooperation Counterbalance to Regional Conflicts: India’s balanced approach in West Asia enhances its role as a stabilising, non-hegemonic partner, fostering regional trust amid ongoing tensions. Maritime Security: The UAE’s strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz complements India’s naval presence in the Arabian Sea and enhances collaborative maritime security. Joint maritime efforts strengthen sea lane security, trade route protection, and anti-piracy measures. India’s defence export and production capabilities receive a major boost through such partnerships, helping meet its target of ₹35,000 crore in defence exports by 2025. UAE and India Relations Political: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972. Multilateral Cooperation: India and the UAE are currently part of several plurilateral platforms such as I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) and UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral, etc. UAE was also invited as a Guest Country to the G-20 Summit. Economic & Commercial: The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed in 2022. Since the agreement, bilateral merchandise trade has nearly doubled from USD 43.3 billion in FY 2020-21 to USD 83.7 billion in FY 2023-24. UAE is the second largest export destination of India (after the US) with an amount of nearly US$ 31.61 billion for the year 2022-23. The Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) was signed in 2024 to protect and encourage bilateral investments by providing investor safeguards. Defence Cooperation: It is steered through a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) at the Ministry level, with the signing of the Agreement on Defence Cooperation in 2003, which came into effect in 2004. The Desert Cyclone exercise 2024, marked a milestone in military cooperation. Space Cooperation: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the UAE Space Agency signed an MoU regarding cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes in 2016. Indian Community: The Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.5 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE, constituting roughly about 35% of the country’s population. Conclusion: The deepening India–UAE defence partnership reflects a maturing strategic relationship that now encompasses not just trade and diaspora ties but also critical areas like defence innovation, regional security, and strategic autonomy. Joint defence engagements align with India’s broader objective of establishing a rules-based, multipolar regional order, especially in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Which of the following statements regarding the India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) are correct? It was established under the 2003 Agreement on Defence Cooperation, which came into force in 2004. The JDCC is the apex military dialogue mechanism between India and the UAE. The 13th JDCC meeting saw agreements on joint small arms manufacturing and cybersecurity collaboration. The JDCC has so far focused exclusively on bilateral defence exercises without any MoUs on maritime cooperation. Select the correct answer using the code below: A. 1 and 3 onlyB. 1, 2 and 4 onlyC. 2, 3 and 4 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 only Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3 only Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: JDCC stems from the 2003 Defence Cooperation Agreement. Statement 2 is correct: It is a key institutional dialogue mechanism for defence cooperation. Statement 3 is correct: The 13th JDCC discussed joint manufacturing (ICOMM-CARACAL) and next-gen tech like AI and cybersecurity. Statement 4 is incorrect: A MoU was signed between Indian Coast Guard and UAE National Guard covering maritime operations like SAR, anti-piracy, and pollution control. Linguistic Reorganisation of States in India Syllabus:Polity The Tamil Nadu Governor recently criticized the linguistic division of states in India, calling it a factor in the creation of “second-class citizens”. Background At Independence in 1947, India inherited a patchwork of provinces and princely states shaped by colonial administrative imperatives. These included: Provinces under direct British rule 565 princely states under indirect control The Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950, declared India to be a “Union of States”. The country, at the time, was divided into 28 states, falling under four categories: Part A states (governors’ provinces in British India): Assam, Bihar, Bombay, East Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Part B states (former princely states or group of princely states): Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Travancore-Cochin. Part C states included both the former chief commissioners’ provinces and some princely states: Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg State, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh. Part D state: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which was governed by a lieutenant governor appointed by the President. Post-Independence, people expected the new democratic government to respect and reflect linguistic aspirations in governance. Development in Later phases JVP Committee (1948–1949): The Indian National Congress set up the Linguistic Provinces Committee in December 1948, comprising Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Findings: The committee formally rejected language as the basis for reorganisation and emphasised the risks of national disintegration due to linguistic division. Creation of Andhra State: Potti Sriramulu’s 56-day hunger strike for a Telugu-speaking state led to his death in 1952, triggering mass protests. In response, the Government created Andhra State in October 1953 by separating Telugu-speaking areas from Madras State, marking the first linguistic state in India. States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), 1953: The Government of India appointed a three-member States