17 March 2025 Current Affairs

India-Myanmar Border Fencing and Bilateral Relations

The 1643-km-long border with Myanmar will be entirely ringed with an “anti-cut, anti-climb” fence in the next ten years, according to government officials and a parliamentary panel report.

The project to fence the Myanmar border was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in February 2024 and the work has gathered pace in the past three or four months, officials said.

Fencing of the Indo-Myanmar Border

• Investment: ₹31,000 crore approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March 2024.
• Progress: ₹114.09 crore spent from April 1 - December 31, 2024.
• The fence aims to deter illegal infiltration and enhance border security.
• Surveillance cameras will be placed along the fence to improve monitoring.
• The model is expected to be replicated along Pakistan and Bangladesh borders.

Infrastructure Development

• Fencing and Road Construction:
  • 1,610.2 km of fencing and maintenance for 5 years (₹20,264.4 crore).
  • 64 border roads (1,546.2 km) for Assam Rifles (₹10,767.5 crore).
• Company Operating Bases (COBs): Assam Rifles will have better connectivity to enhance border security.
• Designated border crossing points with biometric recording and QR-code-based border passes.

Opposition to the Fencing

• Naga and Kuki-Zo bodies oppose fencing, citing disruption of ethnic and familial ties.
• Free Movement Regime (FMR) has been historically important for cross-border ethnic communities.

Free Movement Regime (FMR)

What is FMR?

A mutually agreed arrangement between India and Myanmar allowing border tribes to travel up to 16 km inside either country without a visa.

Implemented in 2018 under India’s Act East policy.

Changes and Restrictions on FMR

• Initially allowed 40 km of free movement (1968), reduced to 16 km (2004).
• In February 2024, India suspended the FMR.
• New protocols (December 2024): Regulating movement within 10 km of the border.

India-Myanmar Relations: Importance and Cooperation

Geopolitical Importance

• Gateway to Southeast Asia: Myanmar connects South Asia to Southeast Asia.
• Bay of Bengal Connectivity: Shared maritime boundary fosters maritime cooperation.
• Regional Power Balancing: Strong ties with Myanmar counterbalance China’s influence.

Strategic Significance

• Neighborhood First Policy: Strengthening relations for regional stability.

Act East Policy: Myanmar is a key component in India’s outreach to ASEAN nations.

• Multilateral Engagement: Myanmar is part of SAARC, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, Mekong Ganga Cooperation

Defense Cooperation

• India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) enhances military ties.
• India provides military training and joint exercises to Myanmar’s army.

Capacity Building Measures

• Development Assistance: India extended USD 2 billion in soft loans.
• Support for higher education, agricultural research, disaster response, and technology institutions.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Aid during natural calamities (Cyclone Mora, Komen, Shan State Earthquake).

Cultural and Diaspora Connections

• Shared Buddhist heritage and colonial history.
• Indian-origin population in Myanmar: 4% of the total population.

Challenges in India-Myanmar Relations

Internal Security Concerns

• Highly porous border with insurgency and smuggling risks.
• Presence of insurgent groups in Myanmar:
• UNLF, PLA, ULFA, NSCN, Kuki-Zo groups with bases in Sagaing, Kachin, and Chin states.
• Illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling facilitated by FMR.

China’s Influence

• China is Myanmar’s largest investor and trading partner.
• India faces difficulty in countering Chinese economic and strategic influence.

Infrastructure Project Delays

• Delays in Kaladan project, Sittwe port and other initiatives affect trust and economic cooperation.

Rohingya Crisis

India wary of Rohingya influx due to security concerns and socio-political stability.

Aadhar card with Voter Id Linking

Meeting Called by CEC: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has called a meeting on March 18, 2025, with the Union Home Secretary, Legislative Secretary, and CEO of UIDAI to explore linking voter IDs with Aadhaar.

- Political Reactions: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has criticized the move as a "face-saving measure," while the Congress has previously alleged voter list manipulation during the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

 Historical Context

 2015 - NERPAP Initiative: The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) to link Aadhaar with voter IDs, successfully linking over 300 million voters in three months.

Supreme Court Intervention (2015): The Supreme Court halted NERPAP, ruling that Aadhaar's mandatory use should be limited to welfare schemes and PAN linking.

Revival Post-2018: After the Puttaswamy judgment upheld Aadhaar's constitutional validity, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, was amended in 2021 to allow voluntary linking of voter IDs with Aadhaar.

 Current Process

Voluntary Linking: Voters can voluntarily link their Aadhaar with their voter IDs using Form 6 (for new voters) or Form 6B (for existing voters). Alternative documents like PAN cards or passports can be submitted if Aadhaar is unavailable.

EC Clarification (2023): The ECI clarified that Aadhaar linking is not mandatory, and no voter will be excluded for failing to provide it. However, forms have not been updated to reflect this, causing confusion.

 Challenges:

1. Errors in Aadhaar Database: Minor inaccuracies could lead to wrongful deletion or rejection of legitimate voters.

2. Proof of Residence vs. Citizenship: Aadhaar proves residence, not citizenship, so it cannot address non-citizens on electoral rolls.

3. Privacy Risks: Linking Aadhaar with voter IDs could risk misuse of personal data, as electoral rolls are widely circulated.

4. Public Misconceptions: Voters fear linking Aadhaar might compromise vote secrecy, reducing confidence in the system.

 EPIC Duplication Issue

ECI Stance: The ECI admitted that duplicate EPIC numbers occurred due to manual errors before ERONET. However, voters with identical EPIC numbers can still vote using domicile documents, as demographic details and polling booths are unique across states.

ERONET 2.0: The ECI assured that updates to ERONET 2.0 would eliminate duplicate EPIC numbers.

US Willing To Issue Travel Restrictions Over 41 Countries.

The Trump administration is considering issuing travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters.

The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea, among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.

Trump Administration’s Three-Level Travel Restrictions

Overview: The Trump administration is finalizing a three-tiered travel restriction system targeting citizens from 41 countries.

Red List (11 Countries): Citizens from these countries, including Afghanistan and Bhutan, will be categorically barred from entering the US.

Countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen.

Orange List (10 Countries): Nationals from these countries, including Russia, Pakistan, and Myanmar, will face curbed entry but not a complete ban.

Visa Restrictions: Only certain short-term non-immigrant visas will be issued, requiring in-person interviews.

Yellow List (20 Countries): Mostly African and Caribbean nations, which will have 60 days to address vetting or security deficiencies.

Consequences: Failure to comply could move them to the orange or red lists.

Exclusions: India and China are not included in any of the three lists.

Impact on India-US Immigration Relations

Undocumented Indian Migrants:

Estimated Numbers: 725,000 undocumented Indians in the US.

Deportation Flights: Military planes are being used to deport undocumented migrants, including 205 Indians from Gujarat and Punjab.

India’s Response: India has agreed to accept deported individuals after verifying their nationality.

Legal Migration Pathways:

Visa Issuance: Over 1 million visas were issued to Indians in 2024, including record numbers of student and business visas.

H-1B Visas: 72% of H-1B visas issued in FY 2023-24 went to Indian professionals.

Trump’s Assurance: The H-1B program will continue, though reforms may be introduced.

U.S. Launches Airstrikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen Amid Escalating Maritime Attacks

March 16, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in response to ongoing attacks on commercial shipping along the Red Sea. The strikes targeted key Houthi military bases, leadership figures, and missile defenses. The Houthis have vowed retaliation, escalating tensions in the region.

Background: Who are the Houthis?

• The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), are a Shiite Muslim movement based in northern Yemen.
• They belong to the Zaidi sect, a minority among Shiites, distinct from the dominant branches in Iran and Iraq.
• Originally a tribal autonomy movement, they have fought Yemen’s Sunni-majority government since 2004.
• The Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, and currently control about one-third of Yemen’s territory.
• The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of backing the Houthis with weapons and military support, a claim Tehran denies.

The U.S. Strikes and Reactions

President Trump's Statement:

• Declared the attacks a necessary action to protect American shipping and restore navigational freedom.
• Warned of further “overwhelming lethal force” until Houthi attacks on global trade routes cease.

U.S. Defense and Security Officials:

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio: The strikes will continue until Houthis can no longer threaten global shipping.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The campaign is a warning to Iran to stop supporting Houthi forces.

National Security Advisor Michael Waltz: Multiple Houthi leaders were killed in the strikes, and Iran was put “on notice”.

What’s Next?

• Potential Retaliation: The Houthis may launch counterstrikes on U.S. assets or allied shipping.
• Diplomatic Maneuvers: Global powers, including the UN and European nations, may seek de-escalation talks.
• Further U.S. Strikes: American officials indicate no timeline for ending airstrikes until the Houthis are fully neutralized.

As tensions rise, the conflict threatens to reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics and impact global trade security. The international community watches closely as events unfold.