07 May 2025 Current Affairs

Indian Army Boosts Air Defences with New Igla-S Missiles

Just this month, May 2025, the Indian Army has taken delivery of a new consignment of Russian-made Igla-S missiles. These man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) are designed to take out low-altitude threats like helicopters, drones (UAVs), and slower aircraft, making them particularly useful in frontline and mountainous regions.

This acquisition comes under an ₹260 crore deal authorized by the Indian government using emergency procurement powers.

Igla-S Missile Assembly in India:

1. The Igla-S man-portable air defence systems are being assembled in India by Adani Defence Systems And Technologies Limited (ADSTL), located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

2. This assembly is taking place under a Technology Transfer (ToT) agreement between ADSTL and Rosoboronexport, a Russian state-owned company.

3. The Indian Army (IA) has contracted ADSTL for the assembly of:

• 48 Igla-S launchers
• 100 missiles
• Night sights
• A testing station

4. The total value of this contract is ₹260 crore.

About the Igla-S Missile:

1. It is also known by its NATO designation SA-24 'Grinch'.

2. It is an advanced version of the Igla missiles that have been used by the Indian defence system since the 1990s.

3. The Igla-S offers improved resistance to countermeasures and has enhanced seeker accuracy compared to earlier Igla versions.

4. It is a shoulder-launched Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system.

5. It uses Infrared (IR) homing to track and lock onto the heat signatures of airborne targets.

6. As a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS), it includes:

• 9M342 missile
• 9P522 launching mechanism
• 9V866-2 mobile test station
• 9F719-2 test set

7. It has a maximum engagement range of 6 kilometers.

8. It can engage targets at altitudes up to 3.5 kilometers.

9. The complete system (launcher and missile) weighs 19 kilograms, making it highly portable for rapid deployment by infantry units.

INCOIS Submarine Cable Project to Boost Indian Ocean Monitoring and Tsunami Preparedness

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), initiated the 'Submarine Cable Project' in May 2025. This project, supported by international scientific partnerships, aims to enhance the long-term monitoring of the Indian Ocean to better understand oceanographic patterns, seismic activity, and potential tsunami threats.

As part of this initiative, a 150-kilometer submarine cable will be deployed off the coast of Wandoor in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The underwater infrastructure will include two science nodes situated along the cable. These nodes will house oceanographic and geophysical sensors placed at significant depths, between 2,000 and 2,500 meters.

Key details about the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):

• Director: Dr. Balakrishnan Nair T.M
• Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana
• Establishment: 1999

India and Maldives Conduct First Joint HADR Exercise Focused on Disaster Relief

In May 2025, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda reached Maafilaafushi Atoll in the Maldives to take part in the first-ever joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise between India and the Maldives. The exercise is scheduled to take place from May 4th to 10th, 2025.

This collaborative effort underscores the growing defence and maritime partnership between the two nations and is in line with India's regional maritime strategy known as "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

The objectives of this HADR exercise include:

1. Improving how the Indian Navy (IN) and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) work together.

2. Focusing on:

• Coordinating disaster response efforts.
• Conducting Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
• Providing medical assistance.
• Managing logistical support.
• Carrying out joint drills and training sessions.
• Engaging with the community during simulated natural disaster situations.

About the MAHASAGAR Initiative:

The MAHASAGAR initiative was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2025 during his visit to Mauritius. It stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. This strategic vision builds upon the earlier 2015 SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, broadening its scope to promote stronger cooperation among countries in the Global South.

India-Maldives Defence Cooperation:

• India serves as the principal training partner for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), having provided training to over 1,500 MNDF personnel in the past ten years.  
• Since 2019, India has undertaken more than 630 medical evacuations (MEDEVACs), Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and air surveillance missions for the Maldives.  
• India also provides crucial infrastructural support to the MNDF, including the Composite Training Centre, the Coastal Radar System, and the "Ekatha" harbor (commissioned in 2023).  

Nicaragua Withdraws from UNESCO Over Press Freedom Prize

In May 2025, the government of Nicaragua announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), a UN agency based in Paris, France. UNESCO is dedicated to promoting education, science, and culture, as well as safeguarding significant cultural and natural heritage globally.

Nicaragua's decision to leave UNESCO is a direct response to the UN agency's announcement on World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd) that the exiled Nicaraguan newspaper, La Prensa, had been awarded the 2025 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

This departure is considered a significant setback for UNESCO, especially given the organization's existing strained relationship with the United States of America under President Donald Trump.

Key Points:

• Nicaragua became a member of UNESCO in 1952 and was one of its 194 member states.
• According to UNESCO's constitution, Nicaragua's 74-year membership will officially end on December 31, 2026.

About La Prensa:

• La Prensa, officially known as La Prensa- El Diario de los Nicaraguenses (The Nicaraguan People's Journal), was established in 1926 and was based in Managua, Nicaragua's capital.
• Since 2021, following the imprisonment and expulsion of its leaders and the confiscation of its assets, La Prensa has continued its operations online. The majority of its team is currently in exile, working from Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany, and the USA.

About the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize:

• Established in 1997, this award recognizes individuals or organizations that have shown outstanding dedication to defending and promoting press freedom, particularly when facing danger or difficult situations.

The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is named to commemorate Guillermo Cano Isaza, a courageous Colombian journalist who was assassinated in 1986. His assassination was a consequence of his fearless reporting and his strong public criticism of drug cartels.

About Nicaragua:

• President: José Daniel Ortega Saavedra
• Capital: Managua
• Currency: Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO)

Operation Sindoor: Indian Counterterror Operation (May 2025)

In May 2025, Indian armed forces carried out a counterterrorism operation, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor,’ involving precise strikes against nine terrorist infrastructures within Pakistan. The primary targets were facilities belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This operation marks a significant cross-border action by India, being one of the most extensive since the Balakot airstrikes of 2019.

Context:

The operation was a direct response to the persistent terrorist activities orchestrated by JeM and LeT, groups responsible for numerous attacks on Indian territory over the past two decades. The targeted locations, including Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muridke, are known to be centers of extremist operations. Pakistan has officially acknowledged that these sites were struck.

Targeted Terrorist Facilities:

• Markaz Subhan Allah (Bahawalpur, Pakistan): JeM headquarters since 2015, linked to the 2019 Pulwama attack, providing weapons, religious, and combat training, and housing JeM leaders like Masood Azhar.
• Markaz Taiba (Muridke, Pakistan): Main LeT training center since 2000, partly funded by Osama bin Laden, and responsible for training the 26/11 Mumbai attackers, including Ajmal Kasab.
• Sarjal/Tehra Kalan (Narowal, Pakistan): JeM infiltration base near the Samba sector (6 km from India), used for tunnel digging and drone-based arms and drug smuggling.
• Mehmoona Joya Facility (Sialkot, Pakistan): Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) operated from a government school, conducting weapon training and facilitating infiltration into Jammu.
• Markaz Ahle Hadith Barnala (Bhimber, PoJK): LeT base near Barnala for infiltration into Poonch-Rajouri-Reasi areas, with a capacity of 100–150 terrorists.
• Markaz Abbas (Kotli, PoJK): JeM camp led by Hafiz Abdul Shakoor (aide of Mufti Abdul Rauf), used for planning infiltrations into Jammu & Kashmir, accommodating 100–125 cadres.
• Maskar Raheel Shahid (Kotli, PoJK): One of HM’s oldest and most active camps, providing sniper, BAT, and survival training to 150–200 terrorists.
• Shawai Nallah Camp (Muzaffarabad, PoJK): LeT camp (Bait-ul-Mujahideen), offering Daura-e-Aam (religious + weapons training), supported by Pakistani Army and ISI, serving as a launch base for North Kashmir infiltrations.
• Markaz Syedna Bilal (Muzaffarabad, PoJK): JeM facility for infiltration into J&K, training 50–100 cadres with advanced combat training from Pakistan Army’s SSG commandos, also active location of Indian fugitive Aashiq Nengroo.

Weapons Employed:

• SCALP Missile (Storm Shadow): Long-range (250+ km), air-launched cruise missile for deep and precise strikes.
• HAMMER Bombs (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range): Used against hardened targets like bunkers and tall buildings, with a range of 50–70 km depending on launch altitude.
• Loitering Munitions (Kamikaze Drones): Utilized for surveillance, target identification, and final attacks, capable of hovering and striking upon target acquisition.

Nature of the Operation:

The strikes were characterized as high-precision missile attacks, specifically targeting terrorist infrastructure while avoiding Pakistani military installations. India's objective was to hold accountable those responsible for anti-India terrorist activities.

Diplomatic Precedents:

Prior to the military action, India engaged in diplomatic efforts, including issuing a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for large-scale military drills along the border, presented as routine exercises.