July 21st Current Affairs
UPSC Current Affairs – August 02nd
August 02nd Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents Counter‑terror operations in Jammu & Kashmir Context On August 2, 2025, security forces in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kulgam district launched Operation Akhal, a joint cordon-and-search mission by Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, J&K Police, and CRPF in the Akhal forest, based on specific intelligence.
UPSC Current Affairs – August 01st
August 01st Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents SC Deadline to Telangana Speaker on BRS MLAs’ Disqualification Context The Supreme Court on July 31, 2025, directed the Telangana Assembly Speaker to decide within 3 months on the disqualification petitions against BRS MLAs who defected to the Congress. The Court
UPSC Current Affairs – July 31st
July 31st Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents Missing Women and Girls in Madhya Pradesh Context Recent revelations in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha have sparked concern over the disappearance of over 23,000 women and girls in the state, missing for more than a month and up to 1.5
UPSC Current Affairs – July 30th
July 30th Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents Australia Bans YouTube for Under-16s Context Australia has announced a comprehensive ban on YouTube for users under 16, extending existing restrictions on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. The law will take effect from December 2025, imposing steep fines
UPSC Current Affairs – July 29th
July 29th Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents Monsoon’s Strong Performance Uplifts Kharif Prospects Context As of July 28, 2025, India has recorded an all-India rainfall of 440.1 mm since June 1—8% above normal. While most regions enjoyed normal to above-normal rainfall, eastern and northeastern India faced significant deficiencies,
UPSC Current Affairs – July 28th
July 28th Current Affairs Home / Table of Contents The Indian Textile Sector under Make in India Context India’s textile and apparel sector is undergoing a significant transformation under the Make in India initiative. With growing exports, robust policy support, and infrastructure development such as PM MITRA Parks, India is
Operation Sindoor
Why in News?
Parliament’s Monsoon Session, starting July 21, 2025, is expected to feature intense discussion on Operation Sindoor, a May 7–10 military operation by India across the border into Pakistan–administered territories. The government, led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, invited all-party reflections to be shared in Parliament highlighting its significance.
Context
- Trigger event: On April 22, a terror attack at Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, which India attributed to Pakistan-based terrorist groups.
- Operation execution: Beginning the night of May 7, India launched a coordinated tri-service strike—air, missile, and drones—against nine terror-related targets across Pakistan and Line of Control (LoC) areas.
Scale and precision: The operation lasted ~23 minutes and reportedly neutralized 100+ terrorists, with no damage reported inside Indian territory.
Past Military Responses
- India’s previous strike, Operation Balakot (2019), targeted terror camps after the Pulwama attack. Like Balakot, Sindoor was portrayed as calibrated and coercive—military punishment with restraint, carefully avoiding escalation.
Pros
- Strong deterrent signal: A precise, swift response signaled India’s willingness to act decisively against terrorism.
- Technological maturation: Effective use of BrahMos missiles, loitering munitions, IAF jets, and indigenous systems demonstrates enhanced defence autonomy.
- Domestic morale boost: operation’s success, enhancing public morale and national unity.
- Low escalation: Avoidance of full-scale conflict in a nuclear-armed region illustrates disciplined crisis management.
Cons
- Risk of escalation: Pakistan claimed civilian casualties and retaliated with drone and artillery strikes, increasing the danger of tit-for-tat conflict.
- Misinformation surge: During and after Sindoor, both nations saw a wave of misleading and unverified reports, feeding public confusion.
- Short-term fix, long-term neglect? Security analysts argue military strikes must be accompanied by deeper policy shifts—like defence acquisition reform and strategic clarity—to avoid temporary gains.
Global Response
- Deterrence doctrine: Sindoor signals that India may absorb terrorist provocations and respond militarily with minimal escalation—a shift from anticipation to reaction capability.
- Arms modernization readiness: The operation showcased a reliance on homegrown systems and integration of drone technology.
- Civil-military coordination spotlight: Smooth execution highlights maturing inter-services synergy, though communication during crises needs improvement.
- Politics and symbolism: Naming and messaging link to cultural-patriotic themes, influencing parliamentary debate.
Implications
- Deterrence doctrine: Sindoor signals that India may absorb terrorist provocations and respond militarily with minimal escalation—a shift from anticipation to reaction capability.
- Arms modernization readiness: The operation showcased a reliance on homegrown systems and integration of drone technology.
- Civil-military coordination spotlight: Smooth execution highlights maturing inter-services synergy, though communication during crises needs improvement.
- Politics and symbolism: Naming and messaging link to cultural-patriotic themes, influencing parliamentary debate.
Way Forward
- Strategic review: Parliament must use this session to task a Joint Parliamentary Committee (like Kargil Review) to examine the operation’s planning, execution, communication, and strategic consequences.
- Policy reforms: Push for modernization of defence procurement, theater command footing, cyber-warfare readiness, and paramilitary oversight.
- Public communication safeguards: Establish rapid counter-disinformation mechanisms against fake news, elevating fact-checking processes.
- Diplomatic channels: Sustain crisis dialogue with Pakistan alongside pressure on terrorist networks and global consensus on terrorism non-proliferation.
Prelims MCQ
Q1. With reference to Operation Sindoor (2025), consider the following statements:
- It was a multi-service military operation involving air, naval, and ground forces.
- The operation minimally used the Akash teer in response to a terror attack in Punjab.
- It involved the use of indigenous precision-guided weapons, including the BrahMos missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A. 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
- Statement 1 – Correct. Operation Sindoor was coordinated by the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Army—a tri-service military action.
- Statement 2 – Incorrect. The operation was in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, not Punjab.
- Statement 3 – Correct. Indigenous systems like the BrahMos missile and loitering munitions were deployed in the operation.
Mains Question
Q. Does “Operation Sindoor marks a shift in India’s cross-border counter-terrorism doctrine by demonstrating precision, multi-domain coordination, and calibrated escalation control.”. Analyse (10 marks)
