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September 2nd Current Affairs

Home / UPSC / Current affairs / UPSC Current Affairs – September 2nd

Table of Contents

Supreme Court quashes FIRs against Gen Z NEET-UG protesters

What is the news?

The Supreme Court has ordered the closure/quashing of FIRs registered against student protesters who participated in protests related to the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak controversy.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to provide relief to young protesters. The Court said that the decision was taken keeping in mind the future prospects of students who had participated bona fide in the protests.

The order applies pan-India to FIRs relating to protests held between July 20 and July 25, 2026. States and Union Territories have also been directed not to register fresh FIRs concerning those incidents.

What exactly did the Supreme Court decide?

The Court directed that:

  • FIRs relating to the specified student protests should not be investigated or pursued.
  • Such FIRs would be treated as closed for all purposes.
  • The protection extends across States and Union Territories.
  • No fresh FIR should be registered for the specified protest incidents.
  • However, the Court permitted action against persons with serious criminal antecedents; in particular, Delhi Police can proceed against 2,873 individuals identified in connection with the Jantar Mantar protest.

Important distinction

The Court did not mean that every form of violence during a protest is protected.

The basic principle is:

Peaceful protest ≠ criminal activity.

Persons involved in serious violence or grave criminal offences can still face prosecution.

Article 142

Article 142: Power of the Supreme Court to do “complete justice”

Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for doing complete justice in a matter before it.

Key features:

  • It is an extraordinary constitutional power.
  • It allows the Supreme Court to provide remedies where ordinary legal provisions may not be sufficient.
  • It can be exercised to ensure complete justice.
  • It is particularly significant in cases involving unusual or exceptional circumstances.

In this case, the Court used Article 142 to bring closure to the FIRs and prevent criminal cases from adversely affecting the future of young protesters.

Fundamental Rights involved

The issue is closely connected with Article 19 of the Constitution.

Article 19(1)(a)

Guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

Article 19(1)(b)

Guarantees the right to assemble peaceably and without arms.

Therefore, peaceful demonstrations are an important component of democratic participation.

But these rights are NOT absolute

The State can impose reasonable restrictions in the interests of:

  • Sovereignty and integrity of India
  • Security of the State
  • Public order
  • Decency or morality
  • Other grounds specified under Article 19

Why did the protests happen?

The protests were connected with the NEET-UG 2026 question-paper leak controversy.

Students raised concerns regarding:

  • Examination integrity
  • Paper leaks
  • Fairness in competitive examinations
  • Accountability of examination authorities
  • Impact of irregularities on genuine candidates

The protests subsequently resulted in clashes and criminal cases being registered against some participants.

Compensation for affected families

Another important aspect of the development is compensation.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court that a pan-India policy framework would be formulated for compensation to families of students who died by suicide following the NEET-UG 2026 paper-leak controversy.

The compensation framework is expected to be formulated within three months.

Governance significance

This raises questions about:

Accountability → Examination reforms → Student welfare → State responsibility

India and Strategic Autonomy

India participates simultaneously in several international groupings.

Grouping

Broad Importance for India

SCO

Eurasia and Central Asia

BRICS

Global South and economic cooperation

QUAD

Indo-Pacific cooperation

G20

Global economic governance

This reflects India’s foreign-policy approach of:

Strategic Autonomy and Multi-Alignment

India does not want to become dependent on a single geopolitical bloc. Instead, it engages with different countries and organisations based on its national interests.

India’s earlier SCO initiatives have also focused on areas such as startups, innovation, traditional medicine, digital inclusion, youth and cultural cooperation.

Why is this important for UPSC?

Constitutional morality

The case demonstrates the role of constitutional institutions in protecting citizens’ rights while maintaining public order.

Criminalisation of dissent

A major democratic concern is whether participation in legitimate protests should result in criminal cases that could affect:

  • Education
  • Employment
  • Competitive examinations
  • Social reputation
  • Future career prospects

The Court specifically considered the future of young protesters.

Balance between liberty and public order

The government has a duty to maintain law and order, but restrictions on protest must remain constitutionally justified.

Democracy requires a balance between:

Individual liberty ↔ Public order ↔ State authority

Important constitutional provisions

Provision

Relevance

Article 14

Equality before law

Article 19(1)(a)

Freedom of speech and expression

Article 19(1)(b)

Right to peaceful assembly

Article 21

Protection of life and personal liberty

Article 32

Right to approach Supreme Court for Fundamental Rights

Article 142

Supreme Court’s power to ensure complete justice

What is an FIR?

FIR = First Information Report

It is the information recorded by the police relating to the commission of a cognizable offence.

Important distinction:

Quashing an FIR ≠ acquittal after trial

Quashing/closure prevents the criminal investigation/proceeding covered by the Court’s order from continuing.

Broader issue: Right to protest in India

Supreme Court’s general approach

The Constitution protects peaceful assembly, but protests cannot:

  • Become violent
  • Cause destruction of public/private property
  • Threaten public safety
  • Indefinitely obstruct public spaces
  • Incite violence

At the same time, the State should not use criminal law disproportionately against peaceful dissent.

This creates a crucial democratic balance:

“Right to dissent + Responsibility to maintain public order.”



E-Waste: India’s Growing Electronic Waste Challenge

Why in News?

India’s rapid digitalisation, rising consumption of electronic devices and shorter replacement cycles are creating a rapidly growing e-waste problem.

Recent reporting highlights that India generated more than 1.4 million tonnes of e-waste in 2025–26, while about 979,000 tonnes were recycled. India is currently among the world’s largest generators of electronic waste.

What is E-Waste?

Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment and their components.

Examples:

  • Mobile phones
  • Computers and laptops
  • Televisions
  • Refrigerators
  • Air conditioners
  • Printers
  • Batteries and chargers
  • Circuit boards
  • Electronic medical equipment
  • Cables and wires

Why is it different from ordinary waste?

E-waste contains valuable materials as well as hazardous substances.

Valuable:
Gold, silver, copper, aluminium, palladium etc.

Hazardous:
Lead, mercury, cadmium and other toxic substances.

Improper recycling can therefore create both an economic opportunity and a serious environmental and health hazard.

Why is India's e-waste increasing?

Major factors

  1. Digitalisation
  • Rapid expansion of smartphones, computers and other electronic devices.
  1. Short product life cycles
  • Consumers replace devices more frequently.
  1. Falling electronic prices
  • Greater affordability → higher consumption → greater waste.
  1. Rapid technological change
  • Older devices become obsolete quickly.
  1. Lack of repair culture
  • Repairing and refurbishing are often less attractive than purchasing new products.
  1. Informal recycling
  • A large amount of e-waste is handled outside the formal recycling system.

India’s increasing e-waste generation is closely linked with its expanding digital economy.

Major environmental impacts

Soil pollution

Improper dumping allows toxic metals and chemicals to contaminate soil.

Water pollution

Heavy metals can leach into groundwater and surface water.

🌫️ Air pollution

Informal recycling methods such as open burning of wires and plastics release toxic fumes.

Climate impact

Manufacturing new electronic products requires considerable amounts of:

  • Energy
  • Metals
  • Water
  • Raw materials

Therefore, recycling and reuse can reduce pressure on natural resources.

Health impacts

Improper e-waste recycling can expose workers and nearby communities to:

  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Cadmium
  • Toxic dust
  • Harmful fumes
  • Persistent organic pollutants

The World Health Organization has highlighted risks associated with informal e-waste recycling, particularly for children and pregnant women. Exposure can affect neurological development, respiratory health and other bodily systems.

Particularly vulnerable group

Informal-sector workers

They may dismantle electronics manually without:

  • Gloves
  • Masks
  • Ventilation
  • Protective clothing
  • Proper waste-treatment facilities

Recent reporting from Delhi’s informal recycling hubs illustrates these occupational-health risks.

The Informal Sector

This is an important GS-III + GS-II dimension.

India has a large network of:

Waste pickers → Scrap dealers → Aggregators → Informal dismantlers → Metal recovery

The informal sector provides livelihoods and recovers valuable materials, but often operates without adequate environmental and occupational safeguards.

The policy dilemma

Completely eliminate informal recyclers?

or

Integrate and formalise them?

A better approach is to bring informal workers into the formal recycling ecosystem, provide training and PPE, and allow them to participate in collection and aggregation while hazardous dismantling/recovery is conducted in authorised facilities.

India's E-Waste Management Rules

E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022

India replaced the earlier 2016 framework with the E-Waste Management Rules, 2022.

A very important concept under these rules is:

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

What does EPR mean?

The producer is made responsible for the environmental management of a product throughout its life cycle, including its end-of-life stage.

In simple words:

“The producer who puts an electronic product into the market must also take responsibility for its waste.”

EPR mechanism

The system encourages producers to ensure that their e-waste reaches registered recyclers.

Broad chain:

Producer → Consumer → Collection → Recycler → Recovery of materials

The objective is to shift from a:

Linear economy

Take → Make → Use → Throw

to a:

Circular economy

Reduce → Repair → Reuse → Refurbish → Recycle → Recover

Major challenges in India's e-waste management

Challenge

Explanation

Informal recycling

Workers often lack safety equipment

Low collection efficiency

Consumers don’t always return discarded electronics

Weak segregation

E-waste gets mixed with ordinary waste

Consumer awareness

Limited awareness about authorised recycling

Enforcement gaps

Rules may not be effectively implemented

Rapid technological change

Devices become obsolete quickly

Complex supply chains

Difficult to track discarded products

Occupational hazards

Informal workers face toxic exposure

Global dimension – Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is relevant to e-waste because hazardous electronic waste can be transported across international borders.

UPSC point

The Convention seeks to:

  • Control transboundary movement of hazardous wastes
  • Reduce hazardous waste generation
  • Ensure environmentally sound management
  • Prevent dumping of hazardous waste in developing countries



Government policy approach – What should India do?

  1. Strengthen EPR

Ensure producers actually meet their recycling obligations.

  1. Formalise the informal sector

Integrate waste pickers and informal collectors into authorised collection networks.

  1. Promote Right to Repair

Longer product life = less e-waste.

  1. Encourage refurbishment

Used electronics should be refurbished rather than immediately discarded.

  1. Improve collection centres

Make authorised collection convenient for consumers.

  1. Strengthen enforcement

Prevent illegal dumping and unauthorised recycling.

  1. Promote consumer awareness

Encourage citizens to return old electronics through authorised channels.

  1. Develop domestic recycling technology

Reduce dependence on raw-material extraction and improve recovery of critical minerals.

Russia–Ukraine War: India reiterates its call for an end to the conflict

What is the news?

The Russia–Ukraine conflict remains in focus as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, urged Russia to move from an “endless war” towards an “end of war.” India reiterated that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

At the same time, fighting has intensified. Russia has carried out another major wave of drone and missile attacks on Kyiv, while Ukraine has continued strikes against Russian energy and logistics infrastructure.

What is the present situation?

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russian forces are making battlefield gains and that Moscow controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Putin has also said Russia is willing to negotiate, but his comments indicate that Moscow’s position remains hard-line regarding negotiations with the current Ukrainian leadership.

Ukraine

Ukraine continues to resist Russian advances and has increasingly used drones against Russian military, oil and logistics infrastructure.

Russia, meanwhile, has intensified aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

India’s position

India has consistently advocated:

Dialogue + Diplomacy + Respect for sovereignty

PM Modi has repeatedly emphasised that lasting peace cannot be achieved through war alone.

During the latest meeting with Putin, India called for an end to the prolonged conflict and indicated its willingness to support peace efforts.

India’s approach can be summarised as:

Strategic autonomy

⬇️

Maintain relations with Russia

⬇️

Maintain relations with the West

⬇️

Avoid taking sides militarily

⬇️

Promote dialogue and diplomacy

Why is Russia important for India?

Russia remains an important Indian partner in several strategic areas.

Defence

Russia has historically been one of India’s major defence suppliers.

Areas include:

  • Fighter aircraft
  • Missiles
  • Submarines
  • Tanks
  • Air-defence systems
  • Nuclear-powered submarine cooperation

Energy

Russia has become an important source of crude oil for India, particularly after Western sanctions disrupted traditional Russian energy markets.

India’s purchase of Russian oil has helped meet its energy requirements while also creating diplomatic tensions with some Western countries.

Nuclear energy

Russia is an important partner in India’s civil nuclear energy programme, including cooperation associated with the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

Multilateral cooperation

India and Russia cooperate through platforms such as:

  • SCO
  • BRICS
  • G20
  • UN

Why does Ukraine matter to India?

Although India does not have a military alliance with Ukraine, the conflict has several consequences for India.

Food security

Russia and Ukraine are major global suppliers of:

  • Wheat
  • Corn
  • Sunflower oil
  • Other agricultural commodities

The conflict has disrupted global food supply chains.

Energy security

The war and subsequent sanctions have affected global energy prices.

Inflation

Higher prices of:

  • Crude oil
  • Fertilisers
  • Food commodities
  • Shipping

can contribute to inflationary pressures in India.

Supply-chain disruptions

The conflict has affected shipping routes, insurance costs and global trade.

Russia–Ukraine war and India’s strategic autonomy

India has refused to completely align itself with either:

Russia

or

Western bloc

Instead, India has maintained dialogue with both sides.

Example:

India has maintained close strategic relations with Russia while simultaneously strengthening partnerships with:

  • USA
  • European Union
  • France
  • Japan
  • Australia

This is an example of multi-alignment rather than traditional bloc politics.

Why has peace remained difficult?

Several issues make negotiations complicated.

  1. Territorial disputes

Major areas of contention include:

  • Donetsk
  • Luhansk
  • Zaporizhzhia
  • Kherson
  • Crimea
  1. Security concerns

Russia seeks security guarantees concerning NATO and Ukraine’s future alignment.

  1. NATO issue

Ukraine’s relationship with NATO remains one of the major geopolitical dimensions of the conflict.

  1. Sanctions

Western sanctions against Russia have become a major component of the economic confrontation.

  1. Mutual distrust

Years of military confrontation have made compromise difficult.

Impact on India's interests

Area

Impact on India

Energy

Russian oil provides diversification

Defence

Disruptions in Russian supply chains can affect maintenance

Food

Global grain and fertiliser prices affected

Inflation

Higher commodity prices can increase inflation

Diplomacy

India must balance Russia and the West

Strategic autonomy

Tests India’s independent foreign policy

Indian diaspora

Safety of Indian nationals in conflict zones

Global order

Raises questions about sovereignty and territorial integrity

Challenges for India

Russia–China proximity

The closer Russia becomes to China, the more complicated India’s strategic environment becomes.

Defence diversification

The conflict has highlighted the need for India to diversify defence procurement and strengthen indigenous defence production.

Western pressure

India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and defence cooperation sometimes creates friction with Western partners.

Balancing act

India must simultaneously maintain:

Russia partnership + Western strategic partnerships + Global South leadership

Way Forward for India

India should:

  1. Continue strategic autonomy

Avoid unnecessary bloc politics.

  1. Promote dialogue

Support diplomatic efforts for a negotiated settlement.

  1. Diversify defence supplies

Reduce excessive dependence on any single country.

  1. Strengthen domestic defence manufacturing

Use Atmanirbhar Bharat to develop indigenous capabilities.

  1. Protect energy security

Maintain diversified sources of crude oil and gas.

  1. Strengthen multilateral institutions

Use the UN, SCO, BRICS and other platforms to promote dialogue.

EVM Vote Secrecy: Supreme Court asks Centre to examine ‘Totaliser’ machines

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has asked the Union Government to examine the possibility of introducing ‘totaliser’ machines for counting votes recorded through EVMs.

The objective is to strengthen secrecy of voting by preventing political parties or candidates from identifying the voting pattern of a particular polling booth.

What is a Totaliser?

A totaliser is a device that can combine the votes recorded in EVMs from multiple polling stations before the final counting.

Present system

Votes are generally counted polling-station-wise.

For example:

Booth A → Candidate X: 450 votes
Booth B → Candidate X: 50 votes

This can reveal how a particular locality or booth voted.

With a Totaliser

Votes from multiple polling stations can be aggregated:

Booth A + B + C + D + … → Combined result

Therefore, the exact voting pattern of an individual booth becomes difficult to determine.

Why is vote secrecy important?

Secret ballot is a fundamental feature of free and fair elections.

A voter should be able to vote according to their choice without fear of retaliation.

If political actors can determine that a particular locality overwhelmingly voted against them, there could theoretically be risks of:

  • Political intimidation
  • Social pressure
  • Discrimination
  • Victimisation
  • Targeting of particular communities/localities

The Supreme Court’s latest concern is therefore not simply about EVM security, but also about protecting voter anonymity.

EVM ≠ Totaliser ≠ VVPAT

System

Main purpose

EVM

Records votes electronically

VVPAT

Provides a paper trail that allows the voter to verify their vote

Totaliser

Aggregates votes from multiple polling stations to protect booth-level voting secrecy

Remember:

EVM → Recording

VVPAT → Verification/Audit

Totaliser → Aggregation & Secrecy

What is VVPAT?

VVPAT = Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail

After a voter presses the button on an EVM, VVPAT generates a paper slip showing the candidate’s name and symbol.

The voter can see the slip briefly through a transparent window before it drops into a sealed compartment.

Purpose:

  • Increases voter confidence
  • Provides an audit trail
  • Helps verify electronic results
  • Strengthens electoral transparency

Why did the Supreme Court raise the Totaliser issue?

The Court’s concern is that booth-wise counting can potentially reveal voting patterns at individual polling stations.

The proposed totaliser would combine the results of multiple polling stations, making it difficult to identify the voting behaviour of a particular booth.

Core principle:

Electoral transparency must be balanced with voter secrecy.

Totaliser – Historical context

The idea of using a totaliser in India is not new.

The Election Commission has previously considered the use of totalisers to aggregate votes from multiple polling stations.

A commonly discussed model involves aggregating votes from around 14 polling stations before producing the candidate-wise result.

The issue has involved a debate between:

Transparency

Knowing booth-wise results can help analyse electoral behaviour.

vs.

Secrecy

Aggregated results can prevent identification of individual booth voting patterns.

Constitutional connection

Article 324

The Election Commission of India (ECI) derives its constitutional authority primarily from Article 324.

It provides for the superintendence, direction and control of elections to:

  • Parliament
  • State Legislatures
  • President
  • Vice-President

Electoral reforms must therefore focus on:

Free + Fair + Transparent + Secret elections

Important Fundamental Rights

The issue also connects with Article 19 and Article 21.

Article 19

Protects freedoms necessary for democratic participation.

Article 21

Protection of life and personal liberty.

The broader constitutional principle is that citizens should be able to participate in elections without fear, coercion or intimidation.

EVMs in India

Indian EVMs are stand-alone machines and are not connected to the internet.

They are designed and manufactured by India’s public-sector companies:

  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
  • Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)

EVMs were introduced gradually in Indian elections, with early use in the 1982 Kerala Assembly by-election.

EVM vs Ballot Paper

EVM

Paper Ballot

Faster counting

Relatively slower

Reduces invalid votes

Higher possibility of invalid marking

Requires electronic equipment

Simple paper-based system

VVPAT provides audit trail

Physical ballot itself is the record

Less paper consumption

Large quantity of paper required

But EVMs also require:

  • Strong security protocols
  • Proper storage
  • Transparent randomisation
  • Mock polls
  • VVPAT verification
  • Chain-of-custody safeguards



Why is this important for electoral reforms?

The debate surrounding EVMs is broader than simply:

“EVM vs Ballot Paper.”

A modern electoral system must ensure:

  1. Accuracy

Votes must be correctly recorded.

  1. Transparency

The process must be verifiable.

  1. Secrecy

A voter’s choice must remain confidential.

  1. Security

Machines and election materials must be protected.

  1. Public confidence

Citizens must trust the electoral process.

The proposed totaliser specifically addresses the third issue – secrecy.

Significance for Indian democracy

Protects voter anonymity

A voter should not fear consequences based on how their polling booth voted.

Strengthens free and fair elections

Free choice requires freedom from intimidation.

Improves electoral credibility

Measures that strengthen voter secrecy can increase public confidence in elections.

Balances transparency and privacy

Election results need to be transparent, but individual voter preferences must remain secret.

Exercise Super Garuda Shield 2026: India joins a major Indo-Pacific multinational military exercise

Why in News?

Super Garuda Shield 2026 (SGS-26) has begun in Indonesia. The exercise is being conducted from August 31 to September 11, 2026, involving 4,743 personnel from 21 countries. It is hosted by the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and co-led with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. India is among the participating countries.

The exercise is important for India because it strengthens defence cooperation with Indonesia, interoperability with partner countries, and India’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

What is Super Garuda Shield?

Super Garuda Shield is a multinational military exercise led by Indonesia and the United States.

It began as Garuda Shield in 2007 as a bilateral Indonesia–U.S. exercise. It expanded into a broader multinational exercise in 2022, when the name “Super Garuda Shield” was adopted.

Main objectives

  • Improve interoperability between participating armed forces
  • Enhance military readiness
  • Strengthen defence diplomacy
  • Improve coordination in joint operations
  • Develop responses to regional security challenges
  • Enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief capabilities

Who is participating?

The 2026 edition involves 21 countries and 4,743 personnel. Participants include:

Indonesia
United States
India
Japan
Australia

South Korea
Singapore
France
Germany
United Kingdom
Canada
Netherlands

New Zealand
Italy
Brazil
Brunei
Cambodia
Laos
Thailand
Timor-Leste
and others.

Where is it being conducted?

The exercise is being held at multiple locations across Indonesia.

This is significant because Indonesia’s geography consists of a vast archipelago, making maritime, amphibious and jungle warfare capabilities particularly relevant.

What military activities are involved?

Super Garuda Shield has evolved from a conventional army exercise into a multidomain military exercise.

Activities include:

Land operations

  • Joint field training
  • Combined-arms operations
  • Jungle warfare
  • Tactical manoeuvres

Maritime operations

  • Amphibious operations
  • Maritime security exercises

Airborne operations

  • Air assault
  • Tactical airborne operations

Live-fire exercises

Participants practise coordinated combat operations using live ammunition and weapon systems.

Cyber domain

The exercise also incorporates cyber-defence scenarios and coordination.

HADR

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is another important component, particularly relevant to disaster-prone Indo-Pacific countries.

Why is India's participation important?

  1. Strengthens India–Indonesia defence relations

India and Indonesia share important maritime interests in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian region.

Greater military cooperation can improve:

  • Maritime security
  • Defence interoperability
  • Information sharing
  • Disaster response
  • Counter-terrorism cooperation
  1. India’s Indo-Pacific strategy

India considers the Indo-Pacific an important strategic and economic region.

The region contains:

  • Major sea lanes
  • Important ports
  • Critical trade routes
  • Strategic chokepoints
  • Major economic centres

Participation in multinational exercises strengthens India’s presence and partnerships in the region.

  1. Maritime security

Indonesia is strategically located near important maritime routes, including the:

  • Malacca Strait
  • Sunda Strait
  • Lombok Strait

These routes are important for international commerce and energy transportation.

Therefore, cooperation with Indonesia has direct relevance to India’s maritime security and Act East policy.

What does "interoperability" mean?

Interoperability

The ability of armed forces from different countries to operate together effectively.

It requires compatibility in:

  • Communication systems
  • Command structures
  • Military procedures
  • Logistics
  • Tactical operations
  • Information sharing

Example:

If Indian and Indonesian forces have to conduct a joint humanitarian-relief operation, their communication and operational procedures should be compatible.

Link with India’s Act East Policy

India’s participation reflects its broader engagement with Southeast Asia.

Act East Policy focuses on:

India → ASEAN → Indo-Pacific

It seeks stronger:

  • Economic relations
  • Connectivity
  • Cultural ties
  • Strategic cooperation
  • Defence partnerships

Indonesia is particularly important because it is a major ASEAN member and a strategically located maritime country.

Link with India’s Indo-Pacific vision

India’s Indo-Pacific approach emphasises:

Free, Open, Inclusive and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific

India’s participation in exercises such as Super Garuda Shield helps build practical defence cooperation without requiring a formal military alliance.

This is consistent with India’s preference for strategic autonomy and issue-based partnerships.

India's other important military exercises

Exercise

Countries/region

Super Garuda Shield

India participates; Indonesia–US led

Malabar

India, USA, Japan, Australia

Varuna

India–France

Konkan

India–UK

AUSINDEX

India–Australia

JIMEX

India–Japan

Samudra Shakti

India–Indonesia

Dharma Guardian

India–Japan

Maitree

India–Thailand

Remember

Super Garuda Shield → Indonesia + USA led, multinational

Samudra Shakti → India + Indonesia

Strategic significance

Defence diplomacy

Military exercises are increasingly becoming instruments of defence diplomacy.

They help countries build trust without forming formal alliances.

Collective readiness

Countries learn to coordinate during:

  • Armed conflicts
  • Natural disasters
  • Maritime emergencies
  • Humanitarian crises

Indo-Pacific partnerships

The participation of countries from the Indo-Pacific and beyond demonstrates the increasing importance of multilateral security cooperation.

Indonesia’s strategic autonomy

Indonesia maintains defence relationships with several major powers. Its cooperation with the U.S. does not necessarily imply alignment against any particular country.

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