The Indian Navy’s INS Imphal recently participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101). This exercise highlights the growing strategic and operational cooperation between India and the United States, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where both nations focus on enhancing maritime security.
INS Imphal is an indigenously built stealth guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. It is a part of the Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, built under the Project P-15B series, with three other destroyers in this class: INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, and INS Surat.
Commissioned: December 2023.
Designed: The ship was designed in-house by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
Constructed by: Mazagon Dock Ltd. (MDL).
Name: It is the first warship named after Imphal, the capital city of Manipur in the Northeast of India.
Significance: This warship was notable as the first naval ship commissioned with accommodation for women officers and sailors.
Role: The ship is a key part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, and its primary missions include:
Anti-Air Warfare (AAW)
Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
INS Imphal is among the largest destroyers ever constructed in India, boasting several modern features:
Length: 164 meters.
Displacement: Over 7,500 tonnes.
Crew Complement: 50 officers and 250 enlisted personnel.
Propulsion: The ship is powered by four Gas Turbines in a Combined Gas & Gas configuration, allowing the ship to achieve speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h).
Endurance: Maximum operating endurance of 45 days without replenishment.
BrahMos Missiles: A supersonic cruise missile, capable of targeting both surface ships and land targets.
Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM): For defense against aerial threats.
Indigenous Anti-Submarine Rocket Launchers: For protection against submarine threats.
76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount: For close-range defense and fire support.
Advanced Radar Systems: These provide target data to the ship’s gunnery weapon systems.
Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS): This system provides protection against chemical, biological, and nuclear threats, ensuring the safety of the crew in high-risk environments.
INS Imphal is part of India’s broader naval modernization effort and represents the country’s growing capabilities in advanced naval warfare. With its focus on stealth, advanced weaponry, and sophisticated radar systems, INS Imphal is set to play a pivotal role in securing India's maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Recently, Goa’s State Board for Wildlife recommended that the proposal for wildlife clearance for iron ore handling at Kalem railway station within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park be placed before the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for further consideration.
Location: Situated on the eastern border of Goa, near the village of Mollem.
Area: The sanctuary spans over 240 sq. km, with the Mollem National Park forming the core of the sanctuary, covering 170 sq. km.
Initially called the Mollem Game Sanctuary, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and was later renamed Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
The sanctuary is home to diverse vegetation types:
West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests
West Coast Semi-Evergreen Forests
Moist Deciduous Forests
Key tree species found here include Teak, Bamboo, Cashew, and Eucalyptus.
Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is known for its rich wildlife diversity, including:
Leopards
Elephants
Deers
Indian Bison (Gaur)
The sanctuary is also home to the King Cobra, a notable species found in abundance here.
Birdlife: The sanctuary boasts over 200 bird species, including:
Malabar Pied Hornbill
Indian Black Woodpecker
Great Indian Hornbill
Kingfishers
Paradise Flycatcher
Grey Jungle Fowl
Shrikes
Dudhsagar Waterfall: One of the most iconic and scenic waterfalls in India.
Devil’s Canyon: A picturesque gorge in the region.
Tambdi Surla Temple: An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tambdi Falls: Another natural attraction in the sanctuary.
Recently, the central government of India invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore in connection with the death of a singer. This step reflects the increasing use of international legal cooperation in criminal investigations and ensuring justice across borders.
A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty is an agreement between countries to cooperate in criminal matters, including the prevention, suppression, investigation, and prosecution of crimes. The aim is to facilitate cross-border cooperation to ensure that criminals do not evade justice due to lack of evidence or formal assistance between countries.
Cross-border Legal Cooperation: MLATs enable countries to request or provide assistance in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Prevention and Suppression of Crime: They facilitate the international exchange of information, evidence, and other forms of cooperation to prevent and suppress criminal activities.
MLATs are crucial because they allow countries to share information, witnesses, documents, and even assist in enforcing foreign judgments without violating each country’s sovereignty.
India participates in international cooperation through MLATs in criminal matters via:
Bilateral Treaties/Agreements: Direct agreements between two countries.
Multilateral Treaties/Agreements: Agreements involving multiple nations.
International Conventions: Larger, globally recognized agreements.
Reciprocity: On the basis of mutual trust where each country agrees to offer similar assistance.
India has entered into MLATs with over 45 countries, which helps the nation collaborate in investigations, provide evidence, and ensure accountability for crimes that cross borders.
India may seek or provide assistance in the following ways under MLATs:
Identifying and locating persons or objects relevant to an investigation.
Taking evidence and obtaining statements from witnesses, suspects, or other relevant parties.
Service of judicial documents, such as summons or notices.
Executing searches and seizures to gather evidence.
Confiscating proceeds of crime, including assets derived from illegal activities, and freezing or attaching these proceeds.
Transferring prisoners to assist in criminal investigations or trials.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for handling and coordinating all matters related to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties in India.
The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty system plays an essential role in tackling international crime, ensuring criminals cannot escape justice due to the limitations of national legal systems. India's continued use of MLATs demonstrates its commitment to global justice and cooperation with international legal frameworks to uphold law and order
Recently, a tragic boat accident on the Niger River in north-central Nigeria resulted in the loss of at least 26 lives. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by communities relying on water transport, particularly in regions where boats are a primary mode of travel.
The Niger River is a crucial waterway in West Africa, and it holds significant geographical, cultural, and economic importance.
Length: At 4,200 km, it is the third-longest river in Africa, following the Nile and Congo rivers.
Nickname: Often referred to as the “Boomerang River” due to its distinctive, serpentine shape.
Importance: The Niger River is the longest and largest river in West Africa and serves as a vital resource for millions of people living along its course.
Source: The river rises in Guinea, just 240 km from the Atlantic Ocean, but surprisingly flows away from the sea into the Sahara Desert.
Path: It takes a sharp turn near Mali’s Timbuktu and then flows through Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria, ultimately emptying into the Atlantic Ocean via the Niger Delta.
Basin: The river's basin covers about 7.5% of the African continent, supporting vast ecosystems and communities.
Located in southern Nigeria, the Niger Delta is where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea). It is the largest river delta in Africa and home to the fifth-largest mangrove forest in the world.
Ecology: The Niger River passes through nearly all of the vegetational zones of West Africa, from grasslands to rainforests and swamps, making it an essential resource for biodiversity and livelihoods.
The river is a lifeline for many people living in West Africa, providing water for agriculture, transportation, and fisheries.
Niger Bend, located in the northern part of the river, is particularly important due to its proximity to the Sahara Desert and serves as a crucial water source for desert regions.
The Niger Valley, though sparsely settled, is home to some of the region's largest cities, including Bamako (Mali), Niamey (Niger), and Onitsha (Nigeria).
The Niger River is not only a critical resource for millions of people across West Africa but also a site of ongoing challenges, particularly regarding safety and infrastructure. The recent boat tragedy serves as a reminder of the need for better safety measures, regulations, and infrastructure development in the region's water transport systems. Enhanced investment in these areas could help prevent such accidents and improve the livelihoods of communities dependent on this vital river
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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