PIB Summary - 7th May, 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

OPERATION SINDOOR

Context and Background

• Trigger Incident: The precision strike was a response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indians and 1 Nepali citizen.
• Strategic Objective: To hold accountable those responsible for planning and executing terrorist attacks on Indian soil.
• Relevance: GS 3 (Internal Security)

Key Features of Operation Sindoor

• Type of Operation: Precision strike carried out by the Indian Armed Forces.
• Targets:. terrorist infrastructure sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).
• Scope: Focused on locations used for launching and planning terrorist attacks against India.
• Timing: Executed in the early hours of May 7, 2025.

Nature and Restraint

• Non-Escalatory Approach: The operation did not target Pakistani military facilities, demonstrating India’s intent to avoid escalation while sending a strong message.
• Measured Response: Emphasizes precision and restraint in both target selection and execution, reflecting India’s commitment to international norms and responsible state behavior.

Strategic Significance

• Reinforces India’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
• Signals India’s political will to undertake cross-border counter-terror measures when provoked.
• Echoes India’s past actions such as surgical strikes in 2016 and Balakot airstrikes in 2019 in response to terrorist activities.

Next Steps

•  A detailed official briefing is anticipated later today to provide further information regarding the operation. 
•  There may be potential implications for India-Pakistan relations, regional security, and international diplomatic responses following this operation. 

Govt Boosts Inland Waterways for Logistics Movement, Secures Global Logistics Expertise for NWs

Strategic Context

• Objective: To enhance multimodal cargo transport using Inland Waterways Transport (IWT).
• Parties Involved: Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Rhenus Logistics India Pvt. Ltd.
• Initiatives: Part of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Jal Marg Vikas Project.
• Relevance: General Studies Paper 3 (Infrastructure).

Key Features of the MoU

Deployment Plan:

• Introduction of 100 barges in phases.
• Phase I: Deployment of 20 barges and 6 pushers.
• Target: Achieve the movement of 1 million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.

Initial Waterways Covered:

• National Waterway-1 (Ganga River)
• National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra River)
• National Waterway-16 (Barak River)
• Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route

Global Integration & Technological Edge

• Rhenus Logistics:. global logistics company with over 1,100 barges and expertise in inland navigation in Europe.
• Focus: Implementing global best practices in barge operations, adapted to India’s low-draft waterways.
• Integration: Combining pushers and barges for efficient movement of both bulk and break-bulk cargo.

Environmental & Economic Benefits

• Promotes energy-efficient and low-emission transport.
• Supports cost-effective logistics and sustainable development.
• Enhances regional connectivity in North, East, and Northeast India.
• Reduces reliance on congested road and rail networks.

Growth of Inland Waterways Sector

National Waterways:

• Increase from 3 operational waterways in 2014-15 to 29 by 2024-25.
• Out of 111 declared National Waterways, over 14,500 km are navigable.

Cargo Movement:

• Growth from 30 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) in 2014-15 to 145.84 MMTPA in 2024-25.
• Total cargo movement over the past decade: 779 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT).

Infrastructure Under Jal Marg Vikas Project

• Components: Dredging, IWT terminals, navigational locks, community jetties, and aids to navigation.