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Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: Al Udeid air base, State of Climate in Asia and Child labour in India
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for June 24, 2025. If you missed the June 23, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE War widens: Iran hits US base in Qatar Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: Iran said it had fired missiles at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. This came after the United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Residents of Doha, the capital of Qatar, saw missiles and defence systems in action during the night. Iran's state TV said the attack on Al Udeid was 'a mighty and successful response' to what it called 'America's aggression.' Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Al Udeid air base • Iran's missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar-what you know so far? • How the advance warning by Iran to the U.S. and Qatar reflects a calibrated military messaging strategy? • What is the role of Qatar's air defences in regional security and the implications of a Gulf ally being directly involved? • How the expansion of the conflict zone to include Qatar reflects broader regional escalation dynamics? • India and Qatar-know in detail • Indians in Qatar-Know in detail Key Takeaways: • Al Udeid Air Base is very important for the US military in the Middle East. It is the main base for US Central Command, also called CENTCOM, which oversees military operations in the region. The base is located in the desert outside Doha. • According to the US Congressional Research Service (CRS), the base covers 24 hectares and houses around 10,000 US troops at any time. The base has been used by US forces for more than 20 years. Since 2003, Qatar has spent over $8 billion to help build and improve the base. The agreement allowing US forces to use Al Udeid was recently extended for another 10 years. • Al Udeid hosts a range of military equipment. This includes refuelling planes (KC-135 Stratotankers), large cargo aircraft (C-17 Globemasters and C-130 Hercules), surveillance aircraft, and missile defence systems like the Patriot system. The base also has advanced radar to help detect missiles. • The base plays a key role in US efforts to deter Iran, counter extremist groups, and support allies in the region, according to CRS reports. Al Udeid is CENTCOM's forward headquarters. The main CENTCOM headquarters is in Florida. • Al Udeid is also linked to other US activities in Qatar. A nearby former army base, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used to process Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022. • Iran's attack on the base marks a major rise in tensions. The base is a central point for US military action in the region and could be targeted again if the conflict continues. Do You Know: • The Indian community is the largest expat community in the country, which has one of the highest per capita income in the world. • India has had a robust political and economic relationship with Qatar, and has maintained high-level contacts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Qatar on February 14-15, 2024. This was his second visit to Qatar. Modi had been on a state visit to Doha on June 4-5, 2016. • There are over 20,000 big and small Indian companies operating in Qatar, either wholly-owned or joint ventures, in sectors like infrastructure, communications and information technology, energy. • The over 8.3 lakh-strong Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Qatar and is engaged in a wide spectrum of professions including medicine, engineering, education, finance, banking, business and media apart from a large number of blue-collared workers. • According to Invest Qatar, Indian companies have invested over USD 350 million in Qatar for the period 2017-2025. Indian companies from across sectors have been present in Qatar for over several years. • Currently, there are over 60,000 Indian students studying in 19 Indian schools and a few in international schools all over Qatar. There are approximately 4,500 faculty and non-faculty in Indian Schools alone. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Qatar condemns attack, Bahrain suspends flights in its airspace India set to ramp up oil imports from Russia, Africa, US and Latin America Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests. What's the ongoing story: The escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict and Tehran's threat to close the Strait of Hormuz are likely to push Indian refiners to further ramp up oil purchases from non-West Asian suppliers — mainly Russia, West Africa, the US and Latin America — as shipping routes to Indian ports from these suppliers are detached from the critical choke point in the Persian Gulf, according to industry sources and experts. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Strait of Hormuz • What is the Strait of Hormuz? • Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important for India? • How does the Israel-Iran conflict pose a threat to global oil and gas flows? • India's dependency on oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz-know in detail • What are the potential economic consequences of a conflict-induced blockade of the Strait of Hormuz especially for India? • India's diversification of crude oil imports-why? • What are the benefits and risks of India's increasing dependence on discounted Russian crude in the current global geopolitical climate? • How India's ramped-up imports from Africa support its pursuit of energy security? • How does crude import strategy interact with India's broader clean energy transition and environmental goals? • Analyse the relationship between crude oil import and India's energy security. • What steps can the government take to mitigate the impact of fluctuating crude oil imports? Key Takeaways: • In fact, India's oil sourcing strategy is already reflecting a risk-hedged posture pertaining to West Asian oil flows with Russian oil dominating India's oil import mix. • Following US air strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, Iran's parliament Sunday approved a motion calling for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit choke point in global energy flows. It is now up to Iran's Supreme National Security Council to decide on whether or not to go ahead to try and choke the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait on multiple occasions, but has never actually done it. Even in the current scenario, industry experts also expect the possibility of an actual closure to be really low. Notwithstanding that, a heightened risk of the closure is bound to raise concerns globally, including in India, particularly with regard to oil and gas supply security, and could lead to a jump in energy prices. Do You Know: • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical and narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) calls it the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint', with around one-fifth of global liquid petroleum fuel consumption and global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transiting the strait. • According to tanker data analysed by The Indian Express, over 45 per cent of crude oil imported by Indian refiners in May was likely to have been transported via the Strait of Hormuz. The importance of the chokepoint for India's energy supply and security cannot be understated because the country is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 per cent of its requirement. • Tanker data sourced from commodity market analytics firm Kpler shows that so far in June, India has imported over 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil, accounting for over 41 per cent of the country's oil imports. • Crude oil imports from the US have also grown sequentially, while imports from West Asia – primarily Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait – have largely remained stable. A bulk of these import cargoes would have been scheduled before the latest conflagration between Israel and Iran, and therefore, would not have fully factored in the recent escalation in tensions. • India's oil import strategy has evolved significantly over the past two-three years, with Russia displacing the West Asian majors as India's largest source of crude. And Russian oil is logistically detached from the Strait of Hormuz as it reaches India mostly via the Suez Canal and Red Sea route, and in some cases via the Cape of Good Hope and the Pacific Ocean routes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Strait of Hormuz closure: What's in store for energy markets, India's oil imports India seeks pause in World Bank expert's proceedings over Kishanganga & Ratle Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. What's the ongoing story: India has written to the World Bank's neutral expert, Michel Lino, requesting a pause in his proceedings on the Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower disputes, following the Union government's decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, The Indian Express has learned. Key Points to Ponder: • What is Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower disputes? • What and why India has written to the World Bank's neutral expert, Michel Lino? • What triggered India's move to pause World Bank-appointed proceedings under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)? • What are the implications of India's suspension of the IWT on the viability of dispute resolution mechanisms under the treaty framework? • How pausing World Bank-appointed proceedings impacts India's legal position and international water diplomacy. • What are the challenges and opportunities that arise from the construction of hydroelectric projects in shared river basins, with specific reference to the Indus River system? Key Takeaways: • Lino is understood to have sought Pakistan's views on India's request, which Islamabad has opposed. The disputes being heard by Lino since 2022 concern two Indian hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir — Kishanganga, on the Kishanganga river, and Ratle, on the Chenab river. • A French dam engineer and, until recently, the president of the International Commission on Large Dams, Lino was appointed by the World Bank on October 13, 2022, under Article IX and Annexure F of the Indus Waters Treaty. • His mandate is to hear both India and Pakistan and determine whether the design of these projects complies with the treaty. Pakistan claims India is violating the treaty, particularly on minimum water flow requirements. • Following the Union Cabinet's decision to keep the the treaty in abeyance 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,' the Indian government formally notified Lino and requested that he vacate the mutually agreed 'work programme' pertaining to the Kishanganga and Ratle disputes. In its response to Lino, Pakistan objected to India's stance and opposed any proposal to suspend the dispute resolution proceedings. • As per the agreed 2025 work programme, which India now wants vacated, Pakistan was to submit its written response – or counter memorial – to India's submission by August 7. The fourth meeting of the neutral expert with both sides was scheduled for November 17 to 22. • This meeting would have been significant, involving the presentation of India's written arguments (memorial) and Pakistan's counter, questioning by the neutral expert, and preparations for a second site visit to India, likely in December. Do You Know: • After The Pahalgam attack, India kept the IWT in abeyance 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism'. Under the IWT, the waters of the 'Eastern Rivers' — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi – are for India's unrestricted use, while the 'Western Rivers' – Indus, Jhelum, Chenab – are primarily for Pakistan. • According to top government sources, New Delhi is currently not inclined to engage in discussions with Islamabad on the matter, and the treaty will remain in abeyance for now. • Meanwhile, sources said the government has drawn up a plan to construct a canal to divert water from the Indus river system to various Indian states. It has also carried out two flushing exercises at Baglihar and Salal – two run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the Chenab in J&K – to clear sediment that hampers power generation. • These are the first such exercises since Salal was built in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008–09. Pakistan had previously blocked such activities through objections under the IWT. Officials said flushing will now be conducted on a monthly basis. • Earlier, The Indian Express had reported that the Centre is looking to fast-track four hydroelectric projects on the Chenab – Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW). Pakal Dul is the first storage-based hydro project being built in J&K. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India-Pak rift on Indus Water Treaty: Neutral expert backs New Delhi's stand THE EDITORIAL PAGE Iran's limited options Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests What's the ongoing story: Sumit Ganguly Writes: With explicit American support for its stated military objectives, Israel is likely to feel even more emboldened. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Iran • Iran before and after Islamic revolution-what you know so far? • How was the relation between Western countries and Iran before the Islamic Revolution in Iran? • Who was Mohammad Reza Pahlavi? • Why did relations with Western countries deteriorate with Iran? • Iran can't have a nuclear weapon-why? • Who to decide whether Iran can have nuclear weapon? • 'Hypocrisy of Israel and America telling Iran it can't have a nuclear weapon'-what is your take? • Why many nations want regime change in Iran? • What is the problem with current regime in Iran? • Who is Ayatollah Khomeini? Key Takeaways: Sumit Ganguly Writes: • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a UN organisation, has stated that while the bombing has done extensive damage to the facilities at Natanz and Isfahan, it was unable to provide a firm assessment of the harm that was inflicted on Fordow, the subterranean nuclear site. • Quite predictably, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned these attacks in unequivocal terms, referring to them as 'barbaric' and a violation of international law. Other high military officials in Iran have also promised to retaliate against the United States. • Back home in the United States, a handful of the members of the US Congress, both in the House and the Senate, have stated that President Donald Trump's decision to launch these attacks constitutes a violation of the War Powers Act. • Most of the critics are Democrats, but a handful of Republicans have also expressed their misgivings about the use of force without appropriate Congressional authorisation. Trump, of course, has already threatened to run a candidate of his choice against Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who had criticised the President's unilateral actions. • The Iranian regime may well deem these acts to be necessary for the purposes of bolstering popular support at home, which had been steadily sagging before the onset of this conflict with Israel and now the United States. In the wake of the attacks, especially those of the United States, press reports indicate that there is a 'rally around the flag' syndrome within Iran. Even Iranians who have grave reservations about Ayatollah Khamenei's Islamic regime are of the view that they find the US and Israeli attacks on their homeland to be unacceptable. Do You Know: • According to CNN, Iran has spent decades developing its nuclear program and sees it as a source of national pride and sovereignty. It maintains the program is solely for peaceful energy purposes and plans to build additional nuclear power plants to meet domestic energy needs and free up more oil for export. Nuclear plants require a fuel called uranium – and according to the UN nuclear watchdog, no other country has the kind of uranium that Iran currently does without also having a nuclear weapons program. • That has fueled suspicions that Iran isn't being fully transparent about its intentions. Tehran has used its stockpile of weapons-grade uranium as a bargaining chip in talks with the United States, repeatedly saying it would get rid of it if US-led sanctions are lifted. • The US launched a nuclear program with Iran in 1957. Back then, the Western-friendly monarch – the Shah – ruled Iran and the two countries were still friends. With backing from the US, Iran started developing its nuclear power program in the 1970s. But the US pulled its support when the Shah was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Since the revolution, which transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic, Western nations have worried the country could use its nuclear program to produce atomic weapons using highly enriched uranium. Iran has maintained that it does not seek to build nuclear weapons. It is a party to the UN's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which it has pledged not to develop a bomb. • At the heart of the controversy over Iran's nuclear program is its enrichment of uranium – a process used to produce fuel for power plants that, at higher levels, can also be used to make a nuclear bomb. • In the early 2000s, international inspectors announced that they had found traces of highly enriched uranium at an Iranian plant in Natanz. Iran temporarily halted enrichment, but resumed it in 2006, insisting it was allowed under its agreement with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). • After years of negotiations, Iran and six world powers in 2015 agreed to a nuclear deal that limited Iran's nuclear threat in return for lighter sanctions. The deal required Iran to keep its uranium enrichment levels at no more than 3.67%, down from near 20%, dramatically reduce its uranium stockpile, and phase out its centrifuges, among other measures. Uranium isn't bomb-grade until it's enriched to 90% purity. And nuclear power plants that generate electricity use uranium that is enriched to between 3.5% and 5%. • In 2023, the IAEA said uranium particles enriched to 83.7% purity – close to bomb-grade levels – were found at an Iranian nuclear facility. Its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% had also grown to 128.3 kilograms, the highest level then documented. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Challenges before IAEA after attacks on Iran's nuclear sites EXPRESS NETWORK Asia warming nearly twice global average, hit hard in 2024: WMO Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What's the ongoing story: Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on record in 2024, with its average temperature 1.04 degree Celsius above the last 30-year average, according to a new report by World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The continent is warming up nearly twice as fast as the global average, the report said. Key Points to Ponder: • What new report by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says? • State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, prepared by WMO-what are the key takeaways? • Why Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average? • Evaluate the implications of accelerated glacier melt in High Mountain Asia for downstream water security. • How accelerated sea level rise in Asia is reshaping vulnerability in low lying megacities. • How does Asia's warming trend influence global climate targets under frameworks like the Paris Agreement? Key Takeaways: • The impact of this high rate of warming in 2024 manifested through a range of extreme weather events such as 29 tropical cyclones, prolonged and intense heat waves and extreme rainfall events, including India. • These weather events also caused substantial loss to local communities and economies at large, said the State of Climate in Asia 2024 report, prepared by WMO in collaboration with regional and international meteorological organisations. • Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO, said the report highlighted how changes in key climate indicators such as surface temperature, glacier mass and sea level will have major repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region. 'Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,' she said • According to the report, the surface temperatures were warmer than average for almost the entire region, particularly from western China to Japan, over the Indochina Peninsula, the Middle East and central northern Siberia. Japan, for instance, experienced its warmest year on record, exceeding the previous record set in 2023. • The region was hit by intense land heat waves as well as marine heatwaves. East Asia saw prolonged heatwaves from April to November, and the monthly average temperature records were shattered in Japan, Republic of Korea and China. Do You Know: • In India, extreme heatwaves caused over 450 deaths across the country, the report said. During heatwaves in 2024, temperatures were in the range of 45-48 degree Celsius for sustained periods and touched a high of 50 degrees at some locations. The country also saw deadly lightning events, killing about 1,300 people, the report said. • Asia's strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone in 2024 was Yagi. It impacted the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, and according to estimates the damages ran into billions of dollars. While three tropical cyclones – Remal, Fengal, Dana – made landfall in the Indian sub-continent and killed about 90 people, cyclone Asna originating from Arabian Sea caused flooding in Gujarat and killed about 50 people. • In terms of extent, marine heatwaves created a record in 2024, impacting an area of nearly 15 million square kilometres. The northern Indian Ocean, adjacent to Japan and the Yellow and East China seas faced particularly severe or extreme intensity of marine heatwaves. • Glaciers continued to lose mass, as per the report, with 23 out of 24 glaciers in the High Mountain Asia region of central-south Asia spanning Himalayas, Pamir mountains, Karakoram, Hindu Kush. • In terms of rainfall, above normal rain was observed in Arabian desert, Balochistan, parts of Myanmar, certain islands in Japan and even in Siberian plains. Very heavy rainfall affected western Asia in mid-April with daily rainfall in some areas exceeding long-term annual average rainfall. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Asia warming nearly twice global average, hit hard in 2024: WMO Rajasthan, Telangana, Bihar record highest child labour rescues in FY25: Report Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. What's the ongoing story: Signifying a major crackdown on child labour and trafficking networks, Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan have emerged as the top three states in India for child labour rescues as well as for the number of arrests in child labour related cases in 2024-25, a study by a network working in the field of child rights has shown. Key Points to Ponder: • What report titled 'Building the Case for Zero: How Prosecution Acts as a Tipping Point to End Child Labour' says? • Which state recorded the highest number of child labour rescues in 2024 25? • What does the data say about child labour in India? • Why increase in child labour in India? • Know the socio-economic impact of child labour? • What are the steps and initiatives have been taken by the Government of India to curb child labour? • Know the state-wise distribution of child labour rescues in 2024 25 and discuss regional enforcement variations. • Explain the emergence of non-traditional sectors like spas and orchestras as hotspots for child labour, and its implications. Key Takeaways: • Of the 53,651 children rescued nationwide by a network of over 250 NGOs, Rajasthan accounted for as many as 3,847 child labour rescues while Telangana topped the list with 11,063 rescues followed by Bihar with 3,974 rescues. The network, Just Rights for Children (JRC), led the 38,889 rescue operations across 24 states and union territories in coordination with the law enforcement agencies, JRC said Monday. • The report reveals even more disturbing trends: nearly 90 percent of children rescued across India were found working in sectors classified as the worst forms of child labour — including spas, massage parlours, and orchestras — where children are subjected to prostitution, pornography, and other forms of sexual exploitation. The findings are part of the report titled 'Building the Case for Zero: How Prosecution Acts as a Tipping Point to End Child Labour', published by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change (C-LAB), the research wing of JRC partner India Child Protection. • The report further states that following the raids, 38,388 FIRs were registered and 5,809 arrests were made, 85 percent of which were related to child labour. Telangana led with 11,063 children rescued, followed by Bihar (3,974), Rajasthan (3,847), Uttar Pradesh (3,804), and Delhi (2,588). A total of 5,809 individuals were arrested, 85 percent of them in child labour – related cases. Telangana, Bihar, and Rajasthan reported the highest arrests, while states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh had fewer arrests despite high rescue numbers — highlighting enforcement gaps, the report said. • Given the gravity of the situation, the report recommends launching a National Mission to End Child Labour, allocating adequate resources for it, and forming district-level Child Labour Task Forces. The report, which is based on the data from the rescue operations conducted by the country's largest NGO network working for child protection, is for the period April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Do You Know: • The report also emphasises legal action, education, and rehabilitation for the eradication of child labour and makes several recommendations. It said that unless strict legal action is taken against offenders, it will be difficult to curb child labour. Moreover, if there are no arrangements for the education and rehabilitation of rescued children, they will fall back into the vicious cycle of child labour. Hence, a Child Labour Rehabilitation Fund is the need of the hour. • Also, ensuring free and compulsory education for up to 18 years will help in preventing child labour, as children who drop out of school are more likely to get trapped in exploitative labour, the report has stated. The report calls for comprehensive policy changes, a zero-tolerance policy on the use of child labour in government procurement, an expansion of the list of hazardous industries, state-specific child labour policies, extending the SDG 8.7 deadline to 2030, and strict, time-bound legal action against perpetrators. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Elimination of child labour a distant goal, country needs uniform definition of 'child' first: Parliamentary panel Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Examine the main provisions of the National Child Policy and throw light on the status of its implementation. (2016) ECONOMY Statistics ministry to conduct first-ever household income survey in 2026 Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. What's the ongoing story: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct the first-ever Household Income Survey in 2026, with a Technical Expert Group (TEG) being set up to guide the ministry on the method of estimation and other aspects of the survey. In addition to measuring household income, the proposed survey will also try to assess the impact of adoption of technology on wages, the statistics ministry said on Monday. Key Points to Ponder: • First-ever comprehensive Household Income Survey-what you know so far? • Why has India, despite earlier attempts since the 1950s, struggled to generate reliable household income data? • Discuss the potential impact of the household income survey on India's policymaking and targeted welfare programs. • Examine the challenges of measuring household income vs consumption. • How integrating technology adoption into income surveys can help capture the changing nature of work. Key Takeaways: • The survey will be MoSPI's latest attempt to measure household income in India, with pilots conducted in the past not resulting in a nationwide survey due to difficulties in collecting reliable income data, the ministry said. These past attempts date back to the 1950s, when it tried to collect information on income as part of its consumer expenditure surveys on an experimental basis. Further attempts were made in the 1960s as part of the Integrated Household Survey. • 'However, these efforts were not continued as it was found that the estimates of income were lower than the estimates of consumption and savings put together,' MoSPI said. In the 1980s, it was again explored if it was operationally feasible to collect household income data, but it did not lead to a national survey. • According to MoSPI's latest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, India's per capita gross national income in 2024-25 was Rs 2.31 lakh in current prices, up 8.7 per cent from 2023-24. • The expert group constituted on Monday will be chaired by economist Surjit Bhalla, formerly India's Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund and a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Do You Know: • MoSPI, over the last couple of years, has conducted a variety of surveys to shed light on different parts of the Indian economy in addition to the regular ones that are used to compile key macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, Consumer Price Index, and Index of Industrial Production. These include annual surveys on unincorporated enterprises, the service sector, a forward-looking survey on private sector capital expenditure, and domestic travel and tourism, among others. • Last month, the ministry released the result of its maiden monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which had so far been conducted only on a quarterly basis for urban areas and annually for rural areas. The revamped monthly PLFS also seeks details about households' usual monthly income from rent, pension, interest, and remittances. However, the findings related to these details have so far not been released. • Some of the key surveys whose results will be released over the next few months include the Annual Survey of Industries for 2023-24 and Household Social Consumption: Health. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India's top 1% income, wealth shares have reached historical highs: World Inequality Lab For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Iran attacks Al Udeid in Qatar: All you need to know about the US air base
Iran said on Monday it had fired missiles at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. This came after the United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Residents of Doha, the capital of Qatar, saw missiles and defence systems in action during the night. Iran's state TV said the attack on Al Udeid was 'a mighty and successful response' to what it called 'America's aggression.' Al Udeid Air Base is very important for the US military in the Middle East. It is the main base for US Central Command, also called CENTCOM, which oversees military operations in the region. The base is located in the desert outside Doha. According to the US Congressional Research Service (CRS), the base covers 24 hectares and houses around 10,000 US troops at any time. The base has been used by US forces for more than 20 years. Since 2003, Qatar has spent over $8 billion to help build and improve the base. The agreement allowing US forces to use Al Udeid was recently extended for another 10 years. Al Udeid hosts a range of military equipment. This includes refuelling planes (KC-135 Stratotankers), large cargo aircraft (C-17 Globemasters and C-130 Hercules), surveillance aircraft, and missile defence systems like the Patriot system. The base also has advanced radar to help detect missiles. The base plays a key role in US efforts to deter Iran, counter extremist groups, and support allies in the region, according to CRS reports. Al Udeid is CENTCOM's forward headquarters. The main CENTCOM headquarters is in Florida. Al Udeid is also linked to other US activities in Qatar. A nearby former army base, Camp As Sayliyah, has been used to process Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022. Iran's attack on the base marks a major rise in tensions. The base is a central point for US military action in the region and could be targeted again if the conflict continues.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
US attacks on Iran nuclear sites: Where are the US military bases in the Middle East?
Iran on Monday (June 22) condemned the US attack on its nuclear sites, calling US President Donald Trump a 'gambler' for joining Israel's military campaign against Iran. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly threatened to retaliate ever since the US joined the Israeli campaign by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning. Should Iran choose to retaliate, it may target the US military installations in the region. Here are some of the US military bases in the Middle East. According to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report from July 2024, the US Department of Defense (DOD) manages or operates at least 128 overseas bases in at least 51 countries. These bases were identified as * persistent bases, which include overseas sites continuously used by the DoD for at least 15 years and at which the U.S. military exercises some degree of operational control * selected other US military sites, which do not meet either or both of the criteria described above, but the DOD maintains 'some sort of territorially linked presence or access'. Temporary military sites where the DOD may conduct military exercises or contingency operations, without intent to convert the location into persistent sites, were excluded from this report. According to the CRS report, the Middle East bases operate under the US Central Command or CENTCOM. The CRS identified eight persistent bases and 11 other military sites that the DOD can access in the Middle East. CENTCOM directs military operations in territories ranging from Egypt to Kazakhstan. It is headquartered in Florida and operates a forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, its largest military installation in the Middle East. According to the report, the CENTCOM commander identified three 'lines of effort' for his command in March 2024, chief of which was deterring Iran. (The other two goals are 'countering violent extremist organizations, and competing strategically [i.e., with Russia and China].') Qatar Qatar is home to the sprawling 24-hectare Al Udeid Air Base, CENTCOM's forward headquarters, situated in the desert outside the capital Doha. The base houses around 10,000 troops, Reuters reported. According to the CRS report, Qatar has contributed over $8 billion since 2003 to develop the air base, and recently extended the agreement allowing the US to use the air base for another ten years. The air base is home to surveillance aircraft, tanker refuelling (KC-135 Stratotankers), combat airlift (C-17A Globemasters, CH-130H Hercules), Patriot missile defence systems, and AN/TPY-2 X-band radar to support missile defence systems, according to the CRS report. According to the CRS report, Camp As Sayliyah, a former army base, has also been used by the US as a government processing centre for Afghans seeking resettlement since 2022. The CRS report estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 US personnel were present in Qatar at any given time based on media reports. Bahrain The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean, is stationed in the kingdom's Naval Support Activity installation. This association dates back to 1948 when the base was controlled by the British Royal Navy, the CRS report said. Bahrain's deep-water port is one of the few Middle Eastern facilities accommodating US aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, according to the CRS report. The Navy ships include four mine countermeasures ships (MCMs), one Expeditionary Support Base (ESB) ship, and two logistical support ships operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The site is also home to P-8 Poseidon (an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft), EP-3E Aries II reconnaissance aircraft, and Patriot missile defence systems. The report mentions that the US Coast Guard also maintains a squadron of ships, including six fast response cutters, in Bahrain. The CRS reported that 9,000 service members and DOD civilians are present at the site Kuwait Kuwait houses several US military installations, notably Camp Arifjan, the forward headquarters of US Army Central (ARCENT) under CENTCOM, according to the CRS report. The Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, described in the CRS report as 'the primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces in the U.S. Central Command [AOR].' US Air Force (USAF) capabilities in Kuwait include unmanned surveillance aircraft (including MQ-9 drones), as well as combat airlift capabilities, the report said. The largest US air logistics facility in the region is at the Kuwait International Airport, according to the CRS report. Camp Buehring, established during the 2003 Iraq war, serves as a staging post for US Army units deploying into Iraq and Syria, the US Army website says. United Arab Emirates (UAE) The Al Dhafra Air Base, south of the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, hosts the US's 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which comprises 10 aircraft squadrons and drones, such as the MQ-9 Reapers. It is shared with the UAE Air Force and serves as a critical USAF hub, according to the CRS report. The UAE hosts airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, ISR aircraft, and tanker refuelling aircraft. Al Dhafra hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Center, which offers region-specific training for about 2,000 participants annually. Al Dhafra also routinely hosts rotations of combat aircraft units. Jebel Ali port in Dubai, as well as other ports in the UAE, also host Navy ships and provide logistical support to the US. Iraq The US has troops spread across several Iraqi installations, including the Al-Asad and Erbil air bases, the Agence France-Presse reported. Up to 2,500 American troops and military contractors were based in Baghdad, the northern Kurdish region and the western desert, as part of an international coalition battling the Islamic State, according to the AFP. While the US occupation of Iraq formally ended in 2011, American troops returned to fight Islamic State militants who had seized control of Iraqi territory in the north and west, The New York Times reported. The US presence in the Al Asad Air Base supports Iraqi forces and contributes to the NATO mission, according to the White House. The base was targeted in 2020 by Iranian missile strikes in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. The Erbil air base, situated in the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, hosts training exercises and battle drills hosted by the US and coalition forces, the report said. The air base provides a secure location for training, intelligence sharing, and logistical coordination in northern Iraq, according to the CRS report. According to the CRS report, US military capabilities in the country include AH-64E Apache helicopters, MH-47G Chinook helicopters, MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and unmanned surveillance aircraft. Saudi Arabia The Prince Sultan Air Base in the kingdom hosts the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, a USAF unit that 'supports approximately 2,200 airmen and soldiers assigned to PSAB, as well as the U.S. Army's Patriot missile defense capability and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) capability in the region', according to the CRS report. The base supports military assets, including tanker refuelling aircraft, and hosts rotational deployments of combat aircraft. The White House in June 2024 said that over 2,300 US military personnel were stationed in the kingdom, with the majority at the air base. These personnel work in coordination with the Saudi government and support US military operations. * Egypt: American military presence in Egypt comprises its support to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an international peacekeeping force intended to 'supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms.' The US periodically participates in joint training and exercises with the Egyptian military, including at its Cairo West air base. * Syria: The US presence in Syria dates back to its military action as part of an international coalition against the Islamic State. The US military presence in Syria includes the Al Tanf base and various facilities in northeastern Syria. In April, the Pentagon announced a plan to halve its military presence in the country to less than 1,000 in the coming months as part of a 'consolidation' of US troops in the country, the AFP reported. * Jordan: The Muwaffaq al Salti air base, situated 100 km northeast of the capital Amman, hosts the USAF Central's 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, which has hosted F-35s since 2023, according to the CRS report. A site called Tower 22, located near the Iraq and Syria border and close to Al Tanf in Syria, hosts about 350 US military personnel, CENTCOM reported in January 2024. The CRS report noted that 3,188 military personnel were stationed in Jordan, according to a December 2023 letter submitted by the Biden Administration to congressional leaders regarding the War Powers Report. * Israel: The US does not have a military base in Israel but engages in periodic joint exercises with the Israeli military to 'foster interoperability', the CRS report said. * Yemen: According to a submission by the Biden administration in December 2023, 'a small number' of U.S. military personnel 'are deployed to Yemen to conduct operations against al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS.'
9 News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
US moves B-2 bombers as Trump weighs Iran options
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A US defense official said there has been no order given to move forward with any kind of operation against Iran using the B-2s. As of Saturday, the planes are flying over the Pacific and appear to be headed toward Guam. A B-2 Spirit Bomber is seen in Nevada on January 23. (Carlos Barria/Reuters/FILE via CNN Newsource) Two US defense officials cautioned that any movement of B-2s does not mean an operation is imminent but rather is intended to provide the president with options. Another US official said moving aircraft can be a show of force and a deterrent as Trump deliberates. B-2 bombers are the only plane capable of carrying the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, which experts have highlighted as the only type of bomb potentially capable of destroying Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility. Each B-2 bomber is able to carry two of these "bunker buster" bombs, which weigh an impressive 30,000 pounds (13607kg) each. The movement of the B-2 bombers comes as Trump has spent much of the past week in the Situation Room, reviewing attack plans and quizzing officials about the potential consequences of each. The president indicated that his two-week timeline for a decision on US military involvement in Iran is the "maximum" amount of time – and that he could make up his mind sooner. Donald Trump speaks with reporters upon arriving at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey on Friday, June 20. (AP) Trump is set to hold a meeting with his national security team in the Oval Office on Saturday and Sunday evening. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment. On Friday night, eight US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers took off from Altus, Oklahoma, according to data from FlightRadar24. Over Kansas the tankers refueled two groups of planes, identified on air traffic control audio by their callsigns MYTEE11 FLT and MYTEE21 FLT. The callsign MYTEE has previously been associated with special activity flights by B-2 bombers, and multiple flight trackers on social media said the planes being refueled were B-2 bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Flight tracking data and air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN show the bombers refueled again off the coast of California, and over Hawaii. Satellite imagery taken on Thursday showed six KC-135 refueling planes stationed at Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean that could be used to refuel the bombers should they continue onward to Iran. Israel World Iran conflict USA US POLITICS Donald Trump CONTACT US
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
B-2 bombers move from US, refueled shortly after take-off: Where are they headed as Trump weighs Iran options?
All eyes are on the B-2 bombers whether they move toward Diego Garcia from Guam. Flight tracking data revealed that several B-2 bombers appear to have taken off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri Friday night in a massive development on US's part in the escalating Israel-Iran tension. President Donald Trump has set a two-week deadline to decide whether the US would join Israel in striking Iran, but the movement of the bombers, which are the only plane capable of carrying the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, indicates that an operation may be imminent. Take off, refuel, heading to Guam On Friday night, eight US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers took off from Altus, Oklahoma, according to data from FlightRadar24. Over Kansas, the tankers refueled two groups of planes, identified on air traffic control audio by their callsigns MYTEE11 FLT and MYTEE21 FLT, CNN reported. The callsign MYTEE has previously been associated with special activity flights by B-2 bombers, and multiple flight trackers on social media said the planes being refueled were B-2 bombers out of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. No order for moving forward A US defense official confirmed to CNN that there has been no order given to move forward with any kind of operation against Iran using the bombers. According to insiders, the movement does not necessarily indicate that an operation is imminent; it can be a show of force. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kia Sportage, unidades limitadas KIA Undo From Guam to Diego Garcia? All eyes are on the forward movement of the bombers. If they move toward the Diego Garcia military base, then it would be certain that they are planning for attack. Surrounded by water on all sides, the Diego Garcia military base is the most advantageous for the bombers for their launch. Satellite imagery taken on Thursday showed six KC-135 refueling planes stationed at Diego Garcia that could be used to refuel the bombers if they continue onward to Iran. B-2 bomber has previously launched missions to operations in Afghanistan and Iraq from this military base.
