1. Exercise Shakti 2025: Strengthening India-France Defence Ties
Context: Exercise Shakti, the bilateral military exercise between India and France, is all set to return for its 8th edition in La Cavalerie, France, beginning June 18, 2025. This biennial military engagement is aimed at reinforcing mutual trust, enhancing interoperability, and boosting cooperation in conducting multi-domain operations, particularly in sub-conventional warfare scenarios.
A Tradition of Shared Excellence:
- Exercise Shakti is held every two years, alternating between India and France.
- The previous edition was conducted in India, making the 2025 edition a return visit by Indian troops to French soil.
- The exercise includes a series of joint drills, tactical exercises, and combat simulations, focusing on modern warfare strategies and counter-insurgency operations.
Core Objectives of Exercise Shakti:
- Enhance joint operational capability of both nations’ armed forces.
- Develop shared understanding of tactics, techniques, and procedures in combat.
- Foster military camaraderie, mutual trust, and team spirit.
- Promote cultural exchange and deepen strategic partnership.
Part of a Wider Strategic Partnership:
Apart from Exercise Shakti, India and France also collaborate through:
- Exercise Varuna – A naval exercise focusing on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Exercise Garuda – An air force-level drill emphasizing aerial coordination and defense.
- Exercise Desert Knight – A joint air force exercise, highlighting air superiority and tactical planning.
Additional Insight: India-France Defence Ties
- India and France have a long-standing defence relationship, with France being one of India’s key strategic partners in Europe.
- The collaboration spans across defence procurement, technology transfer, and joint military training.
- France has been instrumental in supplying advanced military hardware to India, such as the Rafale fighter jets.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 edition of Exercise Shakti not only reflects the deepening military cooperation between two great democracies but also underscores their shared commitment to global peace, stability, and rules-based international order. As geopolitical dynamics evolve, such exercises become vital in preparing armed forces for the complex security challenges of the future.
2. Merchant Discount Rate (MDR): A Key Component of Digital Transactions
Context: The Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) refers to the fee charged to merchants by banks or payment service providers for enabling digital payments through methods such as credit cards, debit cards, UPI, and mobile wallets. This fee helps maintain the digital payment infrastructure and ensure smooth, secure transactions.
Latest Update: No MDR on UPI Transactions
The Ministry of Finance has recently clarified that the rumors regarding MDR being levied on UPI payments are entirely unfounded. The government reaffirmed its policy that UPI transactions remain completely free for both consumers and merchants, in a move to encourage a cashless economy and support digital inclusion.
How MDR Works: Behind the Scenes of a Swipe or Tap
When a customer makes a digital payment, a small portion of the transaction amount—typically between 1% and 3%—is deducted as MDR. This amount is distributed among:
- The issuing bank (which issued the card)
- The acquiring bank (which installed the PoS terminal)
- The payment gateway or card network (such as Visa, Mastercard, or RuPay)
These entities work together to authenticate, process, and settle digital payments in real-time, ensuring transaction security and system reliability.
Key Features of MDR:
- Percentage-based fee: Generally ranges from 1% to 3%, depending on several factors.
- Fee structure depends on:
- Type of card used (credit/debit)
- Volume of transactions processed by the business
- Average ticket size (average amount per transaction)
- Pre-setup requirement: Merchants must enroll with a payment service provider and agree to the MDR terms before accepting digital payments.
- Automatic deduction: MDR is automatically deducted from the merchant’s account during the settlement process.
- As per RBI regulations, merchants are prohibited from passing MDR charges to customers.
Why MDR Matters for Businesses:
Merchants need to treat MDR as a routine operating cost, just like rent or utility bills. While it slightly reduces the net revenue from each sale, it also brings:
- Ease of transaction
- Faster payments
- Better customer experience
- Wider reach, especially in urban digital environments
Businesses that accept digital payments tend to build greater customer trust and enjoy higher sales volumes, especially from tech-savvy and cashless consumers.
UPI: India’s Game-Changer in Digital Payments
- UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is India’s fastest-growing digital payment platform, processing over 12 billion transactions per month (as of 2025).
- UPI is maintained by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), with zero MDR to ensure accessibility for small businesses, kirana stores, and low-income users.
- Although payment companies have advocated for compensation, UPI continues to operate under a no-MDR policy, supported by the Government of India.
Final Thoughts:
The Merchant Discount Rate is an essential element of India’s expanding digital economy, helping maintain the vast infrastructure that powers instant, secure, and seamless electronic transactions. While MDR may appear as a small fee, it is a vital cog in the wheel that supports cashless commerce and enhances the overall efficiency of the payment ecosystem.
In a world moving rapidly toward digital, understanding how MDR works helps merchants make informed financial decisions, improve pricing strategies, and prepare for a digitally connected future.
3. Black Box: The Silent Witness in Aviation Disasters
Context: A black box is a crucial piece of technology installed on aircraft to record flight data and cockpit audio, providing vital clues in the event of an aviation accident or incident. Despite its name, the black box is typically bright orange or yellow, making it easier to locate after a crash.
Latest Update: Search for Black Box in AI171 Crash
In the aftermath of the Air India AI171 flight crash en route to Gatwick, authorities are continuing their urgent search for the aircraft’s black box. This device is critical for reconstructing the final moments before the disaster and determining the exact cause of the crash.
Components of a Black Box:
Modern aircraft are equipped with two separate recording systems:
- Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
- Captures audio conversations between the pilots
- Records radio communications, alarm sounds, and engine noises inside the cockpit
- Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
- Stores more than 80 parameters including:
- Altitude
- Airspeed
- Flight heading
- Vertical acceleration
- Pitch and roll
- Autopilot activity
- And many more dynamic performance metrics
- Stores more than 80 parameters including:
These recordings offer critical evidence that helps investigators reconstruct the flight’s timeline, identify technical faults, and understand pilot decision-making under pressure.
Designed for Survival:
Black boxes are engineered to endure some of the harshest crash conditions. Each unit is:
- Encased in heat-resistant and pressure-proof housing, often made of steel or titanium
- Insulated to withstand extreme temperatures, water immersion, and forceful impacts
- Positioned toward the rear of the aircraft, where the damage from crashes is statistically less severe
- Capable of transmitting underwater locator beacon signals for up to 30 days, aiding search teams
A Revolutionary Invention: The black box was invented by Australian scientist Dr. David Warren in the 1950s following a tragic plane crash. His idea stemmed from the need to understand what pilots were experiencing moments before an accident. Today, these devices are mandatory in most commercial aircraft around the world and have revolutionized air safety investigations.
Additional Insight: Black Boxes Beyond Aviation
- Similar technology is now being used in trains, cars, and even space missions to monitor system performance and provide data for post-incident analysis.
- In aviation, upcoming developments aim to introduce real-time data streaming, allowing ground control to access flight data mid-air, potentially preventing disasters before they happen.
Final Thought:
The black box is not just a recorder—it is a lifesaving tool that speaks for pilots and passengers when they can’t. By unlocking the truth behind aviation accidents, it has become an essential element in making air travel safer than ever before.
4. Middle East on Edge: Rising Tensions Between Iran, Israel, and the US Over Nuclear Talks
Context: Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point, as the long-standing nuclear dispute between Iran, Israel, and the United States intensifies. A recent report by CBS News reveals that Israel is fully prepared to launch a military strike on Iran, prompting the U.S. to issue regional travel advisories for its personnel stationed in Iraq, Israel, and neighboring nations.
Amid escalating threats and failed diplomacy, the risk of a wider regional conflict is growing, renewing fears of a potential military confrontation in an already volatile region.
Flashpoint: IAEA Resolution Fuels Israeli Pressure
- Israel has always viewed Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat and remains opposed to any form of Iran–US nuclear negotiations. The situation escalated sharply following a recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution, which for the first time in two decades, officially deemed Iran non-compliant with its nuclear commitments.
The resolution followed an alarming IAEA report that accused Iran of conducting undisclosed nuclear activities at three secret sites. Moreover, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, particularly at 60% purity, is growing—putting it dangerously close to the 90% weapons-grade threshold.
There are now discussions about potentially referring Iran’s case to the United Nations Security Council, raising the specter of international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
The JCPOA in Jeopardy: Deal Nearing Collapse
- The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal—was signed in 2015 between Iran and six world powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany). It aimed to restrict Iran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
Though the U.S. withdrew from the deal in 2018 under President Trump, the JCPOA remains technically active. However, with the agreement set to expire in October, there’s a growing push from European signatories (UK, France, Germany) to invoke snapback sanctions, a clause allowing for the reimposition of UN penalties if Iran is found in breach.
Iran’s Firm Response: Sovereignty Over Concessions
- Iran has rejected the IAEA’s resolution, denouncing it as “politically biased”, and in defiance, announced plans to build a new uranium enrichment facility in a heavily protected location.
Tehran has also threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — a move that would strip international inspectors of access and could spell the complete breakdown of global nuclear diplomacy.
Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Foreign Minister Araghchi, have reiterated their commitment to nuclear transparency, but emphasize that sovereign control over uranium enrichment is a non-negotiable red line.
The Core Dispute: Uranium Enrichment Rights
Since April, five rounds of nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have taken place, the most recent in Rome on May 23. The core issue isn’t whether Iran can use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes (which the U.S. accepts), but rather where and how uranium is enriched.
The U.S. proposed allowing Iran limited enrichment, followed by fuel supply from a multinational consortium involving Arab states and the U.S. Iran rejected the offer, viewing it as a violation of its sovereignty and self-reliance.
Regional Dynamics: Arab Endorsement, Israeli Rejection
- Arab states support continued diplomacy, aiming to prevent another regional war.
- Israel, however, remains a vocal critic of any deal that allows Iran to maintain its nuclear infrastructure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently warned that any agreement short of total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities is a serious security threat. Although not a direct party to the JCPOA, Israel’s military actions, covert operations, and intelligence leaks have had an outsized influence on the negotiating atmosphere.
High Stkes: Potential Fallout from NPT Withdrawal
If Iran follows through on its threat to exit the NPT, the implications will be far-reaching:
- The IAEA would lose oversight, eliminating a critical safeguard.
- The U.S. would be legally barred from offering Iran any future concessions, under the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act (1978).
- Global trust in the non-proliferation framework could erode, setting a precedent for other nations.
This would mark a point of no return, dramatically narrowing the path for diplomacy and raising the possibility of military conflict.
Countdown to Confrontation: A Fragile Diplomatic Window
The geopolitical situation is extremely volatile, with several flashpoints that could ignite a crisis:
- A preemptive Israeli military strike on Iran
- The activation of European snapback sanctions
- Iran’s potential exit from the NPT
- A formal U.S. withdrawal from ongoing negotiations
Each scenario threatens to destabilize not just the region but global energy markets, diplomatic alliances, and non-proliferation efforts.
Final Thought: Can Diplomacy Prevail?
As the clock ticks down on the JCPOA’s final months, the world watches with growing concern. The balance between diplomacy and confrontation has never been more delicate. Whether this moment leads to renewed negotiation or irreversible escalation will depend on the choices made in the days ahead by leaders in Tehran, Washington, and Jerusalem.
5. Revolutionizing Agriculture: Heat-Resistant Pigeonpea Variety Boosts India’s Pulse Production
Context: Scientists have successfully developed a heat-tolerant pigeonpea variety named ICPV 25444 using an advanced technique called speed breeding. This innovation promises to transform fallow lands and significantly reduce India’s dependency on pigeonpea imports, which currently cost the country nearly USD 800 million annually.
Key Advantages of ICPV 25444:
- Heat Resilience: This variety thrives in extreme heat, withstanding temperatures as high as 45°C, making it perfect for India’s hot and semi-arid regions.
- Utilizing Uncultivated Lands: It can be grown on nearly 12 million hectares of rice fallows left idle after the kharif season due to heat and water shortages.
- Faster Crop Cycles: Thanks to speed breeding, the crop can be harvested 4 times a year, slashing the development period from 15 years to just 5 years.
- Higher Productivity: Yields have nearly doubled from 1.1–1.2 tonnes per hectare to an impressive 2 tonnes per hectare.
- Reduced Harvest Time: The crop matures in 4 months instead of 6–7 months, enabling better crop rotation and increased farmer income.
Economic and Agricultural Impact:
This breakthrough has the potential to bridge the 1.5 million tonne gap in domestic pigeonpea production, paving the way for self-reliance and saving India millions in import costs. It aligns perfectly with the Union Budget 2025–26’s Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses, a six-year plan aimed at making India self-sufficient in vital pulses like Tur (Pigeonpea), Urad, and Masur.
About Pulses in India:
- India is the largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses worldwide.
- The top three pulse-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
- Pigeonpea (Tur Dal) is a crucial protein-rich legume, highly suited to tropical and semi-arid climates.
- The government supports farmers through the Price Support Scheme (PSS), ensuring procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to protect them from price fluctuations.
Speed Breeding: Accelerating Agricultural Innovation
Speed breeding is a cutting-edge method that manipulates light, temperature, and humidity to accelerate plant growth. This allows breeders to grow multiple crop generations per year, speeding up the development of improved varieties like ICPV 25444 and fast-tracking their benefits to farmers.
Additional Insights:
- The ability to grow multiple crops annually on previously unused lands could boost rural livelihoods and strengthen food security in climate-vulnerable regions.
- With climate change intensifying heat stress and water scarcity, heat-tolerant crops like ICPV 25444 are essential for sustainable agriculture.
- The success of this variety could serve as a model for developing other climate-resilient pulse crops, helping India maintain its leadership in pulse production while reducing imports.
India’s agricultural future looks promising with innovations like the heat-tolerant pigeonpea, merging science and sustainability to empower farmers and enhance national food security.
6. Lesser Flamingos Make a Spectacular Arrival in Gujarat: A Glimpse into Their Journey and Ecology
Context: A large flock of Lesser Flamingos has recently been spotted at Chhaya Pond in Porbandar, Gujarat. These vibrant birds are preparing to migrate soon to the Great Rann of Kutch, near the India-Pakistan border, where they will begin their breeding season.
Understanding the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor):
- The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest flamingo species globally.
- It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, with populations also found in parts of India, Pakistan, and the Arabian Gulf.
- In India, these flamingos primarily inhabit brackish and coastal wetlands.
- The species is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
- It is protected under CITES Appendix II and listed in Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Flamingos: Elegant and Social Water Birds
- Flamingos are renowned for their long, graceful S-shaped necks and slender legs.
- They are highly social birds, often seen in large, noisy flocks.
- Their preferred habitats include shallow, nutrient-rich waters like saline lagoons, saltpans, and alkaline lakes, where food is abundant.
- There are six species of flamingos worldwide, thriving mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.
- India is home to only two species: the Greater Flamingo and the Lesser Flamingo.
Other Flamingo Species Worldwide:
- Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
- American or Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
- Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus)
- James’s or Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)
Diet and Distinctive Coloration:
- Flamingos feed mainly on algae, small molluscs, and crustaceans found in their watery habitats.
- Their iconic pink, orange, or white plumage results from carotenoid pigments in their diet, particularly from the algae and crustaceans they consume.
- The intensity of their color often indicates the bird’s health and breeding readiness.
Additional Insights:
- The Great Rann of Kutch serves as a crucial breeding ground, offering a safe and nutrient-rich environment for flamingos.
- Lesser Flamingos play an important ecological role by maintaining the health of wetland ecosystems through their feeding habits.
- Conservation efforts for these birds are critical as habitat loss, water pollution, and climate change threaten their populations.
- Flamingos are also indicators of wetland ecosystem health, and their presence signals a thriving habitat.
The recent gathering of Lesser Flamingos at Chhaya Pond not only offers a breathtaking natural spectacle but also highlights the importance of protecting India’s delicate wetland ecosystems to preserve these elegant and ecologically significant birds.
