News Summary · 4 minutes read
Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth after signing 10-year US-India Defense Framework in Kuala Lumpur on 31 october 2025. Photo: X/@SecWar
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India signs defence pact with the US
- A 10-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership, signed by Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on 31 October 2025, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur.
- Builds on the 2013 Joint Principles for Defence Cooperation and the 2016 recognition of India as a Major Defence Partner → charts a road map to deepen collaboration across all defence domains — land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace.
- Focuses on:
- Free and open Indo-Pacific, interoperability, maritime security, and free flow of commerce.
- Cooperating with like-minded partners such as Quad, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and bolstering defence industrial innovation through advanced technology partnerships.
- Underscores a shared intent to respond jointly to common security threats, deter conflict, and uphold the sovereignty of regional partners.
India–U.S. Defence Cooperation (2002 – 2025)
- India–U.S. defence ties evolved from information sharing (2002) → framework cooperation (2005) → logistics and interoperability (2016–20) → industrial and strategic convergence (2025).
- Became Major Defence Partners in 2016 → advanced technology access.
- 4 foundational agreements
- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), 2002
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), 2016
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), 2018
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA), 2020
Major India-US defence agreements
| Domain | Cooperation |
|---|---|
| Information & Intelligence Sharing | • General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), 2002 → Baseline agreement enabling exchange of classified military information under secure protocols. • Industrial Security Annex (2019) → Extension of GSOMIA for secure industry-to-industry information sharing. |
| Strategic Frameworks & Renewals | • Defence Framework Agreement (2005 – 2015) → Institutionalised long-term defence cooperation. • Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation (2013) → Reaffirmed and expanded 2005 framework vision. • Renewed Framework Agreement (2015 – 2025) → Added DTTI and co-development focus. • 10-Year Framework Agreement (2025 – 2035) → Deepens integration under COMPACT initiative. |
| Logistics & Operational Support | • LEMOA (2016) → Reciprocal access for logistics, refuelling, and repair of warships, aircraft, and troops during exercises or emergencies. |
| Interoperability & Secure Communication | • COMCASA (2018) → Enables encrypted communication links between Indian and U.S. military assets. • BECA (2020) → Allows exchange of geospatial and satellite data for targeting accuracy and navigation. |
| Strategic Recognition & Industrial Collaboration | • Major Defence Partner Status (2016) → Recognition granting India access to advanced U.S. defence technologies. • COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) Initiative, 2025 → Broad defence-commerce-technology framework including co-production, regulatory easing, and innovation tie-ups. |
ADMM-Plus
- a platform for ASEAN and its 8 Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
- 8 Dialogue Partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the US.
- The inaugural ADMM-Plus meeting was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2010.
Probe agencies cannot force lawyers to reveal client info
- Section 132, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023: an advocate cannot be coerced into revealing any information with respect to the client he represents or the cause he is engaged to prosecute or defend. Exceptions are:
- If client gives consent to reveal it.
- If it is for an illegal purpose or leads to a crime.
- Violates the client’s fundamental right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution.
- Lawyers’ ability to protect their clients without fear is part of their fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) and Article 21 of the Constitution, coupled with the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961.
Indian Railways to patronise ‘Aabhar’ online store
- Aabhar online store: an e-commerce platform launched on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
- Showcases exquisite gift items made by indigenous tribes, handloom weavers, artisans, and women-led enterprises.
- Includes items under the One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI) frameworks, promoting local artisans and India’s cultural heritage as part of the government’s “Vocal for Local” campaign.
- Patronage by Indian Railways supports campaigns such as “One Station One Product” (OSOP).
- GeM portal: launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Facilitates transparent and efficient public procurement.
- Ensures inclusivity by providing a platform for MSMEs, startups, artisans, and women entrepreneurs.
Quick Picks
- Population Census 2027: India’s first fully digital census and the first census in Independent India to include comprehensive caste enumeration across all communities.
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): a forum for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim → established in 1989; HQ in Singapore.
- FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: inaugurated at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, marking the prestigious tournament’s return to India after 23 years.
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