10.04.25

Exercise Name: Naval Exercise INDRA-2025

Edition: 14th

Participating Nations: India and Russia

Dates: March 28 to April 2, 2025

Location: Chennai (Harbour Phase) and Bay of Bengal (Sea Phase)

Phases:

• Harbour Phase: Expert exchanges, ship visits, sports in Chennai.
• Sea Phase: Tactical maneuvers, anti-air operations, helicopter landings in the Bay of Bengal.

Participating Ships: Russian

Objective:

• Enhance interoperability to counter maritime threats.
• Promote global peace and
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  stability.
• Strengthen joint operations.
• Reinforce India-Russia defence ties.
• Enhance collective maritime security.
• Show commitment to rules-based maritime order.

Activities: Coordinated maneuvers, simulated engagements, exchange of best practices.

Significance:

• Cornerstone of India-Russia defence relations since 2003.
• Demonstrates shared commitment to maritime security.
• Addresses contemporary maritime security challenges.
• Fosters understanding of operational doctrines.
• Enhances the ability to operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments.

Arctic Tundra as a Carbon Source: The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ), including the Arctic tundra, is shifting from a carbon sink to a carbon source due to increased wildfires and permafrost thaw.

NOAA’s 2024 Arctic Report Card: Confirms that frequent fires and fossil fuel pollution are turning the Arctic tundra into a carbon source.

Nature Climate Change Study (2025): Found that over 30% of the ABZ has

Permafrost Thaw: Rising temperatures cause permafrost to thaw, releasing carbon dioxide and methane, accelerating global warming.

Wildfire Feedback Loop: Wildfires release carbon, increasing global warming, which thaws more permafrost, leading to more fires and emissions.

Key Areas of Carbon Emission: Alaska accounts for 44% of new ABZ emissions, with northern Europe and Siberia contributing 25% and 13% respectively.

Loss of Carbon Absorption: Carbon emissions from the longer, non-summer months in the ABZ have surpassed carbon dioxide absorption during the summer.

Extreme Weather Events: Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity, releasing large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere.

India’s Involvement: India studies climate impacts in the Arctic via its Himadri research station and participates in the Arctic Council, focusing on sustainable development.

Global Wildfires: Fires in Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Japan released substantial carbon, highlighting the global scale of carbon emissions from wildfires,

Withdrawals from the Ottawa Convention: Several NATO members, including Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, are withdrawing from the 1997 Ottawa Convention (Landmine Treaty).

Reason for Withdrawal: Increased security threats from Russia, amid the Russia-Ukraine war, are the primary reason. Countries fear Russia may re-arm during a ceasefire and pose a greater danger. They also want to level the playing field with Russia, which is not a signatory to the treaty.

Ottawa Convention (1997): It bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Signatories must destroy stockpiles within 4 years, clear mined areas, and assist victims.

Impact of Withdrawals: Countries can resume producing,

Funding Cuts: Global demining efforts are suffering from significant cuts in US funding. The US has historically been the largest funder of mine action.

Civilian Victims: Over 80% of landmine victims are civilians. Ukraine is now the most mined country globally, with a high number of civilian casualties.

Stockpile Obligations: The convention requires countries to destroy landmine stockpiles within four years, but compliance is not universal.

Cluster Munitions: Some countries withdrawing from the Landmine Treaty are also considering leaving the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The US, which is not a signatory, transferred cluster munitions to Ukraine in 2023.