Current Affairs - International

The Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) Program in India is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This initiative aims to enhance India’s logistics infrastructure, reduce logistics costs, and improve efficiency through multimodal transportation, warehousing standardization, and digital transformation in trade logistics. The SMILE Program supports the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing and supply chain hub. ADB’s support is vital for aligning India’s logistics sector with international standards and boosting global competitiveness.

The ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event, where UNESCO released the report "Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well," was hosted by France on March 27-28, 2025. The report focuses on the nutritional quality of school meals globally, urging governments to enhance food standards in schools. It highlights the importance of nutritious meals in reducing child undernourishment and boosting academic performance. The event underscored the global need for improved school meal programs, with France playing a key role in promoting nutrition-focused initiatives worldwide.

The Gaia mission, which mapped 2 billion stars, was conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission concluded on January 15, 2025, after 12 years of operation due to the depletion of its cold gas propellant. Gaia provided the most detailed 3D map of the Milky Way, uncovering insights into galactic collisions, star clusters, and black holes. Launched in December 2013, Gaia operated around the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, offering an unparalleled view of our galaxy.

India’s recent formalization of its membership in the Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN), an initiative led by the United States to secure supply chains for critical minerals. This move highlights India’s strategic alignment with global efforts to enhance the stability and security of mineral resources essential for economic and technological development. The MSFN, building on the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) initiated in 2022, aims to mitigate supply chain risks associated with critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, which are vital for clean energy technologies and digital infrastructure.

India launched ‘Operation Brahma’ as an emergency relief mission to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake on March 29, 2025. This mission included disaster relief, search and rescue operations, and medical support. India quickly mobilized resources, with Indian Air Force aircraft carrying essential supplies and setting up a field hospital in the affected regions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direct communication with Myanmar’s leadership underscored India’s commitment to being a first responder in times of crisis, reflecting strong bilateral ties and regional solidarity.