Current Affairs - International

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) partnered with the Ministry of Rural Development to implement the Bima Sakhi Yojana, a targeted initiative designed to empower rural women through structured insurance career opportunities. This collaboration supports broader national goals such as financial inclusion, women-led development, and rural economic upliftment. Under the scheme, women are trained and enrolled as insurance agents, gaining access to performance-based stipends and long-term career benefits. Integrated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), the program also aligns with efforts to reduce poverty and promote entrepreneurship among rural women.

India and Nepal signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for five High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs), focusing on key sectors like education and health. These projects, funded under Indian Grant Assistance, aim to strengthen grassroots-level development in Nepal and will be executed through local authorities and municipalities. The total estimated cost for these initiatives is NPR 390 million. This collaboration highlights the ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral ties between India and Nepal through development cooperation and people-centric projects that directly benefit communities in Nepal.

On July 21, 2025, a replica of the Ashoka Pillar was unveiled at the Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya, a prominent Buddhist temple in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka. This initiative serves as a powerful symbol of the deep-rooted spiritual and cultural connections between India and Sri Lanka, particularly through their shared Buddhist heritage. The pillar honours Emperor Ashoka’s vital role in the spread of Buddhism, especially his contribution to Sri Lankan Buddhist civilisation through his children, Arhat Mahinda and Arhat Sangamitta. Sponsored by Tibetan Buddhist leader Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, the project exemplifies India’s commitment to preserving and promoting regional Buddhist ties.

The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2025 took place in the Sunshine Coast, a coastal region in Australia. India achieved its highest-ever rank at the IMO, finishing 7th globally with an impressive total of 193 out of 252 points. The Indian team secured 3 gold medals, 2 silver, and 1 bronze, marking a historic performance. Although the results were officially announced in Mumbai by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, the competition itself was hosted in Australia, which served as the international venue for this major academic event.

In July 2025, the United States officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This decision followed the group’s involvement in a deadly attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. The designation enables the imposition of economic sanctions, travel bans, and asset freezes, while also allowing legal action against any U.S.-based support networks. This move significantly boosts global efforts to curb terrorist financing and operations and reflects deepening counter-terrorism cooperation between India and the U.S., especially concerning Pakistan-backed proxy groups like TRF, which operates under Lashkar-e-Taiba’s influence.