Why in the News?

• Escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia have renewed attention on critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Malacca Strait.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Maritime Chokepoints (Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Malacca Strait)
• News Summary (Significance of the Chokepoints)

Strategic Maritime Chokepoints in the Indian Ocean

• Maritime chokepoints are narrow sea routes through which a substantial volume of global trade and energy supplies pass.
• Any disruption in these routes can significantly affect global shipping, oil prices, supply chains, and energy security.
• The Indian Ocean region hosts some of the world’s most important chokepoints, particularly for oil and container trade.

Strait of Hormuz

• The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
• It is one of the most critical energy chokepoints in the world because:

• Around 20-25% of the global oil trade passes through it.
• Major Gulf oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, and Qatar depend on this route.
• India, China, Japan, and European countries rely heavily on oil shipments passing through the strait.

• Any blockade or military disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can trigger sharp increases in global crude oil prices and disrupt international trade.

Bab-el-Mandeb Strait

• The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait lies between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti/Eritrea in Africa. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, ultimately linking maritime traffic to the Suez Canal.
• Its importance lies in the fact that:

• It serves as a key route for Europe-Asia trade.
• Nearly 10% of the global seaborne oil trade passes through this route.
• It is essential for container shipping between Asia and Europe.

• Recent attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region have increased security concerns and disrupted shipping routes, forcing vessels to take longer alternate routes.

Malacca Strait

• The Malacca Strait, located between Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
• It is one of the busiest shipping routes globally because:

• Nearly one-fourth of global trade passes through it.
• Around 80% of China’s oil imports transit through this route.
• It is vital for energy imports of India, China, Japan, and South Korea.

• Due to its strategic significance, the Malacca Strait is often viewed as a potential geopolitical vulnerability, especially in the context of Indo-Pacific competition.

News Summary

• While global attention remains focused on the Strait of Hormuz, two additional chokepoints in the Indian Ocean, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Malacca Strait, are equally critical for global commerce and energy movement.
• Concerns Over Strait of Hormuz
  • Amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel/US, concerns have emerged regarding possible disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The Strait handles nearly one-fifth of global oil supply, making it indispensable for global energy markets. Even temporary disruptions can raise freight costs, fuel inflation, and affect energy-importing countries like India.

Red Sea Crisis and Bab-el-Mandeb Risks

• Shipping through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait has already faced disruptions due to attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region. As a result:

• Several shipping companies diverted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
• Shipping time increased significantly.
• Freight and insurance costs rose sharply.

• This demonstrates how instability in one chokepoint can disrupt global supply chains.

Limited Alternatives to Chokepoints

• Experts underline that there are few practical alternatives to these narrow maritime passages. For example:

• Ships bypassing Bab-el-Mandeb through the Cape of Good Hope face higher transport costs and delays.
• Alternative pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz have limited capacity.

• Thus, uninterrupted functioning of these chokepoints remains essential for global economic stability.

Context:

• India and Italy are witnessing a major transformation in bilateral relations, with both countries elevating their engagement into a Special Strategic Partnership.
• Against the backdrop of geopolitical flux, technological disruption, energy transition, and supply chain restructuring, the partnership reflects a convergence of democratic values, economic priorities, and strategic interests.

A Partnership Shaped by a Changing Global Order:

• The prosperity and security in the 21st century will increasingly depend upon innovation, resilient supply chains, technological leadership, and sustainable development.
• India and Italy view each other as reliable democratic partners capable of contributing to a more stable and multipolar world order amid the contemporary international system of geopolitical rivalries.

Expanding Economic Cooperation:

• A key pillar of the partnership is economic integration driven by complementarities between:
  • Italy’s industrial and manufacturing expertise, and
  • India’s scale, skilled workforce, digital ecosystem, and entrepreneurial dynamism.
• Italy is recognised globally for high-quality manufacturing, design, machinery, and engineering capabilities under the globally respected “Made in Italy” brand.
• India, on the other hand, offers rapid economic growth, expanding domestic market, strong start-up ecosystem, competitive engineering talent, more than 100 unicorns and nearly 200,000 start-ups.
• The partnership is not a simple trade relationship, but a process of co-creation of value, where the industrial strengths of both nations amplify each other.

EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA):

• The proposed European Union (EU)–India FTA is expected to significantly deepen trade and investment flows.
• Italy and India aim to surpass the target of €20 billion bilateral trade by 2029. Priority sectors include -
  • Defence and aerospace,
  • Clean technologies,
  • Machinery and automotive components,
  • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals,
  • Textiles,
  • Agri-food sector,
  • Tourism and hospitality.
• The growing presence of over 1,000 Indian and Italian companies in each other’s markets reflects increasing supply chain integration and mutual confidence.

Technology and Innovation at the Core:

• Technological transformation: It is the defining feature of future global politics and economics. India and Italy seek cooperation in strategic and emerging technologies such as:
  • AI and quantum computing,
  • Advanced manufacturing,
  • Critical minerals,
  • Digital infrastructure,
  • Supercomputing
• Synergy in innovation ecosystems:
  • India’s strength lies in digital public infrastructure (DPI), large-scale digital adoption, skilled IT workforce, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
  • Italy contributes advanced industrial capabilities, research excellence, precision manufacturing, and ethical technological frameworks.
  • Collaboration between universities, research institutions, and innovation centres is expected to further institutionalise this technological partnership.

Advocates of Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance:

• India and Italy advocate a human-centred approach to AI, combining -
  • India’s vision of MANAV (technology centred on human welfare), and
  • Italy’s concept of “algor-ethics”, rooted in European humanist traditions.
• The partnership seeks to ensure that AI -
  • Promotes social empowerment,
  • Protects human dignity,
  • Does not undermine democratic institutions,
  • Avoids manipulation of public opinion,
  • Bridges digital divides instead of deepening inequalities.
• This approach assumes special relevance for -
  • The Global South, where accessible and multilingual digital technologies can accelerate inclusive development.
  • Italy’s leadership during the G7 Presidency, and the outcomes of the AI Impact Summit 2026 held in New Delhi.

Cooperation in High-Technology Strategic Sectors:

• Space:
  • India’s achievements in satellite technology, space exploration, and cost-effective space missions, complement Italy’s strengths in aerospace engineering, precision technologies, etc.
  • This opens opportunities for joint missions, satellite applications, and next-generation aerospace technologies.
• Security and defence cooperation:
  • Both nations recognise that economic prosperity depends on security and stability.
  • Therefore, cooperation is increasing in defence manufacturing, maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and combating organised crime.
  • The focus on securing critical maritime routes is especially important in the context of growing geopolitical contestation in the Indo-Pacific and adjoining regions.

Energy Transition and Green Partnership - A Strategic Pillar:

• India and Italy are collaborating in renewable energy, green hydrogen, smart grids, sustainable infrastructure, and energy diversification.
• India’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for green hydrogen exports aligns with Italy’s expertise in renewable technologies and Europe’s energy requirements.
• This highlights cooperation under major India-led global initiatives such as International Solar Alliance, CDRI and Global Biofuels Alliance.
• These initiatives demonstrate India’s growing role in global climate governance and sustainable development diplomacy.

“Indo-Mediterranean” Geopolitical Space:

• The Indo-Pacific regions are no longer separate geopolitical theatres but interconnected corridors of trade, technology, energy, data flows, and supply chains.
• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): The proposed corridor is aimed at:
  • Enhancing transport connectivity,
  • Building resilient supply chains,
  • Strengthening digital and energy networks,
  • Promoting economic integration across continents.
• For India, IMEC serves as both a strategic alternative to existing connectivity architectures, and a platform to deepen engagement with Europe and West Asia. Italy’s participation adds strategic depth to this initiative.

Civilisational Values as the Foundation of Partnership:

• India’s philosophical concepts such as Dharma (responsibility and ethical conduct), and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”), and Italy’s renaissance-inspired humanist traditions emphasise:
  • Human dignity,
  • Cultural dialogue,
  • Social harmony.
• Thus, the India–Italy partnership is envisioned not merely as a transactional arrangement, but as a people-centric and values-based relationship.

Conclusion:

• If nurtured with sustained political commitment, institutional cooperation, and people-to-people engagement, this partnership can become a model of constructive collaboration between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
• This combines economic ambition with ethical responsibility and strategic vision with human-centred development.

Context

• India’s transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) has gained momentum due to rising crude oil prices and recurring geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which repeatedly expose the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
• Electric two-wheelers are becoming increasingly popular among urban commuters because of their affordability, low maintenance costs, and immediate fuel savings.
• However, the larger challenge of electrification lies not in scooters or passenger vehicles, but in building a powerful and reliable electricity grid capable of supporting large-scale transport demand, especially from freight transportation.

The Arithmetic of a Second Power System

• Rising Electricity Demand
  • India currently has nearly 420 million registered vehicles. Full electrification of this fleet would require an additional 900–1,100 TWh of electricity every year.
  • Even if only half the fleet becomes electric by 2047, around 500 TWh of extra electricity generation would still be necessary, equivalent to nearly one-third of India’s present annual power production.
  • Electrifying transport therefore means constructing a second large-scale power system alongside the existing one.
• Limited Grid Impact of Two-Wheelers
  • Electric scooters and motorcycles dominate public attention because they are highly visible and politically attractive.
  • Subsidies and increasing petrol prices have accelerated their adoption.
  • Yet their actual burden on the grid remains relatively small. Even if all 309 million two-wheelers were electrified, they would require only 55–75 TWh annually, less than 7% of total projected EV electricity demand.
  • Their visibility is therefore much greater than their actual impact on electricity consumption.

The Real Challenge: Freight Transport

• India has around 6.26 million heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), each operating with high energy intensity and covering nearly 60,000 km annually.
• Electrifying these vehicles alone would require approximately 450–565 TWh of electricity every year.
• When medium goods vehicles (MGVs) are included, total freight demand rises to nearly 500–600 TWh.
• Thus, a very small percentage of vehicles accounts for the majority of future EV-related electricity demand.
• Electrifying India’s roads therefore largely means electrifying its supply chains, logistics systems, and industrial transportation networks.

What Happens at Seven in the Evening?

• The Problem of Peak Demand
  • If millions of EVs begin charging simultaneously during evening hours, the grid could experience severe stress, leading to power shortages, tariff increases, and supply instability.
  • Across several states, operators seeking high-tension charging connections already face delays because financially stressed discoms lack the infrastructure and funding required for large-scale upgrades.
• Smart Charging Solutions
  • Time-of-use pricing, workplace charging during daytime solar hours, battery-swapping networks, and large-scale energy storage systems can distribute electricity demand more efficiently throughout the day.
  • However, India still lacks a national standard ensuring that EV chargers respond intelligently to grid conditions.
  • Chargers installed today without smart-charging capability may become expensive retrofit liabilities in the future.

What the Grid Actually Needs?

• Need for Reliable and Clean Energy
  • Transport electrification requires both massive additional electricity generation and uninterrupted reliability.
  • Freight depots, highways, and urban charging hubs need continuous power throughout the day and night.
  • Different energy sources offer different advantages. Solar power and wind energy provide scalable and low-cost clean electricity but depend heavily on weather conditions and operate at lower capacity factors.
  • Nuclear power offers stable, low-carbon baseload energy, although it requires high investment and long construction periods.
• Role of Energy Storage and Diversification
  • Pumped hydro, battery storage, and limited use of natural gas can help balance fluctuations between electricity generation and demand.
  • A diversified and cleaner energy mix is therefore essential for sustaining EV growth.
  • Expanding coal dependence would weaken the environmental benefits of electrification.
  • Replacing imported oil with imported coal would merely shift India’s energy dependence while continuing high carbon emissions.

Steps to Take

• Strengthening Policy and Infrastructure
  • Several policy measures are essential for a sustainable EV transition. EV demand projections must become central to national capacity planning.
  • Smart-charging standards should be mandatory for all new charging infrastructure.
  • Important freight corridors such as the Golden Quadrilateral and Dedicated Freight Corridors require coordinated power planning before electric trucking expands commercially.
• Institutional Coordination and Financial Reforms
  • Strong coordination between ministries responsible for transport, power, and finance is necessary for effective implementation.
  • Financial reforms under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) can strengthen discoms and improve last-mile electricity delivery.

Conclusion

• India’s EV transition is inevitable, but its long-term success depends on whether the country can build a resilient, clean, and technologically advanced power system.
• Electric scooters may symbolize the beginning of change, but the future of sustainable mobility will ultimately depend on the strength of the grid powering India’s roads, industries, and freight networks.
• Electrification is therefore not merely a transportation reform; it is a complete transformation of India’s energy and infrastructure systems.

About Barda Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Barda Hills of Gujarat, near the coastal city of Porbandar.
• Known locally as Jam Barda, it was once a private hunting ground for the royal families of Jamnagar and Porbandar.
• It is surrounded by agricultural fields, wastelands, and forest, and the terrain of Barda is almost hilly.
• Rivers: There are two waterways, the Bileshvary River and the Joghri River, and two dams, Khambala and Fodara.
• Tribes: Ethnic races such as Maldharis, Bharvads, Rabaris, and Gadhvis live in this region.
• The sanctuary is a significant biodiversity hotspot and a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions.
• To develop Barda as the second home for the Asiatic lion, the state government implemented the ‘Gir-Barda Project’ in 1979.
• It is the first fully protected satellite lion habitat in Gujarat.
• Flora:
  • About 650 plant and tree species constitute the flora of the park, and that includes trees and plants like Babul, Bamboo, Amli, Jamun, Dhundhlo, Ber, Gorad, Rayan, Dhav, etc.
  • Medicinal plants of great use grow profusely within the forested belt of the sanctuary.
• Fauna:
  • It shelters species like leopards, wolves, sambar deer, chinkara, hyenas, and blue bulls (nilgai).
  • The sanctuary is also a paradise for bird watchers, with numerous resident and migratory birds such as eagles, owls, crested serpent eagles, and partridges found here.

About Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC):

• It is an emergency declaration formally announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to a crisis of international proportions that can affect people’s health.
• It is the WHO’s highest level of global health alert.
• Such a declaration may require immediate action at a global level against the international spread of disease.
• A PHEIC is subject to the International Health Regulations (IHR), which require those states involved to promptly respond to the crisis at hand.
• PHEICs are decided upon by a governing body of international experts known as the IHR Emergency Committee, a group formed in the aftermath of the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak.
• The declaration is reviewed on a tri-monthly basis and renewed as needed.
• However, certain disease outbreaks can be declared a PHEIC without the approval of the IHR.
• Alongside infectious disease, a PHEIC can also be declared in response to outbreaks of public health hazards such as chemical agents or radioactive materials.

Key Facts about International Health Regulations (IHR):

• The IHR was adopted by the Health Assembly (decision-making body of WHO) in 1969 in an effort to prevent the spread of disease across national borders.
• Following the chaotic global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that lasted between 2002 and 2004, revisions were made to the IHR to account for such global emergencies.
• A new IHR was adopted at the 58th World Health Assembly in May 2005.
• The IHR 2005 was an international agreement among 196 countries committed to upholding global health security.
• WHO was deemed the coordinating body of this agreement. 

About Matua Community:

• The Matua community, a marginalized Hindu sect with roots in the 19th century, holds a significant socio- religious presence in the Bengal region, particularly across Bangladesh and West Bengal.
• Founded by Harichand Thakur in the 1860s, the Matua movement arose as a response to the deep-seated caste discrimination present within Hindu society at the time.
• Religious Beliefs:
  • As followers of the Matua faith, the community primarily belongs to the “Namashudra” caste, traditionally regarded as a lower-caste group within Hinduism.
  • Harichand Thakur’s teachings centered on principles of social equality, human dignity, and the empowerment of marginalized groups through education and religious reform, making the Matua movement a powerful counterforce to caste oppression.
  • The Matua sect is monotheist. It does not follow Vedic rituals, and singing hymns in praise of the deity is their way of prayer and meditation.
  • They believe that salvation lies in faith and devotion. Their ultimate objective is to attain truth through meditation and worship.
  • The Matua have no distinctions of caste, creed, or class. They believe that everyone is a child of God.
  • Shrishriharililamrta is a principal religious scripture of the Matua.
• Following the partition of Bengal in 1947, the Matua community experienced profound socio-political shifts.
• Many Matua families migrated to India to escape religious and political persecution, although a large portion of the community remained in what later became Bangladesh.
• Today, Matuas constitute the second largest SC population of West Bengal.

About IN–SPACe:

• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
• It is formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.
• IN-SPACe is responsible to promote, enable, authorize and supervise various space activities of non-governmental entities (NGEs) including
  • building launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services;
  • sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and
  • establishing of new space infrastructure and facilities.
• The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and NGEs and assesses how to utilize India’s space resources better and increase space-based activities.
• It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Three Directorates, Promotion Directorate (PD), Technical Directorate (TD) and Program Management and Authorization Directorate (PMAD) are carrying out the functions of IN-SPACe.

About Red Sand Boa:

• The Red Sand Boa, commonly called the Indian Sand Boa, is a non-venomous snake species found throughout the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• Scientific Name: Eryx johnii
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • The species is endemic to Iran, Pakistan, and India.
  • These snakes prefer dry, sandy, and loose soil environments that support their fossorial lifestyle.
  • It is ovoviviparous and nocturnal and spends the majority of its time underground.
• Appearance:
  • Unlike most snakes, the tail is almost as thick as the body and gives the reptile the appearance of being “double-headed”.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

About PM SHRI Scheme:

• The Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) Scheme is a centrally sponsored initiative launched by the Government of India under the guidance of the Ministry of Education.
• It aims to transform school education across the nation by developing over 14,500 model schools that reflect the spirit and vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• These schools will be managed by the Central Government, State and Union Territory Governments, local bodies, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).
• Key Features of PM SHRI Schools
  • Enhanced infrastructure: Labs, libraries, art rooms.
  • Integration of technology: Smart classrooms and digital learning tools.
  • Holistic learning approach: Play-based learning in the early years, with flexible teaching methods.
  • School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF): Regular evaluation to maintain high standards.
  • Time Period: 5 years (2022-23 to 2026-27).
• Funding Pattern:
  • For General States and UTs with Legislature: The funding ratio is 60:40, where 60% of the funds are provided by the Central Government and 40% by the State or UT Government.
  • Northeastern and Himalayan States, including Jammu & Kashmir: The funding ratio is 90:10, with the Centre contributing 90% of the total cost.
  • For Union Territories without a Legislature: The scheme is fully funded by the Central Government (100%).