UPSC Key: India-US Defence Pact, MGNREGS in West Bengal, and India’s Projected $30 Trillion Economy
India and the US signed a 10-year Defence Framework Pact (2025–2035), expanding collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology, and Indo-Pacific security despite ongoing trade tensions. The Supreme Court allowed restarting MGNREGS in West Bengal after a 3.5-year hiatus, underlining the scheme’s role in rural employment. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal projected India’s economy to reach $30 trillion in 25 years, influencing its long-term trade strategy.
The article discusses three major current affairs relevant to UPSC aspirants. First, India and the US have inked a 10-year Defence Framework Pact (2025–2035), aimed at deepening defence cooperation, including joint production, technology transfer, intelligence sharing, and enhanced maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. This comes despite recent trade tensions over US tariffs on Indian exports, highlighting the resilience of strategic ties. The pact builds on earlier agreements like LEMOA, COMCASA, and BECA, and was signed during a bilateral meeting at the ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur. Second, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for resuming the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal after a 3.5-year suspension due to alleged fund misuse, restoring a critical social safety net for rural households. Third, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal asserted India’s approach to trade negotiations is long-term, projecting the economy to reach $30 trillion in 25 years. This forward-looking stance is shaping India’s negotiations with major partners like the US, even as current GDP calculations and exchange rate dynamics present challenges. These developments underscore India’s evolving strategic partnerships, domestic policy challenges, and aspirations for global economic stature.
