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The Supreme Court has delivered a split verdict in a custodial death case in which the police officers were convicted under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code.

About Custodial Death

• Death that takes place while a person is in custody, and is either directly or indirectly related to or significantly attributable to activities that were carried out while the person was in custody. 
• Coverage: Covers fatalities that take place in a jail, on a police or even other vehicle, at a private or medical facility, or in a public space.
• Custody:  Someone assigned for the protection of care or guardianship of something.

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Constitutional Provisions Related to Custody in India

• Article 20: Grants protection against arbitrary and excessive punishment to an accused person, whether a citizen or foreigner or legal person like a company or a corporation
• Article 21:  No individual will be denied of his life or individual freedom with the exception of as per strategy set up by law.
• Article 22: Guarantees protection against arrest and detention in certain cases and provides that no person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed of the grounds of such arrest.

Custody and Its Types

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NGT asks UP government why the proposal to notify Dhanauri wetland as a Ramsar site has not been sent to the Centre.

About Dhanauri Wetland

• It is a Bird-watching area located in Dhanauri village near Dankaur in Uttar Pradesh.
• The wetland is already home to 217 bird species.
• During peak migratory seasons, between November and March, the population of waterfowl reaches up to 50,000.
• It is home to  around 150 Sarus Crane which is also the State Bird Of Uttar Pradesh.
• It has received recognition as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International and has been documented by the BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society).

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Ramsar Site Designation Criteria

• Representing rare or unique natural wetland types.
• Supporting endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
• Maintaining biodiversity in specific biogeographic regions.
• Offering refuge during adverse conditions.
• Regularly accommodating 20,000 or more waterbirds.
• Sustaining 1% of a population of a single water-bird species.
• Serving as a critical source of food, spawning grounds, nurseries, and migration paths for fish.
• Regularly supporting 1% of a population of non-avian wetland-dependent animal species

Dhanauri wetland fulfils two key Ramsar site criteria out of nine

• It hosts over 1% of the biogeographic Sarus crane population.
• The area serves as a congregation site for 20,000+ waterfowls and various other species.

What is a wetland ?

• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands  as “Areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”
• Comprise areas that transition between terrestrial (land) areas and aquatic (water) areas.

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Ramsar Convention

• Named after Ramsar in Iran where the convention was ratified in 1971 which came into force in 1975.
• Three pillars of the Convention are:
• • Work towards the wise use of all their wetlands.
  • Designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the “Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management.
  • Cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species

Ramsar Sites of India

• As of August 2024, India has 85 Ramsar sites which is highest in South Asia.
• Tamil Nadu with 18 sites has the most Ramsar sites in India followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 sites.
• These sites play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, protecting endangered species, and ensuring sustainable use of water resources.
• The addition of Dhanauri to this prestigious list would further solidify India’s commitment to wetland conservation, supporting its diverse birdlife and ecosystems.

Montreux Record

• Maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
• Register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
• Two wetlands in India are currently on the Montreux Record:
  • Keoladeo National Park; Rajasthan
  • Loktak Lake; Manipur

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India has made significant progress in reducing new HIV infections with 44% reduction since 2010, surpassing the global reduction rate of 39%.

India Pledges to End HIV/AIDS by 2030 at UN Event

• The announcement was made by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare at an UN event with theme of  ‘Revitalized Multilateralism: Recommitting to Ending AIDS Together’
• She also emphasized India’s commitment to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at an UN event.
• The event was organized by UNAIDS, the Global Fund, and PEPFAR (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).

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About AIDS

• AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is a chronic disease that occurs when the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) damages the body’s immune system.HIV is a virus that targets and weakens the body’s immune system.
• If untreated, it can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a life-threatening condition where the immune system fails.
• People living with AIDS  are vulnerable to opportunistic infections and certain cancers.

Classification and Function

• HIV belongs to the lentivirus group, a subtype of retrovirus.
•  It integrates its genetic material into the host cell’s DNA, using the host’s cellular machinery to replicate.
• HIV specifically attacks T-helper cells (also known as CD4 cells), a type of white blood cell crucial for immune defence.
  • T cells are responsible for identifying infections and anomalies in the body. 
• By destroying CD4 cells, HIV severely damages the immune system, reducing its ability to fight infections.

Transmission

• Sexually transmitted : through contact with infected body fluids during sexual activity.
• Blood contact: including through sharing contaminated needles, and illicit injection drug use.
• Mother to child: during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

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Medical Remedies

• Infected individuals with untreated HIV face a declining number of CD4 cells, leading to immune system collapse and eventual progression to AIDS, where even minor infections become life-threatening. 
• Early detection and treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) can prevent progression to AIDS and allow individuals to live longer, healthier lives.

Progress in India’s Fight Against HIV/AIDS

• Reduction in New Infections:
  • New annual HIV infections have decreased by 44% since 2010.
  • India has outperformed the global reduction rate of 39%.
  • Adult HIV prevalence in India stands at 0.2%, with around 66,400 new HIV infections estimated annually.
  • Over 2.5 million people are currently living with HIV in India.

Government Initiatives

• National AIDS Control Programme:
  • The National AIDS and STD Control Programme (2021-2026), fully funded by the Indian government, is in its fifth phase.
  • It was launched in 1992 to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and STDs.
• HIV Testing and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):
  • India offers free HIV and syphilis testing to all pregnant women, conducting over 30 million free HIV tests annually.
  • More than 1.7 million people are receiving free ART through public healthcare systems.
• Global Contributions:
  • India is the largest global supplier of antiretroviral medicines, producing over 70% of the world’s supply, ensuring affordable access to life-saving treatments globally.
• Stigma Reduction and Legal Framework:
  • Efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma have been strengthened by the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017.
  • It mandates that all Indian states appoint an ombudsman to address grievances and promote HIV prevention policies.
• Integrated Health Approaches:
  • India’s efforts to integrate national health programs for tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and non-communicable diseases are helping address comorbidities in people living with HIV.
• Youth-targeted Initiatives:
  • Initiatives like Red Ribbon Clubs and awareness campaigns such as the RED RUN Marathon, both of which play a crucial role in spreading awareness and combating HIV/AIDS.

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The “Make in India” initiative, which marked its 10th anniversary in September 2024, which led to overseas increase in  inflows of FDI by 119% compared to 2004-2014.

Key Highlights of the Decade

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): 
  • India attracted cumulative FDI inflows of USD 667.4 billion from 2014 to 2024, a 119% increase from the previous decade.
  • The manufacturing sector alone saw a 69% rise in FDI equity inflows, amounting to USD 165.1 billion.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: 
  • Since its introduction in 2020, PLI has garnered ₹1.32 lakh crore in investments, driving manufacturing output of ₹10.90 lakh crore and creating 8.5 lakh jobs.
• Exports & Employment: 
  • Merchandise exports exceeded USD 437 billion in FY 2023-24.
  • Manufacturing employment grew from 57 million in 2017-18 to 64.4 million in 2022-23.
• Ease of Doing Business: 
  • India’s rank improved from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2019. 
  • Over 42,000 compliances have been reduced, and the Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 decriminalised 183 provisions across various laws to further simplify business operations.

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About Make in India

• Launched in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
• Aim: 
  • To facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property & build best in class manufacturing infrastructure.
  • To transform India into a global hub for design and manufacturing.
• Vocal for Local:
  • Seen as an important ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative, its objective is to
    • To boost India’s manufacturing capabilities and 
    • To showcase its industrial potential globally
• Four Pillars of “Make in India” initiative: 
  • New Processes: To enhance the business environment, promote entrepreneurship and startups – ‘ease of doing business’ became a crucial factor.
  • New Infrastructure: Development of industrial corridors, smart cities, integrating state-of-the-art technology and high-speed communication to create world-class infrastructure, improving intellectual property rights (IPR) infrastructure etc. 
  • New Sectors: Opening of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors like Defence Production, Insurance, Medical Devices, Construction, and Railway infrastructure. 
  • New Mindset: The government embraced a role as a facilitator rather than a regulator. 

Strategic Reforms to support Make in India

• Semiconductor Ecosystem: The ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Program supports semiconductor and display manufacturing, boosting technological growth.
• National Single Window System (NSWS): Introduced in 2021, NSWS streamlines approvals across multiple ministries and states, facilitating investment and business setup.
• PM Gatishakti & National Logistics Policy: These initiatives focus on improving infrastructure and logistics efficiency, making Indian products globally competitive.
• Industrial Corridors & Infrastructure Development: Significant investments have been made to enhance industrial infrastructure, with 11 corridors approved and ₹28,602 crore allocated for new projects.
• Focus on Startups and Innovation: The Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, has nurtured over 1,40,803 recognized startups, creating 15.5 lakh direct jobs.

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As India looks ahead with “Make in India 2.0”, the focus will shift towards sustainability, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, ensuring global competitiveness and self-reliance for the future.

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The Spices Board of India, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has unveiled the SPICED scheme (Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development).

About SPICED Scheme

• Aim: To boost spice exports and improve cardamom productivity.
• Budget: Rs. 422.30 crore for implementation till FY 2025-26.
• Online Applications: Open since September 20, 2024 for exporters with CRES.
• Geo-tagging and Transparency: Scheme to be geo-tagged, information on fund availability and application status accessible on Spices Board website.

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Key Objectives and Components of the SPICED Scheme

• Mission Value Addition and Innovation: to promote the production of value-added spice products.
• Mission Clean and Safe Spices: focuses on ensuring post-harvest improvements and maintaining high food safety standards.
• Promotion of GI (Geographical Indication) spices: to strengthen India’s global brand recognition.
• Empowering Farmer Groups and FPOs: Special emphasis on Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), farmer clusters under ODOP (One District One Product), and DEH (District Export Hub) programs.
• Prioritizing Assistance: for SC/ST communities, exporters from the North-East region, and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises).
• Support for Cardamom Farmers : through replanting efforts, micro-irrigation adoption, quality planting material, and weather-based insurance programs.
• Post-Harvest Quality and Sustainability: to ensure that they meet export standards.
• Programs like Mission Clean and Safe Spices: designed to encourage sustainable practices, certification systems, and technical advisory services.
• Support for Technological Advancements: for spice processing and value addition.
  • Establishing or upgrading in-house laboratories, product development, and branding to enhance global competitiveness.
• Market Development and Trade Promotion: Support for participation in international fairs, buyer-seller meets, and the promotion of GI-tagged spices.
• Establishment of Spice Incubation Centers: to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, providing a platform for startups and SMEs.

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Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN), an offshoot of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) has been established on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

• India is one of the founding member of the Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN)

About Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)

• It is a global initiative to bolster critical mineral supply chains also known as the critical minerals alliance.
• Establishment: The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) was officially announced at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto, Canada in June 2022.
  • It is the largest mining event in the world. 
• Founding Members: The United States, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission
  • India joined the initiative in June of 2023  
• Aim: To accelerate the development of sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains via a public-private partnership to facilitate targeted financial and diplomatic support for strategic projects along the value chain. 

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• Objective :
  • Entire Mineral Value Chain:  The MSP considers projects along the full clean energy value chain, from mining, extraction, and secondary recovery, to processing and refining, and ultimately to recycling. 
  • The MSP’s focus is to secure and utilize the minerals and metals supply chains most relevant for clean energy technologies. 
    • Example: Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, 17 rare earth elements, and copper etc.
• Focus:  
  • Diversifying and stabilise the global supply chains
  • Investment in those supply chains
  • Promoting high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in the mining, processing, and recycling sectors 
  • Increasing recycling of critical minerals.
• Projects in Pipeline: The MSP is collaborating on some 150-odd projects including fostering a critical minerals and metals cooperation forum for sharing of expertise, developing battery materials and jointly developing a minerals processing facility in South America.
• Significance:
  • Building Resilience: The energy transition needs more production capacity for critical minerals which require decongestion of the supply chains and building its resilience.
  • Minimise China’s Dominance: China controls close to 70% of the processing infrastructure in the world for critical minerals. The alliance is seen as primarily focused on evolving an alternative to China.
  • Electric Vehicle Revolution: The Initiative will power the electric vehicle and battery  revolution in the world through conscious and sustainable and equitable sourcing of these minerals which is crucial for greenify the transport and energy sector.
  • Sustainable Critical Energy Minerals Supply Chains: Accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical energy minerals supply chains globally.

About Critical Minerals

• Definition: These are the minerals which are essential for economic development and national security but the scarcity and limitation of its geographical availability leading to supply chain vulnerability and disruption constitute to its criticality.
• Major Critical Minerals: The Report of the Committee on Identification of Critical Minerals constituted by Ministry of Mines has identified 30 critical minerals,
  • Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.
• Top Producers: According to the International Energy Agency, the major producers of critical minerals are China, Congo, Chile, Indonesia, South Africa, and Australia. 
  • China has global dominance in terms of processing.

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• Usage: 
  • Advanced Electronics: They are critical for making semiconductors and high-end electronics manufacturing.
  • Clean Energy Technology: These minerals are an essential components in many clean energy technologies, from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles.
  • Transport and Communications: They are also used in manufacturing fighter jets, drones, and radio sets, Aircrafts and mainly power the transition to Electric Vehicles
  • Diverse Sectors: To manufacture advanced technologies in diverse sectors such as mobile phones, tablets, electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, fibre optic cables, and defence and medical applications.
  • Battery and Storage Technology: These minerals are critical to develop the storage technology in terms of advancements in battery technology like Lithium-Ion.
• Components of Value Chain:
  • Geoscience and Exploration
  • Upstream: Mining and Extraction
  • Midstream: Processing, Refining and Metallurgy
  • Downstream: Component Manufacturing and Clean Digital Advanced Technology production 
    • Example: ZEV Manufacturing, Semiconductors, chips etc.
  • Material Recovery and Recycling

Challenges

• New Source of Emissions: Energy intensive mining operations and processing activities will further lead to significant greenhouse gas emissions cancelling out the progress made by reducing fossil fuels.
• Environmental Degradation: Mining for these minerals in an unsustainable way will have the same adverse  environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss and pollution.
• Human Rights Violation: The race for Critical minerals will lead to negative social impacts including human rights abuses such as child labour,  indigenous people’s rights violation and displacement etc.
• Supply Chain Disruption: Scarcity in supply due to limited availability could slow down the energy transition or make it more expensive and unequal. 
• Race for Control: Since these minerals will fuel the technologies of the future, It will lead to  rising geopolitical tensions over their control, interference in markets, and strong political pressure to expand mining.

Way Forward

• Mineral Diplomacy: India must actively engage in bilateral and plurilateral arrangements for building assured and resilient critical mineral supply chains.
• Responsible Mining and Circularity: Ensure stability in supply by rethinking mobility, housing, and industrial systems while reducing demand through responsible sourcing by emphasizing on material efficiency, substitutes,and resource circulation is needed.
• Extended Producer Responsibility: The accountability of producers for the entire product lifecycle should be ensured by incorporating the concept of extended producer responsibility in a circular framework as a principle.
• Transparency and Trust: The lack of trust between producers and consumers, as well as within local communities should be bridged by disclosing information about extraction processes and mineral origins via real-time and robust information
• Regular Update of Assessment: The assessment of critical minerals for India needs to be updated every three years to keep pace with changing domestic and global scenarios.
• National Critical Minerals Strategy: A national critical minerals strategy for India, underpinned by the minerals identified in this study, can help focus on priority concerns in supply risks, domestic policy regimes, and sustainability.

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The Supreme Court of India dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to halt the export of defence equipment to Israel, citing that foreign policy decisions do not fall under its purview.

India’s Defence Exports: Legal and Ethical Concerns Amid International Humanitarian Law Violations

• India is one of the largest importers of arms globally. This presence in the international market raises important legal and ethical questions. 
• The Supreme Court’s dismissal of a case on arms exports to Israel, despite war crime allegations, highlights a significant gap in India’s legal system, especially the absence of rules mandating compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for arms export decisions.
• Several countries, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, have restricted or reviewed defence exports to Israel, citing risks of IHL violations in Gaza.

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Legal Gap in Indian Defence Export Laws

• Absence of IHL Compliance Review in Indian Law: Unlike the U.K.’s Export Control Act or EU regulations, India does not have a law mandating the assessment of a country’s compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) before exporting defence equipment.
• Regulatory Provisions in India: However, there are some Acts like India’s Foreign Trade Act (FTA), 1992, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDA) Act, 2005 that empower the central government to regulate exports for reasons such as national security and international obligations under treaties, covenants, or conventions.

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Reasons for the Surge in India’s Defence Exports

• India’s Defence Export Strategy: The Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) aims for US$5 billion in defence exports and US$25 billion in revenue by 2025, supported by frameworks like the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020) helped boost India’s Defence Exports.
  • The DPEPP serves as the Ministry of Defence’s guiding document to enhance India’s defence production capabilities for self-reliance and exports. 
• Increase in Export Authorisations: A rise in the number of export authorisations from 1,414 in FY23 to 1,505 in FY24 (approx. 6.6% growth) has facilitated more defence exports.
• Government Initiatives: Simplification of export procedures and pro-industry policies have made it easier for companies to engage in defence exports.
  • The implementation of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative promotes self-reliance in defence production.
• Policy Reforms: India’s offset policy mandates that foreign defence firms invest a portion of their contract value domestically, boosting exports through joint ventures and technology transfers. 
• Increased Domestic Allocation in Defence Budget for FY 2023-24: In FY 2023-24, the allocation of the defence capital procurement budget to domestic industry increased to 75%, compared to 68% in FY 2022-23, resulting in domestic production totaling ₹1.27 trillion.
• Research and Development (R&D): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has allocated ₹23,855 crore for FY 2024-25, enabling the development of exportable products such as the BrahMos missile and the Akash air defence system. 
• Strategic Export Partnerships: Notable export deals, such as those with Armenia for Pinaka rockets and Akash air defence missiles, have opened new markets for Indian products.
• Pricing Decisions: Indian defence products are renowned for their quality and competitive pricing. For example, the Akash surface-to-air missile system is significantly cheaper than similar offerings from other nations, attracting buyers like Armenia.
• Private Sector Participation: 
  • iDEX Initiative: The government promotes private sector participation through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program.
  • Surge in Defence Licences: Defence licences issued increased from 215 in 2014 to 440 by March 2019.
  • Defence Industrial Corridors: The establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu enhances a competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Challenges Faced by the India’s Defence sector

• Import Dependence:  India is one of the largest arms importers globally, accounting for 9.8% of total global arms imports from 2019 to 2023, according to SIPRI. 
  • This dependence strains foreign exchange reserves and poses national security risks during geopolitical tensions.
• Lack of Cohesion in Defence Exports: Poor coordination among the Indian Armed Forces, DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Units) private manufacturers, and the Ministry of Defence hinders the promotion of indigenous defence products.
  • The absence of a single agency to oversee defence export strategies further complicates the ecosystem.
• Administrative Hurdles: Bureaucratic resistance and outdated practices, hinder private sector integration into defence manufacturing and deter innovation.
• Project Delays: Delays in crucial defence projects and cost overruns due to such delays hamper the growth.
  • As per the Ministry of Defence, 23 of 55 DRDO’s ‘mission mode’ projects have been delayed.
• R&D Issues: India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) is only 0.65%.
• Infrastructure Issues: Infrastructural Deficit increases India’s logistics costs, thus reducing the cost competitiveness and efficiency in the defence sector. 
• Slow Procurement Process: The Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) remains complicated and inefficient.
• Challenges of India’s Offset Policy: India’s offset policy mandates a minimum obligation of 30% of the estimated cost for defence contracts exceeding Rs 2,000 crore. 
  • However, foreign vendors remain sceptical about the Indian industry’s capacity to absorb offsets worth billions of dollars. 
• Low Private Sector Participation: The private sector still contributed only 22% in FY24. 
• Technological Disparity: India faces significant challenges in critical areas such as advanced materials, high-end electronics, and propulsion systems, which are essential for modern defence capabilities.

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Possible Call of Actions to Boost the Indian Defence Sector

• Need for Legislative Amendments: India should amend the WMDA and FTA to explicitly include an assessment of the IHL compliance of countries importing its defence goods. 
  • This proactive step will enhance India’s reputation as a responsible defence-exporting nation and align its export policies with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
• Defense Lines of Credit and Interest Rates: Implementing Defense Lines of Credit in proposals can enhance competitiveness by providing financial support to foreign buyers, while reducing interest rates will make Indian defence products more attractive to international markets.
• Framework for International Sales: Establishing a clear framework for international sales will facilitate smoother and more efficient transactions, promoting transparency and consistency in defence exports while attracting potential buyers.

• Revamp of the Offset Policy: India should revamp its offset policy by establishing a dedicated offset management agency and creating a transparent online platform to align offset requirements with export-oriented projects, focusing on technology transfer and co-development. 
• Reduce Duplication of Efforts: Efforts to streamline indigenization and innovation through collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme and the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) scheme by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) are essential.
• Establishing a Defense Export Promotion Agency: The government should create a Defense Export Promotion Agency (DEPA) under the Prime Minister’s Office to coordinate defence exports effectively, enhancing synergy among armed services, public and private manufacturers, and foreign partners
• Avoiding autarkic defence production:  In its pursuit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, India must avoid an autarkic defence production model, whereby a country stops collaborating with external governments, manufacturers, and scientists for technology.  

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Conclusion

India’s defence exports must be aligned with humanitarian law to ensure that military supplies do not contribute to human rights violations. 

• By prioritising ethical considerations in arms trade, India can enhance its reputation as a responsible global player while fostering regional stability.

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