Deepak Dalal PSIR

PSIR daily current affairs Theory + examples 6th December 2025

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Deepak Dalal

PSIR daily current affairs Theory + examples 6th December 2025

 

PYQs linkage:

  1. Analyse the drivers of Indo-Russian relations in the post-Cold war era. 20 (2014) (Area of cooperation)
  2. The recent differences between India and Russia are the result of misconceptions than facts. Elucidate. 15(2017) (Area of conflict or concern)
  3. ‘Relation between India and Russia are rooted in history, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.’ Discuss. 20(2021) (Area of cooperation)
  4. Arms trade; economic ties and congruent geo-political interest are no longer the three pillars of India- Russia relationship in the emerging strategic context. Comment. 20 (2023) (Area of cooperation)

 

 

  • Theory application:

  • Neoliberal theory, Interdependence
  • Neo liberals argue that state actors would enter into cooperative agreements if the gains were evenly shared.
  • Robert Keohane: “cooperation is not automatic, but requires planning and negotiation” (This argument set it apart from democratic peace liberalism—commerce breeds peace.) strong liberals vs weak liberals.
  • Interdependence: a higher level of transnational relations between countries means a higher level of interdependence.
  • Sociological liberalism : emphasizes on the impact of expanding cross-border activities.
    Transnationalism (James Rosenau): international relations conducted by governments have been supplemented by relations among private individuals, groups and societies, having important consequences. (Labor mobility and diaspora engagement)

 

Concepts and keywords:

  • western sanctions, international isolation, international legitimacy, Indo-Pacific, containment, reordering of geopolitical realignments, principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty, strategic autonomy.

Important facts:

  • Economic vision for 2030 (strategic economic roadmap)
  • Trade target: $100 billion by 2030
  • Current: India’s exports to Russia: around $5 billion, bilateral trade: $69 billion (by March 2025)

 

 

 

 

  • Phases of relationship:

  • During soviet era: Indo-Soviet strategic partnership was driven by a common perception of threat from China and strengthened by the US adopting policies inimical towards India on critical issues such as Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Post-soviet era: reordering of geopolitical alignments. Strategic glue of Chinese security threat dissipated on Russian side. Defence hardware relationship.
  • Putin visit 2000
  • Putin visit Dec 2025

 

 

 

  • important quotes or statements:

“India has long experience in managing a complex geopolitical terrain of shifting alignments, with the safeguarding of its strategic autonomy as a guiding star.” Shayam Saran (former foreign secretary)

 

 

  • Brief analysis and key points from the news or editorial:

existing areas of cooperation:

  • Russia is only country ready to share technology with India on nuclear submarines and anti-missiles system. (effective use of the S-400 system during operation Sindoor)
  • Partnership in nuclear power

 

opportunities:

  • Improving trade (decreasing trade deficit)
  • Energy security (Promise of uninterrupted shipment of fuel and collaboration in Nuclear power)
  • Building Indian Diaspora in Russia (Labor mobility pact)

challenges:

  • India-US strategic partnership stalled, the US shifts its strategic focus away from the Indo-Pacific and from the containment of Chinese power. (The US willing to inflict economic damage on India through high trade tariffs.)
  • How to preserve its continuing reliance on the US for high-tech collaboration and advanced weaponry.
  • Chinese apprehension of grown Indo-Russian relations (Beyond a certain point)
  • India can not compare the India-Russia partnership to declared “no-limits partnership” between Russia and China.
  • Unhappiness of Europe

 

 

 

 

 

On Ukraine Issue: India’s position: India is “not neutral” and supports an early return of peace. It upholds the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty, avoided public condemnation of Russia.

Europe dimension: the US being an unreliable and hostile ally and China being politically more assertive and economically predatory, Europe sees a greater convergence of interests with India in an overall strategic sense.

 

 

 

strategic significance of Putin visit:

  • Russia willing to collaborate on small modular reactors (SMR) and floating nuclear power plants.
  • Efforts to remove trade barriers and ensuring smoother payment mechanisms.
  • Joint work on the free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic union to be intensified.
  • Labour mobility pact opening new avenues for Indian professionals.
  • Russia willingness to ensure “uninterrupted shipments of fuel” to India.

 

 

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PSIR Daily current affairs December 6th 2025

 

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