Global Gender Gap Report 2025

For Prelims: Global Gender Gap Report 2025, WEF, Global Gender Gap Index, Gender Parity, Local Governance 

For Mains: Issues of Gender Inequality in Different Sectors, Key Factors Related to Gender Inequality, Measures To be Taken to Gender Parity.

Source: TH 

Why in News?

India ranked 131^st out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, down from 129^th in 2024, with a gender parity score of 64.1%,  

• The report comprehensively evaluated gender parity across 148 countries. 

What is the Global Gender Gap Index? 

• About: Published annually since 2006,  it is the longest-standing global index for assessing gender equality, measuring countries' progress in closing gender gaps across 4 key dimensions: 
  • Economic Participation and Opportunity 
  • Educational Attainment 
  • Health & Survival 
  • Political Empowerment 
• Rating Mechanism: Each dimension is scored on a scale from 0 to 1, where 1 represents full gender parity and 0 denotes complete inequality. 
  • The index aims to act as a strategic benchmarking tool, enabling countries to assess and compare gender disparities.  
• Objectives: To act as a guiding tool for tracking progress on gender gaps in health, education, economy, and politics. 
  • This annual benchmark helps stakeholders in each country set priorities suited to their specific economic, political, and cultural contexts. 

What are the Key Findings of the Global Gender Gap Report 2025? 

• India Performance: 
  • In subindices, India shows gains in Economic Participation (40.7%) with improvement in income parity from 28.6% to 29.9%, and Educational Attainment at a high 97.1%, indicating near-parity in literacy and tertiary education enrolment. 
  • Health and Survival improved with better sex ratio and life expectancy. However, Political Empowerment fell by 0.6 points, with women’s representation in Parliament down from 14.7% to 13.8% and ministerial representation fell from 6.5% to 5.6%. 

 

• South Asia's Performance:  Bhutan (119), Nepal (125), and Sri Lanka (130) ranked better than India. 
  • Bangladesh is the region’s top performer, rising 75 places to 24th globally, driven by gains in political empowerment and Pakistan remains the lowest globally, ranked 148th. 
• Global Trends: Top 5 countries in Global Gender Gap Index 2025 were Iceland (for the 16th consecutive year), Finland, Norway, UK and New Zealand. 
  • The global gender gap has closed by 68.8%, marking the strongest post Covid-19-pandemic progress, yet full parity is still 123 years away at the current rate. 

What are the Key Strides of India in Bridging the Gender Gap? 

• Policy and Legislative Reforms: India has enacted progressive policies, including the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023), reserving seats for women in legislatures, boosting gender-sensitive governance. 
• Education and Skill Development: Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Vigyan Jyoti have improved girls' access to education, especially in STEM.  
  • Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education rose from 42.5% (2017-18) to 46.3% (2022-23). 
• Economic Participation: Female labor force participation increased from 23.3% (2017-18) to 41.7% (2023-24). Schemes like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat promote women entrepreneurship. 
• Shifting Social Norms: Changing societal attitudes and gender-neutral portrayals in media have enabled greater acceptance of women in leadership and non-traditional roles. 
• Financial Inclusion: Over 28 crore women have Jan Dhan accounts, enhancing autonomy. Schemes like PMJDY and Stand-Up India support financial independence and entrepreneurship. 
• Health and Reproductive Rights: Initiatives like PM Matru Vandana Yojana and National Health Mission (NHM) have improved maternal care.  
  • Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) dropped from 174 (2013-15) to 97 (2018-20), indicating better health outcomes for women. 

What are the Major Challenges Contributing to the Gender Gap in India?

• Low Female Labor Force Participation: India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate is just 41.7% (PLFS 2023–24), with most women in informal and undervalued roles, especially in agriculture.  
  • Patriarchal norms, unsafe workplaces, and lack of childcare support continue to restrict women’s access to formal, secure employment. 
• Education and Literacy Disparities: Female literacy stands at around 65% vs 82% for males (Census 2011), a 17%  point gap.  
  • Nearly 40% of girls aged 15–18 are out of school, with 23 million dropping out due to menstruation-related stigma and lack of facilities. The Education Parity Index declined to 0.964 in 2024, reversing earlier progress. 
• Economic Participation and Wage Inequality: Women spend nearly 289 minutes/day on unpaid domestic work, 3 times more than men and earn only around 73% of male wages on average, with lower parity in sectors like tech (as low as 60%).  
  • The Economic Survey 2022–23 estimated the value of women’s unpaid care work at Rs 22.7 lakh crore, roughly 7.5% of India’s GDP.  
    • Despite its massive economic contribution, this work remains invisible in labour statistics, undervaluing women’s time and restricting their participation in paid employment. 
  • Also, only 17% of Chief-roles and 20% of board positions in corporate India are held by women. 
• Implementation Gaps in Schemes: While multiple government schemes target gender equity, poor awareness, weak last-mile delivery, and lack of gender-sensitive monitoring hinder their real impact, especially in rural and marginalised populations.

What are the Key Initiatives of Government of India to Reduce Gender Gap? 

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao 
• Mahila Shakti Kendra 
• Mahila Police Volunteers 
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh 
• Political Reservation: The government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women.  
  • The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, has also reserved one-third of all seats for women in Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs. 
• Female Entrepreneurship: To promote female entrepreneurship, the Government has initiated Programmes like Stand-Up India and Mahila-e-Haat (an online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP). 

What Measures can India Adopt to Strengthen Gender Parity in India? 

• Strengthening Enforcement of Protection Laws: Strengthen enforcement of gender-related laws (e.g., POCSO, Domestic Violence Act), and expand the reach of One-Stop Centres and Nirbhaya Fund to support survivors of violence and abuse. 
• Enhancing Economic Inclusion: There is a need to boost female labour force participation through workplace reforms (crèches, maternity benefits, hiring incentives), while recognizing unpaid care work through time-use surveys and social security coverage for domestic workers. 
• Education, Skilling and Digital Access: Ensure girls’ retention in school via scholarships and menstrual hygiene support. 
  • Promote participation in STEM and vocational training under Digital India and Skill India and bridge the digital gender divide through PMGDISHA and mobile access in Aspirational Districts. 
• Health, Nutrition & Safety Infrastructure: Expand reproductive and maternal healthcare via NHM, combat malnutrition under POSHAN Abhiyaan, and ensure gender-responsive infrastructure- safe transport, street lighting, CCTV, and women’s help desks, to improve mobility and public safety. 
• Inclusive Governance & Data-Driven Policy: Empower grassroots leadership by building capacities of elected women representatives in PRIs.  
  • Strengthen gender budgeting, activate Gender Budget Cells across ministries, and ensure regular collection of sex-disaggregated data for targeted policy interventions. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Critically examine India’s declining rank in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025. Identify key challenges and suggest measures to promote gender parity. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims:

Q. Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (2017)

(a) World Economic Forum 

(b) UN Human Rights Council 

(c) UN Women 

(d) World Health Organization 

Ans: (a) 

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Mains: 

Q. Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (2021)

AI in Healthcare

For Prelims: Garbhini-GA2, Telemedicine, World Health Organization, SARAH,  eSanjeevani, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, National Health Policy (2017), Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP), BharatNet, National Health Authority, CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization),                     

For Mains: Use of AI in healthcare, Major challenges of AI in healthcare in India and suggested measures to deal with them. 

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Indian researchers have developed Garbhini-GA2, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that predicts fetal age from ultrasound images with an error margin of just half a day, outperforming current methods with an error of up to 7 days. This development highlights the vast potential of AI to drive advancements in healthcare in India.

What are the Applications of AI in Healthcare? 

• Early Disease Detection and Diagnosis: AI tools assist doctors in analyzing medical images like X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds quickly and accurately—vital for countries with limited specialists.  
  • AIIMS Delhi has launched an AI platform - iOncology.ai. - designed for the early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. 
  • Also, Mumbai-based Qure.ai detects TB, pneumonia, and lung cancer from chest X-rays, while Bengaluru startup NIRAMAI uses AI-powered thermal imaging to identify early-stage breast cancer without radiation. 
• AI in Telemedicine and Remote Consultations: AI-driven telemedicine is bridging gaps in rural healthcare by improving access and efficiency.  
  • Tools like Practo’s AI chatbot and Apollo’s "Ask Apollo" assistant offer symptom-based guidance, instant medical advice, and appointment scheduling, reducing unnecessary hospital visits. 
• AI for Drug Discovery: Indian startups and research labs are using AI to create affordable, patient-specific treatments. 
  • E.g., Bengaluru-based InnAccel developed SAANS, an intelligent, infrastructure-free, multi-therapy system that delivers non-invasive breathing support for neonatal and pediatric patients, helping reduce infant mortality in rural clinics. 
• AI in Wearables: AI-powered wearables and apps are enabling Indians to manage chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension more effectively.  
  • E.g., Delhi-based BeatO offers an AI-enabled glucometer that tracks blood sugar levels and gives real-time diet and medication recommendations. 
• AI for Hospital Efficiency: Hospitals are using AI to reduce administrative workload and improve operational efficiency.  
  • E.g., Microsoft’s AI Network for Healthcare has partnered with eye hospitals in India to predict the progression of diabetic retinopathy, helping prevent blindness in high-risk patients. 
• Enhancing Medical Education and Training: AI is transforming medical education and training through personalized learning and simulation of complex clinical scenarios.  
  • Platforms like FundamentalVR use AI-powered VR and haptic systems for realistic surgical practice, while adaptive learning tools customize curricula, enhancing training efficiency and competency.

What are the Key Initiatives Enabling the Adoption of AI in India’s Healthcare System? 

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): ABDM provides a unique digital health ID for each citizen. 
• HealthLocker/Personal Health Records (PHR): It is a digital national health database backed by a cloud-based storage system, serving as a single source of health data for the nation. 
• National Health Stack (NHS): It includes platforms like the National Health Analytics Platform, supporting data-driven healthcare solutions.

Note: The World Health Organization has launched S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), a generative AI prototype that uses advanced language models to deliver reliable information on key health topics like mental health, healthy habits, and non-communicable diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes).

What are the Major Challenges of AI in Healthcare in India? 

• Lack of High-Quality, Standardized Medical Data: AI models require large, diverse, well-labeled datasets, but face limitations in India due to fragmented data—as most hospitals still rely on handwritten prescriptions and non-digital records.  
  • Additionally, AI trained on Western data often performs poorly in India because of differences in lifestyle and disease patterns. 
• Limited AI Infrastructure in Rural Areas: Advanced AI tools need high-speed internet, cloud computing, and digital healthcare systems, which are often lacking in rural India.  
  • Platforms like eSanjeevani and tools like Qure.ai’s TB detection face challenges in remote areas and PHCs due to poor connectivity and lack of digital infrastructure (e.g., digital X-ray machines). 
• Regulatory and Ethical Concerns: India lacks a clear AI governance framework, leading to concerns over patient privacy, bias, and accountability.  
  • While the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 sets strict rules on health data use, weak enforcement and cases of AI bias hinder safe AI deployment. 
  • Also, the Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act (DISHA), proposed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2017 to regulate digital health data, remains unenacted. 
• Language and Localization Issue: India’s linguistic diversity, with 22 official languages and numerous dialects, poses a major challenge for AI implementation in healthcare.  
  • This language barrier can cause misdiagnosis, miscommunication, and reduce the effectiveness of AI tools. 
• Resistance from Healthcare Professionals: Doctors and nurses often show distrust towards AI, fearing job loss or potential misdiagnosis.  
  • Many remain reluctant to use AI for critical decisions, favoring traditional clinical methods instead.

ICMR Guidelines for AI Use in the Health Sector 

In March 2023, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released the "Ethical Guidelines for Application of AI in Biomedical Research and Healthcare," outlining 10 key patient-centric ethical principles for the use of AI in healthcare. 

• 10 Guiding Principles: 
• Accountability and Liability: Regular audits to ensure optimal AI performance, with findings made public. 
• Autonomy: Mandatory human oversight and informed patient consent, including risk disclosure. 
• Data Privacy: Protection of privacy and personal data at every stage of AI use. 
• Collaboration: Encourages interdisciplinary and international partnerships for responsible AI development. 
• Safety and Risk Minimization: Focus on misuse prevention, data security, and ethical review by committees. 
• Accessibility, Equity, and Inclusiveness: Ensure AI infrastructure is accessible to all, bridging the digital divide. 
• Data Optimization: Minimize biases and errors from poor data quality or lack of representation. 
• Non-Discrimination and Fairness: Promote universal access to bias-free AI technologies. 
• Trustworthiness: Ensure AI is valid, reliable, ethical, and lawful to build user confidence. 
• Transparency: Provide clinicians with clear methods to test AI's validity and reliability. 

Frameworks: India's frameworks supporting AI in healthcare include the Digital Health Authority under the National Health Policy (2017), DISHA 2018, and Medical Device Rules, 2017.

How Can India Effectively Integrate AI into Healthcare? 

• Build High-Quality, Localized Healthcare Datasets: India should expand the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to standardize electronic health records (EHRs) across hospitals and leverage platforms like the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) for anonymized AI training data.  
  • Leading hospitals like AIIMS, Apollo, and Tata Memorial can share de-identified data with AI startups (e.g., Qure.ai, SigTuple), ensuring datasets represent rural populations, women, and ethnic minorities to reduce bias. 
• Strengthen AI Infrastructure in Rural Healthcare: eSanjeevani can integrate offline-capable AI symptom checkers for use in low-connectivity areas.  
  • ASHA workers can be equipped with AI tools (e.g., portable ultrasound devices like Butterfly Network’s) while BharatNet and Jio’s 5G can support cloud-based AI radiology in district hospitals. 
• Establish Clear AI Regulations & Ethical Guidelines: CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) should establish clear approval pathways for AI-based diagnostics, similar to the US’s AI/ML Action Plan, while NITI Aayog’s Responsible AI guidelines must be enforced in healthcare.  
  • Mandatory algorithm audits (for caste/gender bias) and a strengthened Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 are essential to protect patient data and ensure ethical AI use. 
• Train Doctors & Build AI Awareness: Include AI and Digital Health modules in MBBS and nursing curricula, and let the National Health Authority train doctors in using AI tools like predictive analytics.  
  • AI developers must offer clear explanations for algorithmic decisions to ensure clinical trust and transparency. 
• Launch Public Awareness Campaigns: To build patient trust and acceptance, India should launch public awareness campaigns explaining the benefits and limitations of AI in healthcare in simple, relatable terms.  
  • Using media channels like social media, TV, and community outreach, and following models like the Pulse Polio campaign, can boost AI awareness and adoption. 

Conclusion 

AI in Indian healthcare offers transformative potential—enhancing diagnostics, telemedicine, and drug discovery—but faces challenges like data bias, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory hurdles. Effective integration requires robust datasets, rural AI adoption, clear regulations, and clinician training. Ethical frameworks like ICMR’s guidelines ensure responsible AI use, balancing innovation with patient safety and equity. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Discuss the role of Artificial Intelligence in transforming India’s healthcare system. What challenges hinder its effective implementation?

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims:

Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)

1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 
3. Disease diagnosis 
4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only 

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only 

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only 

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 

Ans: (b) 

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Mains: 

Q.1 What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel the research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation. (2015)

648th Birth Anniversary of Sant Kabir Das

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

On 11^th June 2025, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sant Kabir Das on the occasion of his 648th birth anniversary, observed as Kabirdas Jayanti (Kabir Prakat Divas).  

 

Who was Sant Kabirdas and What were his Contributions? 

• About: Sant Kabir Das (1440–1518) was a revered mystic poet, saint, and social reformer, born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.  
  • Kabir often referred to himself as a “julaha” (weaver) and “kori” (lower-caste identity), reflecting his humility and solidarity with the marginalized. 
• Teachings & Philosophy:  Sant Kabir Das is a prominent proponent of the Nirguna Bhakti tradition, which emphasizes devotion to a formless, attribute-less God (Nirguna Brahman). 
  • He received spiritual guidance from Ramananda, a Bhakti saint, and Sheikh Taqi, a Sufi teacher.  
  • Along with Ramananda, he popularized devotional worship in vernacular languages, bringing spirituality closer to the masses. 
  • His teachings challenged religious orthodoxy, blind rituals, and social divisions, advocating a universal, inclusive path to God.  
  • He emphasized truth, compassion, equality, and direct spiritual experience over formal religion. 
• Role in Bhakti Movement:  Kabir was a key figure in the Bhakti movement (7th-15th century), promoting devotion, inner purity, and social equality, while rejecting rituals and casteism. 
• Literature: Kabir composed dohas’ (couplets) and bhajans (devotional songs) in Brajbhasha, Awadhi, and Sant Bhasha, playing a pivotal role in the evolution of Hindi literature. 
  • His works are marked by simplicity, depth, and universal appeal, often featuring "ulatbansi", paradoxical verses with reversed meanings to provoke reflection. 
  • His major compilations include Kabir Bijak (preserved by Kabirpanth in Varanasi and eastern UP), Kabir Parachai, Sakhi Granth, Anurag Sagar and Kabir Granthawali (associated with the Dadupanth sect in Rajasthan) 
  • Many of his verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, compiled by Guru Arjan Dev (5th Sikh Guru), reflecting his influence on Sikhism. 
• Legacy & Following: Kabir is revered by Hindus, Muslims & Sikhs alike, and his teachings laid the foundation for the Kabir Panth, a spiritual sect whose followers are known as Kabir Panthis. 
  • His legacy represents communal harmony, moral integrity, and inner spiritual awakening. 

Read More: Sant Kabir Das 

Heat-Tolerant Pigeonpea

Source: BL 

Scientists have developed a heat-tolerant pigeonpea (tur dal) variety named ICPV 25444 using speed breeding technique, with the potential to transform fallow lands and reduce reliance on imports. 

• Key Features: It can withstand temperatures up to 45°C, making it ideal for India’s hot, semi-arid regions, and can utilize 12 million hectares of rice fallows left uncultivated post-kharif due to water scarcity and heat. 
  • It enables 4 crop generations/year, cutting development time from 15 to 5 years, doubling yields from 1.1–1.2 to 2 tonnes/ha, and reducing harvest time to 4 months from the usual 6–7, improving rotation and profitability. 
  • It could drastically reduce India’s pigeonpea imports, which cost USD 800 million annually, by bridging the 1.5 million tonne shortfall in domestic production. 
• About Pulses: India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and importer of pulses and aims to eliminate imports by 2028. 
  • The top 3 pulses-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. 
  • Tur dal (Pigeon Pea) is a key protein-rich legume in India, thriving in tropical and semi-arid regions. 
  • Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), the government ensures procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) when market prices fall below MSP. 
• The Union Budget 2025–26 announced a 6-year Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in crops like Tur, Urad, and Masur

Speed breeding accelerates plant growth by controlling light, temperature, and humidity, enabling multiple crop cycles per year.

Read More: India to Import Tur Dal from Mozambique 

Lesser Flamingos

Source: TH 

A large number of lesser flamingos have recently arrived at Chhaya pond in Porbandar, Gujarat, from where they will migrate to the Great Rann of Kutch, along the India-Pakistan border, for breeding.

Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor): 

• It is the smallest flamingo species, found across sub-Saharan Africa, and in parts of India, Pakistan, and the Arabian Gulf.  
• In India, it primarily inhabits brackish and coastal water bodies.  
• It is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, listed under CITES Appendix II and under Schedule IV of WPA, 1972. 

Flamingos: 

• About: Flamingos are tall water birds known for their long, S-shaped necks and stick-like legs.  
  • They are highly social and often seen in large flocks inhabiting shallow, eutrophic water bodies such as saline lagoons, saltpans, and alkaline lakes. 
• Species: There are 6 species of flamingos found globally in tropical and subtropical regions, with only 2 found in India (Greater & Lesser Flamingo). 
  • Other Species: 
    • Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) 
    • American/Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) 
    • Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) 
    • James’s or Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) 
• Diet & Colouration: Flamingos feed on algae, molluscs, and crustaceans. Their plumage colour, ranging from white to pink to orange, is determined by carotenoid pigments in their diet. 
• Common Migratory Route: 

Read More: Flamingos, Himalayan Ibex and Blue Sheep 

Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 2025

Source: TH 

The Indian Navy and the UK Royal Navy conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the North Arabian Sea.

Passage Exercise (PASSEX) 

• About: PASSEX refers to joint naval exercises carried out between allied navies when their deployments intersect. It strengthens interoperability, communication, and strategic collaboration at sea. 
  • It also aims to enhance tactical manoeuvres, maritime domain awareness, and reaffirming commitment to Indo-Pacific maritime security. 
• Key features: Helicopter control drills, fleet manoeuvres, joint ASW operations, officer exchanges, real-time data sharing, and communication protocol testing for seamless coordination. 
  • India's fleet includes the stealth frigate INS Tabar, a conventional submarine, and the P-8I long-range maritime aircraft. 
• Broader Vision: It aligns with the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the India–UK 2030 Roadmap, while also supporting India’s SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific.

INS Tabar 

• It is the third Talwar-class stealth frigate commissioned in April 2004 in Russia, and the first to carry BrahMos missiles.  
• Serving with the Western Fleet in Mumbai, it is equipped for air, surface, and sub-surface missions, and operates independently or within a naval task force, featuring advanced weapons like Barak-1 and modern sensors. 

P-8I 

• The P-8I is a long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, developed by US Boeing for India.  
• With a range of over 1,200 nautical miles and a speed of 907 kmph, it detects and neutralizes threats far from Indian shores, enhancing maritime security.

Read More: Major Military Exercises of India 

Exercise KHAAN QUEST

Source: PIB 

An Indian Army contingent (Kumaon Regiment) reached Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to participate in the Multinational Military Exercise KHAAN QUEST. 

Exercise KHAAN QUEST 

• Origin: Initiated in 2003 as a bilateral exercise between the USA and Mongolia, became a multinational peacekeeping exercise from 2006 onwards.  
  • The 2025 edition is the 22nd iteration. 
• Hosted by: Mongolian Armed Forces. 
• Objective: Enhance peacekeeping capabilities, interoperability, and military readiness under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. 
  • Chapter VII empowers the UN Security Council to act on threats to international peace, breaches of peace, and acts of aggression. It authorizes both non-military (e.g., sanctions) and military measures to maintain or restore global peace and security. 
• Focus Areas: Exercise includes joint planning, tactical drills, physical fitness, and coordination, with drills like checkpoints, cordon and search, civilian evacuation, counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and casualty management. 
• Significance: Promotes exchange of Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) and strengthens military cooperation and camaraderie among participating nations. 

Read More:  Major Military Exercises of India